JP2008003012A - Electronic water meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of a battery by holding integrated value data of a water use amount in emergency or the like and preventing measurement errors due to a reverse flow of tap water. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic water meter 11 comprises: having an impeller 14 for increasing and decreasing a revolution number in response to a flow rate of tap water in a weighing part 15; transmitting the revolution number of the impeller 14 through a plurality of gears 28 or the like to be integrated and displayed; integrally providing rotary members 30 on gear shafts 27 of the gears 28; detecting a rotating state of the impeller 14 by intermittently sensing an optical reflection part 32 of the rotary member 30 with optical sensors 33-35; connecting the optical sensors 33-35 to a microcomputer 39 having a storing part 40, a normal-reverse determination part 41 and a calculation-integration circuit part 42; adding or subtracting integrated values in response to normal rotation or reverse rotation of the impeller 14; transmitting and receiving the integrated values with a wireless machine 44 to the outside; and incorporating a power supply battery 47 of the wireless machine 44 to a water meter body part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic water meter. In particular, the integrated value can be displayed mechanically by decelerating the rotation of an impeller with a gear, and the integrated value can be held in a storage unit and sent to the outside. It is related with the electronic water meter comprised in.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 15, this type of electronic water meter 1 is generally provided with a rotating impeller 4 having a permanent magnet 3 fixed to the upper head in a measuring unit 2, and passes through the measuring unit 2. The impeller 4 is rotated in accordance with the flow rate of tap water to be detected, and the rotational speed of the permanent magnet 3 is detected by a magnetic sensor (flow rate sensor) 5. Then, the signal detected by the magnetic sensor 5 is calculated and integrated by an internal circuit of a microcomputer (control means) mounted on the printed circuit board 6, and the processing result is stored as integrated value data in the storage unit. The integrated value data is held and sent to the liquid crystal display unit 7 for liquid crystal display. In the figure, 8 is a register box, 9 is an instruction window, and 10 is a battery.

An electronic water meter having a wireless communication function includes a wireless device that receives the integrated value data through serial communication, and is configured to transmit data to an external automatic meter reading device. Thereby, the said integrated value can know meter-reading data easily also from the place away from the electronic water meter (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2005-257273 A.

  The above-mentioned conventional electronic water meter is configured to display liquid crystal as an integrated value. However, since it is an electronic type, the storage unit is destroyed by a lightning strike or the like, or power is supplied to a microcomputer or the like. When the battery life is over, it may fall into a poor measurement state. In such an emergency situation, in the worst case, there is a problem that the accumulated value data cannot be held.

  Moreover, although the electronic water meter employs a method in which the rotational speed of the impeller is digitally converted by a magnetic sensor, it has been found that the electronic water meter is more susceptible to magnetic influences than a mechanical water meter. Therefore, in order to obtain stable measurement results that are not easily affected by magnetism, mechanical water meters are better. In this case, however, measurement errors due to backflow of tap water are eliminated, and high measurement accuracy is achieved. It is necessary to secure.

  Furthermore, in general, an electronic water meter and the wireless device each have a dedicated power supply battery (primary battery) built therein. For this reason, parts having a high cost contribution rate, that is, batteries having a large power consumption are used separately and separately, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

  Therefore, there is a technical problem to be solved in order to stably maintain the integrated value data of tap water in an emergency, to prevent measurement errors due to back flow of tap water, and to reduce the cost of battery use. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 has an impeller whose number of rotations increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water, and the rotation of the impeller. In a water meter which transmits a number to a number wheel via a plurality of gears and displays an integrated value of the rotation speed, a light reflecting portion on a circumference is provided on any one gear shaft of the plurality of gears. And three optical sensors for detecting the detected portion and sensing the rotational state such as the rotation direction of the impeller. The microcomputer is connected to the optical sensor, and the microcomputer performs an addition process on the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the forward direction, and also adds the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the reverse direction. An arithmetic / integration circuit unit that performs subtraction processing, and the product Providing an electronic water meter comprising a storage unit for storing the value data. As long as the rotating member is configured to rotate integrally with the gear, the rotating member may be interlocked with the gear, or may be integrally provided with the gear, and the specific embodiment is not particularly limited.

  According to this configuration, when the rotating member rotates integrally with the gear as the impeller rotates, the detected portion (for example, the light reflecting portion, the light blocking portion, the slit, etc.) of the rotating member has three or more. The rotation state of the impeller is sensed by detection by an optical sensor. The detection signal of the optical sensor is sent to the calculation / integration circuit section of the microcomputer, and the integrated value is added when the impeller is forward rotating, while the integrated value is subtracted when the impeller is reverse rotating. Is done. This integrated value is stored in the storage unit and displayed on an electronic counter. In response to the request, the stored data is transmitted to an external meter connected to the outside. Since this signal processing method performs optical calculation / integration processing, it is hardly affected by an external magnetic force.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the number of the detected parts is one, and the number of the optical sensors is three, and the three optical sensors are arranged along the rotation direction of the rotating member. Further, the microcomputer is provided with a forward / reverse determination unit that determines a rotation direction of the impeller based on an input order of detection signals transmitted from the three optical sensors. An electronic water meter according to claim 1 is provided.

