JP2007127509A - Regulator, and hybrid gas meter system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a regulator laid out not to induce a trouble of equipment in a downstream by intrusion of a drain caused by reliquefaction of LP gas, and capable of simplifying piping for the equipment in the downstream. <P>SOLUTION: This automatically switched regulator 1 arranged in an under side of an ultrasonic gas meter 3 is constituted, in an LP gas flow-in port 32 arranged in a lower side of a housing 31 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 arranged vertically with a measuring passage for metering a flow rate of the LP gas by au ultrasonic metering part, to arrange a high-pressure LP gas flow-in port 12 in an under side of the housing 11, and to arrange a low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13 connectable directly to the LP gas flow-in port 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 by a union nut 28, in an upper side of the housing 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is arranged on a supply path for supplying LP gas in an LP gas container to a combustor, and adjusts the high gas pressure of LP gas in the LP gas container to a low constant pressure suitable for the combustor. The present invention relates to a hybrid gas meter system configured by combining an ultrasonic gas meter that measures the amount of LP gas decompressed by the regulator with the regulator.

  A regulator for reducing the high gas pressure of LP gas in the LP gas container to a low constant pressure suitable for the combustor, which is necessary when supplying LP gas in the LP gas container to the combustor, A so-called hybrid type gas meter has been conventionally proposed that integrates a gas meter that measures the amount supplied to the combustor and omits or simplifies the piping between them.

Many of these hybrid gas meters have a regulator placed above the gas meter on the premise of using a membrane gas meter in which the arrangement of the entrance and exit of LP gas is structurally constrained at the top of the measuring chamber (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4), an apparatus in which a regulator is disposed below the gas meter, which is advantageous in preventing failure of the gas meter due to the entrance of a drain caused by reliquefaction of LP gas in the regulator (for example, Patent Document 5) To 7) and those in which a regulator is arranged in front of the gas meter have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 8).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-37718 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-91227 Japanese Utility Model Publication No.2-221254 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-57629 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-118834 JP 11-295129 A JP 2001-188020 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-118833

  As described above, in order to prevent a failure of the gas meter due to the entrance of the drain caused by the re-liquefaction of LP gas in the regulator, it is desirable to arrange the regulator below or in front of the gas meter. In order to introduce LP gas decompressed to a pressure suitable for the combustor into the gas inlet of the membrane gas meter, the LP gas must be sent from the bottom to the top of the metering chamber. Since it is required inside, the intended purpose of simplification of piping cannot be fully achieved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to lay out the apparatus so as not to induce a failure of a downstream device such as a gas meter due to the entry of a drain due to re-liquefaction of LP gas in the LP gas supply path. And it is providing the regulator which can simplify piping with respect to downstream apparatuses, such as a gas meter, and the hybrid gas meter system using this regulator.

  The present invention according to claim 1 that achieves the above object relates to a regulator, and the present invention according to claims 2 to 5 relates to a hybrid gas meter system.

  The regulator according to the first aspect of the present invention is disposed on the supply path for supplying the LP gas in the LP gas container to the combustor, and the high gas pressure of the LP gas in the LP gas container is suitable for the combustor. A regulator for reducing the pressure to a low constant pressure, comprising: a housing; a high-pressure LP gas inlet provided at a lower portion of the housing; and a low-pressure LP gas outlet provided at an upper portion of the housing; A low-pressure LP gas discharge port is formed downstream of the regulator on the supply path, and is formed so as to be directly connectable with a LP gas inlet and a joint of a device that performs an operation on the LP gas decompressed by the regulator. It is characterized by.

  A hybrid gas meter system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the regulator according to the first aspect and an ultrasonic gas meter as the device, and the ultrasonic gas meter is formed by the joint. The LP gas inlet directly connected to the low-pressure LP gas outlet of the regulator, a housing having the LP gas inlet at a lower portion, an LP gas outlet provided at an upper portion of the housing, and the LP A metering passage extending from the gas inlet to the LP gas outlet and extending into the housing; and an ultrasonic metering unit for metering a flow rate of the LP gas flowing through the metering passage with ultrasonic waves. To do.

