JP2007113632A - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate wasteful waiting time for checking leakage at recovery and to enable detection of minute leakage in a gas passage. <P>SOLUTION: The gas shut-off device is equipped with a flow detecting part 1, an abnormality determination part 2, a valve driving part 3, a valve 5, a recovery input part 7, a leakage determination part 4, a pressure input part 8, and a determination part 6 during shutting off. In this case, a pressure value F of the pressure input part 8 is obtained and the determination part 6 during shutting off determines whether or not there is a leakage from a differential pressure during a predetermined period of time when the gas passage is closed, and if there is no leakage, a permission signal H is outputted. When the leakage determination part 4 receives the permission signal H, a valve opening/closing signal G is immediately outputted. Thereby, there is no wasteful waiting time and minute leakage in the gas passage can be detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device that has reasonably confirmed gas leakage.

  Conventionally, this type of gas shut-off device will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 6, a flow detection unit 31 that outputs a flow signal a such as a flow velocity and / or a flow rate of gas passing through the gas passage, and a determination that is held in advance when the flow signal a of the flow detection unit 31 is received. When the abnormality determination unit 32 outputs a valve closing signal b if it is abnormal, and the valve closing signal b of the abnormality determining unit 32 or the valve control signal g of the leakage detecting unit 33 is received, the valve driving signal c is received. A valve drive unit 34 for outputting, a valve 35 for opening or closing the gas passage when receiving a valve drive signal c, and a return input unit 36 for outputting a return signal e when receiving a return input from the outside. .

  The leak detection unit 33 receives the return signal e and opens the gas passage if the pressure information f of the pressure detection unit 37 is present. If there is no pressure information f, the leak detection unit 33 displays the detection result of the flow detection unit 31 after opening the gas passage. The gas passage is closed if there is a flow signal a, and the valve 35 is controlled by a valve control signal g so that the open state is maintained if there is no flow signal a.

The pressure detection unit 37 measures the pressure in the gas passage and outputs pressure information f if the pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-62-209300

  However, in the conventional configuration, as the pressure detection unit 37, a pressure switch that can determine whether the pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure (for example, 50 mm water column) is used, and the pressure immediately before the return input is determined. Therefore, even if there was a gas leak in the gas passage under a range of a predetermined pressure or higher, it could not be detected. In addition, it is impossible to measure the pressure a plurality of times by the leak detector 33 and determine the leak based on the pressure difference. For this reason, there was a problem of opening the plug without being able to determine a leak in the minute gas passage.

  Further, since the gas leak was confirmed (usually several minutes) after the return input, there was a problem that the gas could not be used during the time required for the confirmation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gas cutoff device that detects a minute leak in a gas passage and improves the operability by eliminating the waiting time at the time of return. .

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the gas shutoff device of the present invention acquires the pressure value of the pressure input unit, and the shutoff determination unit determines whether there is a gas leak from the pressure difference during a predetermined period while the gas passage is closed. If it is determined that there is no leakage, a permission signal is output, and the leakage determination unit immediately outputs a valve opening / closing signal.

As a result, it is possible to determine not only the pressure at the time of return input but also the pressure in the gas passage closure with the gas shut-off device, and it is possible to detect the presence or absence of minute gas leaks from the pressure difference for a predetermined time It becomes. In addition, the waiting time for determining a leak at the time of return can be eliminated by performing a gas leak check in advance while closing the gas passage.