  According to this configuration, the three optical sensors are disposed with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the rotating member. Then, the detected parts of the rotating member are sequentially detected by the three optical sensors, and the respective detection signals are sequentially sent to the forward / reverse determination unit of the microcomputer. As a result, when the input order of the photosensors of No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 determined in advance coincides with the input order, it is determined that the rotation direction of the impeller is “forward rotation”. Is determined that the rotation direction of the impeller is “reverse rotation”.

  The invention described in claim 3 has an impeller whose number of rotations increases or decreases in accordance with the flow rate of tap water, and transmits the number of rotations of the impeller to a number wheel via a plurality of gears. In the water meter that displays the integrated value of the rotating member, a rotating member comprising a pair of N poles and S poles that are detected portions along the circumference on any one of the plurality of gears. The magnetic gear is provided so as to rotate integrally with the gear, and two magnetic sensors for detecting the detected portion and sensing the rotational state of the impeller are disposed, and a microcomputer is provided in the two magnetic sensors. The microcomputer is configured to perform addition processing on the integrated value when the impeller is rotating forward, and to perform subtraction processing on the integrated value when the impeller is rotating reversely; and An electronic device comprising a storage unit for storing integrated value data To provide a water meter.

  According to this configuration, when the rotating member rotates integrally with the gear as the impeller rotates, the detected portions provided on the rotating member, that is, the N pole and the S pole are detected by the two magnetic sensors. Then, the rotational state of the impeller is sensed. The detection signals of the two magnetic sensors are sent to the calculation / integration circuit section of the microcomputer. When the impeller rotates in the forward direction, addition processing is performed on the integrated value. The value is back-calculated. The integrated value is stored in the storage unit, and the stored data is transmitted to an external meter connected to the outside in response to a request.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the microcomputer includes a forward / reverse rotation determining unit that determines a rotation direction of the impeller based on a phase difference between detection signals transmitted from the two magnetic sensors. An electronic water meter as described is provided.

  According to this configuration, the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors are sent to the forward / reverse determination unit of the microcomputer, and the forward / reverse determination unit determines the phase difference between the two detection signals as the phase difference during forward rotation of the impeller. If the two coincide with each other, it is determined that the positive phase, that is, the impeller is in the “forward rotation” state, and if not, it is determined that the impeller is “reverse rotation”.

  The invention according to claim 5 provides the electronic water meter according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor or the magnetic sensor is driven intermittently to perform sensing.

  According to this structure, the said optical sensor or a magnetic sensor is intermittently driven for every period set according to the rotational speed etc. of the impeller. That is, a driving current is supplied to the sensor only for a necessary time.

  The invention according to claim 6 has an impeller whose number of rotations increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water, and transmits the number of rotations of the impeller to a number wheel via a plurality of gears. In the water meter that displays the integrated value of the plurality of gears, a rotating member having a detected portion is provided on any one of the plurality of gears so as to rotate integrally with the gear, and the detected portion A detection sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor for sensing the rotation state of the impeller is disposed, and a microcomputer is connected to the detection sensor. A calculation / integration circuit unit that performs addition processing on the integrated value at the time of the rotation, and performs subtraction processing on the integrated value when the impeller reverses, and a storage unit that stores the integrated value data, The integrated value data etc. Received by connecting the radio for wireless meter reading to the microcomputer, to provide an electronic water meter which a battery for supplying power to the wireless device comprising disposed in the main body of the water meter.

  According to this configuration, the battery for supplying power to the wireless device is disposed in the main body of the water meter installed at a predetermined depth in the ground. Therefore, even when the wireless device is mounted near the ground surface particularly in a cold region, the battery is arranged in the ground where the temperature drop is smaller than that on the ground surface, so there is almost no adverse effect due to the temperature drop. This battery is also used as a power source for electronic parts (microcomputer parts, sensor parts, etc.) built in the radio and water meter.

  Since the invention described in claim 1 is a gear-linked transmission system, even if the measurement is impossible due to lightning or battery life, the integrated value is stored as it is and the main meter function excluding the external data output function Can also be maintained well. Further, since the rotation state of the impeller is sensed and converted into a signal by an optical method such as a photo interrupter, a stable measurement result that is hardly affected by an external magnetic force can be obtained. Further, when the impeller reverses, correction is performed by subtracting the integrated value, so that erroneous measurement due to backflow of tap water can be prevented and the amount of tap water used can always be calculated accurately.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the rotation direction of the impeller is determined by three optical sensors, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the number of optical sensors can be minimized and the structure can be reduced. It is simple and the rotational direction of the impeller can be accurately detected.