  Furthermore, the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 3 is the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic gas meter detects the pressure of LP gas flowing through the metering passage. A shutoff command means for outputting a shutoff command signal when the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor falls below a set pressure value, and a shutoff valve that is actuated by the shutoff command signal to shut off the metering passage And instructing means to arbitrarily output the shutoff command signal to the shutoff command means in response to an instruction for determining an airtight state on the supply path in which the regulator is disposed, and the indicating means Before and after the shutoff valve shuts off the metering passage by the shutoff command signal arbitrarily output to the shutoff command means according to the instruction of Monitoring the pressure of the LP gas detected by serial pressure sensor, and further comprising Configurations and determination means for airtight state of the supply path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid gas meter system according to the present invention, the regulator according to the first aspect, a shut-off valve unit as the device, and an ultrasonic gas meter disposed on the downstream side of the shut-off valve unit. The shut-off valve unit is connected directly to the low-pressure LP gas outlet of the regulator by the joint; a housing having the LP gas inlet at the bottom; and An LP gas discharge port provided in the upper part of the housing and a shut-off that operates in response to an external shut-off command signal and blocks an internal passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas discharge port. A valve and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the LP gas flowing through the internal passage, and the LP gas discharge port is provided with an LP gas intake of the ultrasonic gas meter. The LP gas intake port which is formed so as to be directly connectable with a mouth and a second joint, and the ultrasonic gas meter is directly connected to the LP gas discharge port of the shut-off valve unit with the second joint. A housing having the LP gas inlet, an LP gas outlet provided in the housing, a metering passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas outlet, and the inside of the housing. An ultrasonic metering unit that measures the flow rate of the LP gas flowing through the metering passage with ultrasonic waves, and the cutoff command signal to the cutoff valve when the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor falls below a set pressure value. And a shut-off command means for outputting.

  Furthermore, the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 5 is the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic gas meter is airtight on the supply path in which the regulator is disposed. In response to a state determination instruction, instruction means for instructing the interruption command means to arbitrarily output the interruption instruction signal, and the interruption instruction means arbitrarily outputting the interruption instruction means in accordance with an instruction from the instruction means And a determination unit that monitors the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor before and after the shutoff valve shuts off the internal passage by a command signal, and determines the airtight state of the supply path. It was.

  According to the regulator of the present invention described in claim 1, the device that operates on the LP gas decompressed by the regulator extends the passage of the LP gas of the device in the vertical direction, and the LP gas inlet port. Low pressure LP gas outlet while laying down the equipment so as not to induce failure of the equipment on the downstream side due to the entry of the drain by reliquefaction of LP gas. The piping for the device can be simplified by the direct connection by the joint between the device and the LP gas inlet of the device.

  According to the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the LP gas that is directly connected to the low-pressure LP gas discharge port of the regulator by a joint is connected to the device for operating the LP gas decompressed by the regulator. An inlet, a housing having the LP gas inlet at the bottom, an LP gas outlet provided at the top of the housing, and a metering passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas outlet into the housing In the case of an ultrasonic gas meter equipped with an ultrasonic metering unit that measures the flow rate of LP gas flowing through the metering passage with ultrasonic waves, the LP gas passage through the regulator and the ultrasonic gas meter is moved up and down. Ultrasonic so as not to induce the failure of the ultrasonic gas meter due to the entrance of the drain by re-liquefaction of LP gas in the regulator While laying out the regulator under the gas meter, the pipe connecting the regulator and the ultrasonic gas meter is directly connected by a joint between the low pressure LP gas outlet of the regulator and the LP gas inlet of the ultrasonic gas meter. A hybrid gas meter system that can be simplified can be provided.

  Further, according to the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 3, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 2, the indicating means is in a state where the main plugs on the LP gas container side and the combustor side are closed. LP gas flowing through the metering passage by the pressure sensor in both the state before the shutoff valve is actuated by the shutoff command signal arbitrarily output by the shutoff command means by the pressure sensor and the state before the metering passage is shut off In the past, this was done by closing the main plugs on the LP gas container side and the combustor side and connecting a recorder to the inspection hole of the screw gas stopper with the inspection hole. Airtight inspection can be performed without using a screw gas stopper with a test hole or a recorder, and if there is a problem with the airtight state, Or has occurred in either the flow side, it can be easily confirmed.