  The gas shut-off device of the present invention can perform the gas passage leak check that has been performed after the return input in the past while shutting off, and if there is no leak by judging the presence or absence of gas leak from the pressure difference of a predetermined period. It is possible to eliminate the waiting time required for the leak determination by opening the plug immediately upon return input. Further, if the time during the shut-off is long, it becomes possible to detect a minute gas leak, thereby improving workability and preventing a minute gas leak.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a flow detection unit that outputs a flow velocity and / or flow rate signal corresponding to a gas passing through the gas passage is compared with a determination value that is held in advance when a signal from the flow detection unit is received. If an abnormality is detected, an abnormality determining unit that outputs a valve closing signal, a valve driving unit that outputs a valve opening / closing signal when receiving the valve control signal of the valve closing signal or the leakage determining unit, and a gas when receiving the valve driving signal A valve that opens or closes the passage, a return input unit that outputs a return signal when a return input is received from the outside, and a pressure value of the pressure input unit is input any number of times at arbitrary intervals when the return signal is received. When the pressure difference is less than or equal to a preliminarily held allowable value, the valve is opened without the valve control signal, or when the valve determining signal is received, the valve is not determined. The valve is controlled by a control signal. Receives the valve open / close signal from the leak determination unit to be plugged and the valve drive unit, and when the gas passage is closed, inputs the pressure value of the pressure input unit at an arbitrary number of times, and the pressure difference is held in advance. And a shut-off determination unit that outputs a permission signal when the value is equal to or less than a permissible value, and the shut-off determination unit confirms gas leakage in the gas passage before receiving a return input from the outside at the return input unit. The gas passage is opened as soon as the return input of the return input portion is received. The second aspect of the invention receives a valve opening / closing signal from the valve drive portion and receives an optional signal when the gas passage is closed. A periodic signal unit that outputs a periodic signal at intervals, in particular, a shut-off determination unit according to the first aspect of the invention, and when the valve opening / closing signal of the valve drive unit is received and the gas passage is closed, the pressure value of the pressure input unit Input any number of times at any interval and pressure difference Outputs a permission signal when the pressure is below the allowable amount held in advance and receives the periodic signal of the periodic signal unit to acquire the pressure value of the pressure input unit and hold it in advance. The interruption determination unit that stops the output of the permission signal when the amount is less than or equal to the amount can determine again whether the permission signal is output each time the interruption determination unit receives the periodic signal. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a short-term signal is received which receives a permission signal from the determining unit during shut-off, then outputs a short-term signal when the permission signal is not output, and stops outputting the short-term signal when a return signal from the return input unit is received. And, in particular, when the leak determination unit of the first invention receives the return signal of the return input unit, the pressure value of the pressure input unit is input an arbitrary number of times at arbitrary intervals, and the pressure difference is held in advance. The valve is opened by a valve control signal when the amount is equal to or less than an allowable amount, or the valve is opened by the valve control signal without performing pressure determination when the permission signal of the in-shutdown determination unit is received, or Upon receipt of the short-term signal of the short-term signal portion, the valve control signal is used to open and close the valve for a short time to supply gas, and then determine the pressure value by shortening the input at an arbitrary interval and an arbitrary number of times. The leakage judgment unit Further, if there is the short-term signal of the short-term signal part, the shut-off determining part has already confirmed gas leakage in the gas passage once during closing, and then the pressure value becomes less than the pressure drop amount during shut-off and the shut-off Even after the determination unit cannot determine, the gas passage can be opened by reconfirming the gas leakage in the gas passage in a short period of time.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a pressure increase detection unit that monitors a pressure value of a pressure input unit when receiving a non-permission signal from the determination unit during shutoff, and outputs a reconfirmation signal when detecting the pressure value equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure; In particular, the pressure input unit when the shut-off determination unit of the first invention receives the reconfirmation signal of the pressure rise detection unit or receives a valve opening / closing signal of a valve drive unit and the gas passage is being closed. The pressure value is input an arbitrary number of times at arbitrary intervals, and a permission signal is output when the pressure difference is less than or equal to the allowable amount held in advance, and the non-permission signal is output when the allowable value is exceeded. When the pressure rises in a state where the gas passage is plugged, the above-described judgment unit during shutoff can determine again the gas leak during closing because the gas passage is not opened on the gas appliance side.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the external communication unit that notifies the outside when a communication permission signal is received from the determining unit during shutoff, and in particular, the determining unit during shutting down according to the first invention receives a valve opening / closing signal of the valve drive unit. When the gas passage is closed, the pressure value of the pressure input unit is input an arbitrary number of times at arbitrary intervals, and the permission signal and the communication permission signal are output when the pressure difference is equal to or less than the allowable amount held in advance. The shut-off determination unit thus configured can notify the center monitoring the gas shut-off device that the gas passage leak judgment has been performed with high accuracy while the gas passage is closed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
In FIG. 1, a flow detector 1 detects a gas flow velocity and / or flow rate passing through a gas passage.

  For example, the flow detection unit 1 performs a circular motion for one rotation for every fixed amount of flow through which the permanent magnet passes through the gas passage, and detects a gas flow rate by arranging a reed switch on the locus of the circular motion. Or an ultrasonic sensor facing the gas passage is installed, and the gas flow velocity or flow rate is detected from the difference in the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave, or the gas flow velocity or flow rate is detected from the vibration generated when the gas flows through the path. And a flow signal A is output.