  Furthermore, according to the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention as set forth in claim 4, an apparatus for performing an operation on the LP gas decompressed by the regulator is connected directly to the low-pressure LP gas discharge port by the joint of the regulator. The gas inlet, the housing having the LP gas inlet at the lower part, the LP gas outlet provided at the upper part of the housing, and an external cutoff command signal actuate the LP gas outlet from the LP gas inlet. In the case of a shut-off valve unit having a shut-off valve that shuts off the internal passage that extends into the housing toward the outlet and a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of LP gas flowing through the internal passage, shuts off the regulator. The LP gas passage through the valve unit is arranged in the vertical direction, and the shut-off valve is moved by the entrance of the drain by reliquefaction of the LP gas in the regulator The regulator and the shut-off valve unit are connected by a direct connection through a joint between the low-pressure LP gas discharge port of the regulator and the LP gas inlet of the shut-off valve unit while laying out the regulator below the shut-off valve so as not to cause trouble. It is possible to provide a hybrid gas meter system capable of simplifying the piping connecting the two.

  Moreover, according to the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the LP gas that is directly connected to the LP gas discharge port of the shut-off valve unit by the second joint is arranged downstream of the shut-off valve unit. A gas inlet, a housing having the LP gas inlet, an LP gas outlet provided in the housing, and a metering passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas outlet into the housing. An ultrasonic metering unit that measures the flow rate of LP gas flowing through this metering passage with ultrasonic waves, and a shutoff command to the shutoff valve of the shutoff valve unit when the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor falls below the set pressure value Since it is an ultrasonic gas meter equipped with a cutoff command means for outputting a signal, the LP gas discharge port of the cutoff valve unit and the LP gas intake port of the ultrasonic gas meter By direct connection of the second joint, the pipe connecting the shut-off valve unit and the ultrasonic gas meter can provide a hybrid gas meter system can be simplified.

  Further, according to the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 5, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present invention described in claim 4, the indicating means is in a state where the main plugs on the LP gas container side and the combustor side are closed. The pressure of the shutoff valve unit in both the state before the shutoff valve of the shutoff valve unit is operated by the shutoff command signal arbitrarily output by the shutoff command means by the shutoff command means and the state after the shutoff is shut off By detecting the pressure of LP gas flowing through the internal passage with a sensor and monitoring the trend with a judgment means, the main plugs on the LP gas container side and the combustor side are conventionally closed and recorded in the inspection hole of the screw gas stopper with the inspection hole. The airtight inspection that was performed with the gauge connected can be performed without using a screw gas stopper with a hole for inspection or a recorder, and there is a problem with the airtight condition. If, whether it occurs in either of the upstream and downstream of the shut-off valve, can be easily confirmed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hybrid gas meter system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment is an automatic switching adjuster (referred to as an adjuster in claims) indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. And an ultrasonic gas meter 3 (corresponding to the device in the claims).

  The automatic switching regulator 1 has two high-pressure LP gas inlets 12 and 12 (in FIG. 1) to which pipes 5 and 5 from an LP gas container (not shown) are respectively connected to the lower side of the housing 11. Only the right-side high-pressure LP gas inlet 12 is shown), and a low-pressure LP gas outlet 13 is provided at the top of the housing 11.

  Inside the housing 11, as shown schematically in the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2, an intermediate pressure adjusting unit 14 and a low pressure adjusting unit 15 with an automatic switching function are provided.

  The intermediate pressure adjusting unit 14 is disposed on the lower side of the housing 11 and communicates with the two high-pressure LP gas inlets 12 and 12 through valves 16 and 16 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. A pressure adjusting chamber 17, a diaphragm 18 that partitions the pressure adjusting chamber 17 from the outside, a pressure setting spring 19 that urges the diaphragm 18 toward the pressure adjusting chamber 17, a cam body 20 attached to the diaphragm 18, A switching knob 21 for rotating the cam body 20 is provided, and the switching knob 21 is exposed on the lower front side of the housing 11 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate pressure adjusting unit 14 rotates the cam body 20 by rotating the switching knob 21 so that one of the two high-pressure LP gas inlets 12 and 12 is connected to the cam body 20. The main inlet close to the operating rod 16a of the valve 16 is set, and the other of the two high-pressure LP gas inlets 12 and 12 is set as an auxiliary inlet where the cam body 20 is separated from the operating rod 16a of the valve 16. Can do.

  In the intermediate pressure adjusting unit 14, when the high pressure LP gas pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 17 is lower than the gas pressure set by the pressure setting spring 19, the diaphragm 18 is displaced toward the pressure adjusting chamber 17, and the cam body 20 is moved. The pressure lowers and presses the operating rod 16a of the valve 16 of the high pressure LP gas inlet 12 set at the main inlet, and the high pressure LP gas in the LP gas container (not shown) connected to the high pressure LP gas inlet 12 is pressurized. The gas pressure is increased by introducing it into the adjusting chamber 17.

  Then, the remaining amount of gas in an LP gas container (not shown) connected to the high pressure LP gas inlet 12 set as the main inlet becomes small, and the high pressure LP gas pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 17 cannot be maintained at the set gas pressure. Then, the diaphragm 18 is further displaced toward the pressure regulating chamber 17 side and also presses the operation rod 16a of the valve 16 of the other high-pressure LP gas inlet 12 set as the auxiliary inlet, and the high-pressure LP gas inlet The high pressure LP gas of the LP gas container not shown connected to 12 is introduced into the pressure adjustment chamber 17, and the high pressure LP gas pressure in the pressure adjustment chamber 17 is returned to the set gas pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the low-pressure adjusting unit 15 is disposed on the upper side of the housing 11, and includes a pressure adjusting chamber 22 that communicates with the low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13, and a diaphragm that partitions the pressure adjusting chamber 22 from the outside. 23, a pressure setting spring 24 that urges the diaphragm 23 toward the pressure adjusting chamber 22, a communication passage 26 that communicates the pressure adjusting chamber 22 with the pressure adjusting chamber 17 of the intermediate pressure adjusting unit 14 via the valve body 25, A link lever 27 is provided to transmit the displacement of the diaphragm 23 to the valve body 25 as displacement in the opening / closing direction.

  When the LP gas pressure in the pressure adjustment chamber 22 is lower than the gas pressure set by the pressure setting spring 24 due to the use of LP gas, the diaphragm 23 is displaced to the pressure adjustment chamber 22 side. The valve element 25 is opened via the link lever 27, and LP gas is introduced from the pressure adjustment chamber 17 of the intermediate pressure adjustment unit 14 into the pressure adjustment chamber 22 via the communication path 26, and then from the low pressure LP gas discharge port 13. Increase exhaust gas pressure.

  When the LP gas pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 22 rises to the gas pressure set by the pressure setting spring 24, the diaphragm 23 is displaced to the side opposite to the pressure adjusting chamber 22, and the valve element is connected via the link lever 27. The gas pressure discharged from the low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13 is closed by stopping the introduction of LP gas from the pressure adjustment chamber 17 of the intermediate pressure adjustment unit 14 to the pressure adjustment chamber 22 via the communication passage 26. The rise of is stopped.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 28 denotes a female screw portion that is provided in the low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1 and can be screwed into an LP gas inlet 32 of an ultrasonic gas meter 3 to be described later. A union nut (corresponding to a joint in claims) having 28a (only shown in FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic gas meter 3 has an LP gas inlet 32 directly connected to the lower portion of the housing 31 by a low pressure LP gas outlet 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1 and a union nut 28. An LP gas discharge port 33 is provided at the top of the housing 31 to which a pipe 7 leading to an indoor main plug (not shown) to which a combustor (not shown) is connected is connected by a union nut 9. A display 34 for displaying the flow rate is provided on the front surface of the housing 31.

  Inside the housing 31, as shown schematically in the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 4, a metering passage 35 for connecting the LP gas inlet 32 and the LP gas outlet 33, and first and second acoustic transducers. 36, 37 are provided.

  The first acoustic transducer 36 is arranged with its transmission / reception surface facing downstream in the flow direction A of the LP gas in the measurement passage 35, and the second acoustic transducer 37 has its transmission / reception surface thereof in the measurement passage. It is arranged so as to face the transmission / reception surface of the first acoustic transducer 36 toward the upstream side in the flow direction A of the LP gas in 35.

  The flow rate of LP gas in the metering passage 35 using the first and second acoustic transducers 36 and 37 is measured by the second ultrasonic signal output from the first acoustic transducer 35 under the control of a control unit (not shown). The time elapsed until reception by the acoustic transducer 36 is obtained as the propagation time, and the time elapsed until the ultrasonic signal output from the second acoustic transducer 36 is received by the first acoustic transducer 35 is defined as the propagation time. By periodically performing an operation for obtaining and determining the difference between the two propagation times, the calculation is periodically performed based on the difference in the propagation times.

  For a specific method of calculating the flow rate of LP gas from the above-described propagation time difference, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-165717 if necessary.