  In this embodiment, the detection target is set to the flow rate. Since the flow rate is obtained by multiplying the detected flow rate by the gas passage cross-sectional area and the correction coefficient, it may be considered to be set to the flow rate if necessary.

  When the abnormality determination unit 2 receives the flow rate signal A of the flow detection unit 1, it may be a determination value held in advance (for example, the maximum gas flow rate allowed by the gas shut-off device or a small amount of gas flow may continue. If it is abnormal, the valve closing signal B is output.

  When the valve driving unit 3 receives the valve closing signal B or the valve control signal G, the valve driving unit 3 outputs a valve driving signal C and a valve opening / closing signal D. Then, the valve 5 is opened or closed by the valve drive signal C, and the valve opening / closing signal D is input to the shut-off determination unit 6.

  When the return input unit 7 receives a return input from the outside (for example, an input by a button, a non-contact type such as a reed switch, or the same effect can be obtained by an input by a communication message), the return signal E Is output.

When the leakage determination unit 4 receives the return signal E from the return input unit 7, the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 may be implemented at an arbitrary interval (for example, at a short interval of 1 second, or immediately after the gas passage is closed). A waiting period may be provided to start checking after several tens of seconds, or it may be checked at long intervals of 1 hour or more after the gas passage is closed, or these may be combined). , 100 times may be input), and when the pressure difference is less than or equal to a preliminarily held allowable amount (for example, 10 mm water column or less), the valve 5 is opened by the valve control signal G or the shut-off determining unit 6 When the permission signal H is received, the valve 5 is immediately opened by the valve control signal G without determining the pressure.

  If the initially acquired pressure value F is, for example, 50 mm water column or less, the valve 5 is opened and closed by the valve control signal G, gas is confirmed after the gas is supplied to the gas passage, that is, the pressure value F is set to an arbitrary value. An arbitrary number of times may be input at intervals, and it may be confirmed whether the pressure difference is equal to or less than the allowable amount held in advance.

  The pressure input unit 8 measures the pressure and outputs a pressure value F (for example, 1 mm water column).

  The shut-off determination unit 6 receives the valve opening / closing signal D of the valve drive unit 3 and, if the gas passage is closed, executes the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 at an arbitrary interval (for example, a short interval of 1 second). It may be possible to provide a waiting period to start checking after several tens of seconds immediately after the gas passage is closed, or to check at long intervals of 1 hour or more after the gas passage is closed, or a combination of these. Also, an arbitrary number of times (for example, 100 times may be set or a setting different from the value of the leakage determination unit 4 may be set) is input. The difference in pressure is less than or equal to the allowable value held in advance (for example, a 10 mm water column may be used. Alternatively, the setting may be different from the value of the leak determination unit 16. If the shut-off time is long, the allowable amount is reduced. If the acquisition interval is increased, more minute gas leaks can be detected. And it outputs a permission signal H when a can).

  The operation and action of the gas shut-off device configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the valve opening / closing signal D is received, the pressure value F is acquired if the gas passage is closed, the gas leak in the gas passage is confirmed, and if there is no leak, the permission signal H is output. If the permission signal H is present, the gas passage is immediately opened when the return signal E is input.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, before the interruption determining unit 6 receives a return input from the outside by the return input unit 7, the gas leakage in the gas passage is confirmed and the return input of the return input unit 7 is received. The gas passage can be opened immediately and minute gas leakage in the gas passage can be confirmed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration that exhibits the same action as in FIG. 1 is denoted by the same reference numeral as in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the periodic signal unit 9 receives the valve opening / closing signal D from the valve driving unit 3 and outputs the periodic signal J at an arbitrary interval (for example, every day) when the gas passage is closed.

  The shut-off determination unit 6 receives the valve opening / closing signal D of the valve drive unit 3 and inputs the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 at an arbitrary interval and an arbitrary number of times when the gas passage is closed, and the pressure difference is When the signal is equal to or less than the allowable value held in advance, the permission signal H is output, and when the periodic signal J of the periodic signal unit 19 is received, the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 is acquired and held in advance. The output of the permission signal H is stopped when the value is equal to or less than the value (for example, it may be a difference from the first acquired value or an arbitrary pressure value).