  Further, in the housing 31, a shutoff valve 38 that opens and closes the metering passage 35 at a position closer to the LP gas inlet 32 than the first acoustic transducer 36 and the second acoustic transducer 37 of the metering passage 35, and a shutoff valve 38. And a pressure sensor 40 for detecting the LP gas pressure at 35 metering passages on the side of the LP gas inlet 32 further than the shutoff valve 38.

  A return switch (not shown) that is operated when the shut-off valve 38 in the closed state is opened to return to the normal state is provided at the bottom of the housing 31.

  The shut-off valve 38 is configured such that the LP gas pressure in the metering passage 35 at the LP gas inlet 32 side is lower than the set pressure value than the shut-off valve 38 detected by the pressure sensor 40, or the first and second acoustic transducers. If an abnormal pattern is observed in the flow rate of LP gas measured using 36 and 37, it is assumed that LP gas pressure abnormality or LP gas leakage has occurred. The valve is closed.

  Thereafter, when a return switch (not shown) is operated, the shut-off valve 38 is opened under the control of a control unit (not shown), and the LP gas pressure detected by the pressure sensor 40 after the valve opening, The control unit monitors the flow rate of LP gas measured using the second acoustic transducers 36 and 37, and a return safety confirmation operation is performed to confirm the elimination of LP gas pressure abnormality and LP gas leakage, Therefore, when it is confirmed that the LP gas pressure is abnormal or the LP gas leakage is eliminated, the ultrasonic gas meter 3 returns to the normal state under the control of the control unit.

  In the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment having such a configuration, the main plug on the LP gas container side and the main plug on the combustor side are closed in a state where the shutoff valve 38 is not closed, and the terminal of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 (FIG. When a telegraphic command for all-path airtightness inspection is transmitted from a setter (not shown) connected to the controller, a control unit (not shown) that monitors the output of the pressure sensor 40 for a predetermined period from the LP gas container side to the combustor side. It is determined whether or not there is a problem in the airtight state of all the LP gas paths.

  Subsequently, when a telegraphic command for an airtight inspection on the upstream side (LP gas container side) of the shut-off valve 38 is transmitted from the setter (not shown), the electromagnetic solenoid 39 is operated under the control of a control unit (not shown). The shut-off valve 38 in the open state is closed, and in this state, it is determined whether or not there is a problem in the airtight state upstream of the shut-off valve 38 by a control unit that monitors the output of the pressure sensor 40 for a predetermined period.

  By performing these all-path airtightness inspections and the subsequent airtightness inspection on the upstream side of the shutoff valve 38, the airtight state on either the upstream side or the downstream side (combustor side) of the shutoff valve 38 in the entire LP gas path. It is determined whether or not there is a problem.

  If there is no problem in the airtight state of the LP gas path on both the upstream side and the downstream side of the shutoff valve 38, a display indicating that there is no problem in the airtight state on the flow rate display 34 (for example, “ "OK" is displayed, and if there is a problem with the airtight state of the LP gas path on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the shutoff valve 38, a display indicating that there is a problem with the airtight state (for example, "NG" Is displayed on the display 34. At this time, a display indicating whether the part having a problem in the airtight state is on the upstream side or the downstream side of the shutoff valve 38 may be simultaneously displayed on the display 34.

  Thereafter, when the above-described return switch (not shown) is operated, the shut-off valve 38 is opened under the control of a control unit (not shown). After the valve is opened, when LP gas pressure abnormality or LP gas leakage occurs, Similarly, when the return safety check operation is performed by the control unit, and it is confirmed that the LP gas pressure is abnormal or the LP gas leakage is eliminated, the ultrasonic gas meter 3 is returned to the normal state by the control of the control unit. To do.

  It should be noted that whether or not there is a problem in the airtight state upstream of the shut-off valve 38 is determined by a test shut-off switch (see FIG. 5) in place of the transmission of a telegram command from the setter (not shown). (Not shown) may be provided so as to be executed in response to the operation of the test cutoff switch.

  As is clear from the above description, in the ultrasonic gas meter 3 of the present embodiment, the ultrasonic measurement unit in the claims is constituted by the first acoustic transducer 36, the second acoustic transducer 37, and a control unit (not shown). Is configured.

  Further, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment, a control unit (not shown) of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 corresponds to a cutoff command means, an instruction means, and a determination means in the claims.

  Furthermore, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment, the supply path in the claims includes pipes 5 and 5 from the LP gas container to the automatic switching regulator 1 and pipes from the ultrasonic gas meter 3 to the indoor main plug (not shown). 7.

  Thus, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment, an ultrasonic gas meter that measures the integrated flow rate of LP gas that has flowed into the measurement passage 35 that extends in the vertical direction from the LP gas inlet 32 positioned below the housing 31. The automatic switching regulator 1 is laid out so as not to induce a failure of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 due to the entrance of the drain due to the reliquefaction of LP gas, and the low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1. By directly connecting the LP gas inlet 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 with the union nut 28, the connection piping between the automatic switching regulator 1 and the ultrasonic gas meter 3 can be simplified.

  Moreover, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment, measurement is performed using the first and second acoustic transducers 36 and 37 when the pressure of the LP gas decompressed by the automatic switching regulator 1 is lower than the set pressure value. In order to cut off the supply of LP gas to the combustor side when an abnormal pattern is recognized in the flow rate of the LP gas, the shut-off valve 38 provided in the ultrasonic gas meter 3 is diverted. In response to transmission of a telegram command from a setter (not shown) connected to the gas meter 3, the shutoff valve 38 is open and closed with both main plugs on the LP gas container side and the combustor side closed. The output of the pressure sensor 40 is monitored for a predetermined period in the control unit of the ultrasonic gas meter 3, and based on the result, an airtight state is established either upstream or downstream of the shutoff valve 38. Problem whether the airtight test can be performed there.

  For this reason, the airtight inspection, which has been conventionally performed by connecting a recorder to the inspection hole of the screw gas stopper with inspection hole (not shown) with the main stopper on the LP gas container side or the combustor side closed, This can be done without using a threaded gas stopper and a recorder, and if a problem occurs in the airtight state, whether it is occurring upstream or downstream of the shut-off valve 38, It can be easily confirmed.

  Next, a hybrid gas meter system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hybrid gas meter system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment includes the same automatic switching regulator 1 as the hybrid gas meter system of the first embodiment, and the first implementation. It has an ultrasonic gas meter 3A different from the hybrid gas meter system of the embodiment, and a shutoff valve unit 8 interposed between the automatic switching regulator 1 and the ultrasonic gas meter 3A.

  In the ultrasonic gas meter 3A, a display 34 is disposed outside the housing 31 and is connected to a microcomputer 43 (not shown in FIG. 5) inside the housing 31 via a connector 46. The gas inlet 32 is moved to the upper side of the housing 31 and the LP gas outlet 33 is moved to the lower part of the housing 31 so that the vertical positional relationship of the internal metering passage 35 (not shown in FIG. 5) is increased. Except for the point of reverse rotation and the point where the shut-off valve 38 and the electromagnetic solenoid 39 are omitted, the rest of the configuration is the same as that of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 of the first embodiment.

  However, in the ultrasonic gas meter 3A of the present embodiment, the LP gas inlet 32 corresponds to the LP gas inlet in claim 4, and the LP gas outlet 33 is connected to the LP gas outlet in claim 4. It corresponds.

  The shutoff valve unit 8 is provided with an LP gas inlet 82 directly connected to the low pressure LP outlet 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1 and a union nut 84 (corresponding to a joint in the claims) at the lower part of the housing 81. In addition, an LP gas discharge port 83 that is directly connected to the LP gas inlet 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3A and a union nut 85 (corresponding to the second joint in the claims) is provided at the upper side. An electromagnetic solenoid 86 is attached to the front surface of the housing 81.

  A valve port 88 formed in the middle of an internal passage 87 that communicates the LP gas inlet 82 and the LP gas outlet 83 is formed inside the housing 81, as schematically shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. A shut-off valve 89 that opens and closes is provided, and the shut-off valve 89 is configured to open and close the valve port 88 by advancing and retracting the rod 86a of the electromagnetic solenoid 86 extending into the housing 81.

  A signal for the electromagnetic solenoid 86 is supplied from a control unit (not shown) of the ultrasonic gas meter 3A via the connector 46 and the display 34 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3A.

  The control unit of the ultrasonic gas meter 3A performs the same control as the control performed by the control unit of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 according to the first embodiment, except that the electromagnetic solenoid 39 performs a process on the electromagnetic solenoid 39. .