The operation and action of the gas shut-off device configured as described above will be described below.
First, when the valve opening / closing signal D is received and the gas passage is closed, the periodic signal J is output at an arbitrary interval, and the pressure value F is acquired for each periodic signal J, and it is less than or equal to the pre-breaking pressure drop amount. Determine if.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, each time the interruption determining unit 6 receives the periodic signal J, it is determined again whether or not the permission signal H is output. When the return signal E is output and the return signal E is output, the gas passage is immediately opened, and when the pressure is too low to make the determination during the shut-off determination part 6 difficult, the permission is given. By stopping the output of the signal H, the leak determination unit 4 can open and close the valve 5 by the valve control signal G to supply gas to the gas passage, and then confirm the gas leak.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are given to the configuration that exhibits the same action as in FIG. 1, and the specific description of the first embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 3, the short-term signal unit 10 receives the permission signal H from the blocking determination unit 6, and then outputs the short-term signal K when the permission signal H is not output, and receives the return signal E from the return input unit 7. Stop K output.

When the leak determination unit 4 receives the return signal E from the return input unit 7, the pressure determination unit 4 inputs the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 any number of times at an arbitrary interval, and the pressure difference is equal to or less than the allowable value held in advance. When the valve 5 is opened by the valve control signal G, or when the permission signal H from the shut-off determination unit 6 is received, the valve 5 is opened by the valve control signal G without performing pressure determination, or the short-term signal unit 10 When the short-term signal K is received, the valve control signal G is used to open and close the valve 5 for a short time to supply gas, and then the pressure value may be implemented at an arbitrary interval (for example, at a short interval of 1 second, A waiting period may be provided which starts to be confirmed several tens of seconds immediately after the gas passage is closed, or may be confirmed at long intervals of 1 hour or more after the gas passage is closed, or a combination thereof. The interval may be changed with or without gas supply) and any number of times (for example, Determines may be 100 times. Also may be varied intervals whether gas supply) by reducing the input.
The operation and action of the gas shut-off device configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the permission signal H is received, and then the short-term signal K is output when the permission signal H is not output. The valve 5 is opened / closed for a short time by the valve control signal G by the short-term signal K, gas is supplied, and thereafter, the operation is performed at an arbitrary shorter interval and an arbitrary smaller number of times.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, if the short-term signal K of the short-term signal unit 10 is present, the shut-off determining unit 6 has already confirmed the gas leakage in the gas passage once during closing, and then the pressure value F is shut off. Even after the amount of decrease in the medium pressure has fallen below and the in-interruption determining unit 6 is unable to determine, the reconfirmation of gas leakage in the gas passage can be shortened and the gas passage can be opened.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are given to the configuration that exhibits the same action as in FIG. 1, and the specific description of the first embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 4, when the pressure increase detection unit 11 receives the non-permission signal L from the blocking determination unit 6, the pressure increase detection unit 11 monitors the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8, and the pressure value F exceeds a predetermined pressure (for example, a 100 mm water column). Is detected, a reconfirmation signal M is output.

  The shut-off determination unit 6 receives the reconfirmation signal M from the pressure rise detection unit 11 or the valve opening / closing signal D from the valve drive unit 3 and sets the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 to an arbitrary interval when the gas passage is closed. , Input an arbitrary number of times, and output a permission signal H when the pressure difference is less than or equal to the allowable value held in advance, and output a non-permission signal L when the allowable amount (for example, a 10 mm water column may be exceeded) To do.

  The operation and action of the gas shut-off device configured as described above will be described below.

  First, when the non-permission signal L is received, the pressure value F is monitored, and if it exceeds the predetermined pressure, the reconfirmation signal M is output. When the reconfirmation signal M is received, the pressure value F is input any number of times at arbitrary intervals, and when the pressure difference is equal to or less than the allowable value held in advance, the permission signal H is output, and when the allowable value is exceeded. The non-permission signal L is output.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the pressure rises in a state where the gas passage is closed, it is possible to determine a gas leak during closing again because the gas passage is not opened on the gas appliance side. Become. Gas leakage can be confirmed during repeated plugging, and the gas passage can be opened immediately upon return input.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 4 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are given to the configuration that exhibits the same action as in FIG. 1, and the specific description of the first embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 5, when the external communication unit 12 receives the communication permission signal N from the blocking determination unit 6, the external communication unit 12 may notify the outside (for example, the center monitoring the gas cutoff device using a public communication line). It is good and the same effect can be obtained even if it is reported using the Internet).

  The shut-off determination unit 6 receives the valve opening / closing signal D of the valve drive unit 3 and, when the gas passage is closed, inputs the pressure value F of the pressure input unit 8 an arbitrary number of times at an arbitrary interval, and the difference in pressure is determined in advance. The permission signal H and the communication permission signal N are output when the value is equal to or less than the held allowable value.