  Therefore, also in the ultrasonic gas meter 3A of the present embodiment, the ultrasonic measurement unit in the claims is configured by the first acoustic transducer 36, the second acoustic transducer 37, and a control unit (not shown).

  Also in the ultrasonic gas meter 3A of the present embodiment, a control unit (not shown) that performs processing in place of the electromagnetic solenoid 39 instead of the electromagnetic solenoid 39 has a cutoff command means, instruction means, and determination means in the claims. It corresponds to.

  Incidentally, the automatic switching regulator 1, the ultrasonic gas meter 3 </ b> A, and the shutoff valve unit 8 described above constitute a hybrid gas meter housed in the housing 10 and integrated as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7. . In FIG. 7, reference numeral 12 </ b> A is a pipe intake for passing a pipe 5 from an LP gas container (not shown) connected to one high-pressure LP gas inlet 12 of the automatic switching regulator 1 in the housing 10. Showing mouth.

  The hybrid gas meter system according to the present embodiment having such a configuration performs the operation performed by the electromagnetic solenoid 39, the cutoff valve 38, and the pressure sensor 40 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 of the hybrid gas meter system according to the first embodiment. The operation is basically the same as that performed by the hybrid gas meter system of the first embodiment except that the electromagnetic solenoid 86, the shut-off valve 89, and the pressure sensor 90 are performed.

  In the hybrid gas meter system according to the second embodiment having such a configuration, the flow of the LP gas flowing into the internal passage 87 inside the housing 81 from the LP gas inlet 82 positioned below the housing 81 is blocked. The automatic switching regulator 1 is laid out so as not to induce a failure of the shut-off valve unit 8 due to the entry of drain due to reliquefaction of LP gas below the shut-off valve unit 8 to be discharged, while the low-pressure LP gas exhaust of the automatic switching regulator 1 is By directly connecting the outlet 13 and the LP gas inlet 82 of the shut-off valve unit 8 by the union nut 84, the connection piping between the automatic switching regulator 1 and the shut-off valve unit 8 can be simplified.

  Moreover, in the hybrid gas meter system of the present embodiment, measurement is performed using the first and second acoustic transducers 36 and 37 when the pressure of the LP gas decompressed by the automatic switching regulator 1 is lower than the set pressure value. In order to cut off the supply of LP gas to the combustor side when an abnormal pattern is observed in the flow rate of the LP gas, the shut-off valve 89 provided in the shut-off valve unit 8 is diverted to an ultrasonic type. Pressures during opening and closing of the shutoff valve 89 with the main plugs on both the LP gas container side and the combustor side closed by transmission of a telegram command from a setter (not shown) connected to the gas meter 3A The output of the sensor 90 can be monitored by the ultrasonic gas meter 3A for a predetermined period, and an airtight inspection can be performed to determine whether there is a problem with the airtight state on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the shutoff valve 89. That.

  For this reason, an airtight inspection, which has conventionally been performed by closing the main plug on the LP gas container side or the combustor side and connecting a recorder to the inspection hole of the screw gas stopper (not shown) with an inspection hole, This can be done without using a stopper or recorder, and when there is a problem with the airtight state, it can be easily checked whether it is occurring upstream or downstream of the shut-off valve 89 can do.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a screw gas stopper with an inspection hole or a recording meter is used by using the pressure sensor 40 and the shut-off valve 38 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3 or the pressure sensor 90 and the shut-off valve 89 of the shut-off valve unit 8. The configuration necessary for performing the airtight inspection without using the may be omitted.

  In the hybrid gas meter system of the first embodiment, the union nut 28 provided in the low-pressure LP gas discharge port 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1 may be provided in the LP gas inlet 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter 3. Similarly, in the hybrid gas meter system of the second embodiment, the union nut 84 provided at the LP gas inlet 82 of the shutoff valve unit 8 may be provided at the low pressure LP outlet 13 of the automatic switching regulator 1. .

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the automatic switching adjuster 1 with an automatic switching function has been described as an example of the adjuster. However, the present invention can be applied to a simple adjuster without an automatic switching function. Further, the pressure adjusting mechanism is not limited to the regulator that adjusts the pressure from high pressure to low pressure via the intermediate pressure like the automatic switching regulator 1 of each embodiment described above, and the pressure adjusting mechanism directly adjusts the pressure from high pressure to low pressure. The present invention can be applied even to a regulator.

1 is a perspective view of a hybrid gas meter system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the automatic switching adjuster of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate pressure adjusting unit in FIG. 2. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic gas meter of FIG. It is a perspective view of the hybrid gas meter system concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the shut-off valve unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a hybrid gas meter system according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which the automatic switching regulator, the shut-off valve unit, and the ultrasonic gas meter of FIG. 5 are housed and integrated in a housing.

Explanation of symbols

1 Automatic switching adjuster (adjuster)
11, 31, 81 Housing 12 High-pressure LP gas inlet 13 Low-pressure LP gas outlet 28, 84 Union nut (joint)
3 Ultrasonic gas meter (equipment)
3A Ultrasonic gas meter 32 LP gas inlet (LP gas intake)
33 LP gas outlet (LP gas outlet)
35 Measuring path 36 First acoustic transducer (ultrasonic measuring unit)
37 Second acoustic transducer (ultrasonic measuring unit)
38,89 Shutoff valve 40,90 Pressure sensor 8 Shutoff valve unit 82 LP gas inlet 83 LP gas outlet 85 Union nut (second joint)
87 Internal passage

Claims (5)

An regulator that is disposed on a supply path for supplying LP gas in an LP gas container to a combustor, and reduces the high gas pressure of the LP gas in the LP gas container to a low constant pressure suitable for the combustor,
A housing;
A high-pressure LP gas inlet provided in a lower portion of the housing;
A low-pressure LP gas outlet provided in the upper part of the housing,
The low-pressure LP gas discharge port is disposed downstream of the regulator on the supply path and can be directly connected to the LP gas inlet of a device that performs operations on LP gas decompressed by the regulator by a joint. Being
A regulator characterized by that. A regulator according to claim 1;
It has an ultrasonic gas meter as the device,
The ultrasonic gas meter includes the LP gas inlet directly connected to the low-pressure LP gas outlet of the regulator by the joint, a housing having the LP gas inlet at a lower portion, and an upper portion of the housing. The measured LP gas outlet, the metering passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas outlet, and the flow rate of the LP gas flowing through the metering passage is measured ultrasonically. With a part,
A hybrid gas meter system characterized by that.   The ultrasonic gas meter includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of LP gas flowing through the measuring passage, and a cutoff command signal that is output when a pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor falls below a set pressure value. In response to a command means, a shutoff valve that is actuated by the shutoff command signal to shut off the metering passage, and an instruction for determining an airtight state on the supply path in which the regulator is disposed, the shutoff command signal is Before and after the shut-off valve shuts off the metering passage by the shut-off command signal arbitrarily output to the shut-off command means in accordance with an instruction from the instructing means and the shut-off command means. And a determination means for monitoring the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor to determine an airtight state of the supply path. Lid gas meter system. A regulator according to claim 1;
A shut-off valve unit as the device;
An ultrasonic gas meter disposed downstream of the shut-off valve unit;
The shut-off valve unit is provided on the LP gas inlet directly connected to the low pressure LP gas outlet of the regulator by the joint, a housing having the LP gas inlet at a lower portion, and an upper portion of the housing. An LP gas discharge port, a shut-off valve that operates in response to an external shut-off command signal and shuts off an internal passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas discharge port and extending into the housing; and the internal passage A pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of LP gas flowing through the LP gas exhaust port, and the LP gas discharge port is formed so as to be directly connectable with the LP gas intake port of the ultrasonic gas meter and a second joint,
The ultrasonic gas meter includes the LP gas intake port directly connected to the LP gas discharge port of the shutoff valve unit by the second joint, a housing having the LP gas intake port, An LP gas outlet provided, a metering passage extending from the LP gas inlet to the LP gas outlet, and an ultrasonic metering of the flow rate of the LP gas flowing through the metering passage. A sonic metering unit, and a shut-off command means for outputting the shut-off command signal to the shut-off valve when the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor falls below a set pressure value.
A hybrid gas meter system characterized by that.   The ultrasonic gas meter is instructed to instruct the cutoff command means to arbitrarily output the cutoff command signal in response to an instruction for determining an airtight state on the supply path where the regulator is disposed. And the pressure of the LP gas detected by the pressure sensor before and after the shut-off valve shuts off the internal passage by the shut-off command signal arbitrarily output to the shut-off command means in accordance with an instruction from the instructing means. The hybrid gas meter system according to claim 4, further comprising determination means for determining an airtight state of the supply path.

Images