  The operation and action of the gas shut-off device configured as described above will be described below.

  First, when the valve opening / closing signal D is received and the gas passage is closed, the pressure value F is input any number of times at an arbitrary interval, and when the pressure difference is equal to or less than the allowable amount held in advance, communication with the permission signal H is performed. The permission signal N is output. When the communication permission signal N is received, it is notified to the outside.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the gas passage is closed with high accuracy (if the closing time becomes several hours and the pressure is increased, the number of times of confirmation of pressure and the confirmation period can be increased and minute gas leakage can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to notify the center monitoring the gas shut-off device that the gas passage leak determination has been performed.

  Thus, in Embodiments 1 to 5, a minute gas leak can be detected, and by checking the gas leak in advance while the gas passage is plugged, the gas passage is immediately opened at the time of return input to determine the leak. It is possible to eliminate the waiting time required. Further, if the time during which the gas passage is closed is long, it becomes possible to detect a minute gas leak, thereby improving workability and preventing a minute gas leak.

  As described above, the gas cutoff device according to the present invention can perform the leakage check of the gas passage, which has been conventionally performed after the return input, during the cutoff, and determines the presence or absence of the gas leakage from the pressure difference during a predetermined period. If there is no leak, it is possible to eliminate the waiting time required for the leak judgment by opening the plug immediately upon return input. In addition, if the shut-off time is long, it becomes possible to detect a minute gas leak, thereby improving workability and preventing a minute gas leak. It can be applied to uses such as water meters.

Functional block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 5 of the present invention Functional block diagram of a conventional gas shut-off device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow detection part 2 Abnormality determination part 3 Valve drive part 4 Leakage determination part 5 Valve 6 In-blocking determination part 7 Return input part 8 Pressure input part 9 Periodic signal part 10 Short-term signal part 11 Pressure rise detection part 12 External communication part

Claims (5)

A flow detector that outputs a flow velocity and / or flow rate signal corresponding to the gas passing through the gas passage, and a valve that is abnormal if compared with a judgment value held in advance when a signal from the flow detector is received. An abnormality determining unit that outputs a closing signal; a valve driving unit that outputs a valve opening / closing signal when receiving the valve control signal of the valve closing signal or leakage determining unit; and a gas passage that opens or closes when receiving the valve driving signal And a return input unit that outputs a return signal when a return input is received from the outside, and a pressure value of the pressure input unit is input an arbitrary number of times at arbitrary intervals when the return signal is received. When the valve control signal is below the allowable value held, the valve is opened by the valve control signal, or when the permission signal from the shut-off determination unit is received, the pressure is not determined and the valve is controlled by the valve control signal. Leak to open When the gas passage is closed, the pressure value of the pressure input unit is input any number of times at arbitrary intervals, and the pressure difference is held in advance. An interruption determining unit that outputs a permission signal when the value is equal to or lower than the value, and the interruption determining unit confirms gas leakage in the gas passage before receiving the return input from the outside at the return input unit, and the return A gas shut-off device that opens a gas passage as soon as a return input from an input unit is received. A periodic signal unit that receives a valve opening / closing signal from the valve drive unit and outputs a periodic signal at an arbitrary interval when the gas passage is being closed, and when the shut-off determination unit receives the periodic signal, The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence is re-determined. A short-term signal unit that receives a permission signal of the determining unit during shut-off, and then outputs a short-term signal when the permission signal is not output, and stops outputting the short-term signal when a return signal of the return input unit is received; If there is a short-term signal in the signal section, the shut-off determination section has already confirmed gas leakage in the gas passage once during plugging, and then the pressure value becomes less than the pressure drop during shut-off, making it impossible for the shut-off determination section to determine The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein the gas passage is opened after reconfirmation of gas leakage in the gas passage in a short period of time. When a non-permission signal is received from the determining unit during shutoff, the pressure value of the pressure input unit is monitored, and when a pressure value equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure is detected, a pressure increase detection unit that outputs a reconfirmation signal is provided. 2. The gas cutoff device according to claim 1, wherein when the pressure rises in a state where the gas is present, it is determined that the gas passage is not opened on the gas appliance side, and the gas leakage is determined again during closing. The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, further comprising an external communication unit that reports to the outside when a communication permission signal is received from the shut-down determining unit.

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