In the third aspect of the invention, as in the case of the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the integrated value can be stored as it is even if the measurement is impossible due to lightning or battery life, and the external data output function is excluded. The meter function can also be maintained well. Further, the number of magnetic sensors is only two, and the structure is simple, and erroneous measurement due to the reverse rotation of the impeller can be prevented.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the rotational direction of the impeller is determined based on the phase difference between the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, a circuit such as a forward / reverse determination unit There is an advantage that the configuration can be further simplified and the rotational speed and rotational direction of the impeller can be accurately grasped.

  In the invention described in claim 5, since the optical sensor or the magnetic sensor is driven intermittently, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, unnecessary current supply is eliminated, The current consumption is reduced by that amount, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the battery for supplying power to the radio device is disposed in the ground where the temperature drop is less than that on the ground surface side, the battery performance or life reduction due to the temperature drop is prevented. . Further, since the battery is used as a power source for the radio device and the water meter main body, there is an advantage that it is advantageous in terms of cost and installation space.

  The object of the present invention is to stably hold accumulated value (water supply flow rate) data in an emergency, to prevent measurement errors due to backflow of tap water, and to reduce the cost of using a power battery. It has an impeller whose rotational speed increases / decreases according to the flow rate of water, and the rotational speed of the impeller is transmitted to the number wheel via a plurality of gears to display the integrated value of the rotational speed. In the water meter, a rotation member having a detected portion is provided on any one of the plurality of gear shafts so as to rotate integrally with the gear, and the rotation of the impeller is detected by detecting the detected portion. A detection sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor for sensing the state is provided, and a microcomputer is connected to the detection sensor. The microcomputer performs an addition process on the integrated value when the impeller is rotating forward. Done And a calculation / integration circuit unit that performs a subtraction process on the integrated value when the impeller reversely rotates, and a storage unit that stores the integrated value data, and further transmits / receives the integrated value data and the like to the outside. This was realized by connecting a wireless device for performing wireless meter reading to the microcomputer and arranging a battery for supplying power to the wireless device in the main body of the water meter.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic water meter according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an electronic water meter, which includes a lower case 12 and an upper case 13 assembled together, and the lower case 12 has a measuring unit 15 on which an impeller 14 is rotatably provided. Is formed. Further, the upper part of the upper case 13 is covered with a transparent cover 16, and this cover 16 has a recess. Furthermore, a lower bottomed register box 17 is fixed inside the upper case 13, and an instruction display unit 18 is formed in the register box 17.

  The measuring unit 15 is a passage through which tap water flows, and the rotational speed of the impeller 14 increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water. A driving magnet 19 is attached to the upper head of the impeller 14, and the magnet 19 is magnetically coupled to a driven magnet 21 with a gear 20 that is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the register box 17. Therefore, when the impeller 14 rotates due to the passage of tap water, the rotational force is transmitted to the drive-side magnet 21 and the gear 20 rotates. The gear 20 can also be connected to rotate integrally with the impeller 14.

In addition, a numerical wheel 22 is arranged in the instruction display unit 18, and a reduction gear train composed of a plurality of gears is provided between the numerical wheel 22 and the gear 20 so as to be able to transmit driving. Through the reduction gear train and the magnet 21 with the gear 20, the rotation of the impeller 14 is represented by a number wheel 22.
Is transmitted to. Thereby, the number wheel 22 displays an integrated value corresponding to the rotation speed of the impeller 14. In addition, an instruction window 23 is formed at the position of the cover 16 corresponding to the numeral wheel 22. Reference numeral 24 denotes a transparent substrate case provided on the upper surface side of the cover 16.

  A lower base plate 25 and an upper base plate 26 are fixedly provided at a position opposite to the numeral wheel 22 in the instruction display unit 18, and a gear shaft 27 is integrally provided on the lower base plate 25. A gear 28 is rotatably attached to the gear shaft 27, and the gear 28 constitutes one of the reduction gear trains. The upper end portion of the gear shaft 27 passes through a hole 29 formed in the upper base plate 26 as shown in FIG. A rotating member 30 is provided at the upper end of the gear shaft 27 so as to rotate integrally with the gear 28, and the rotating member 30 is disposed on the upper base plate 26.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially fan-shaped light reflecting portion 32, which is a detected portion, is formed at one place on the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the rotating member 30. Also, there are three first to third optical sensors (detection sensors) 33 to 35 on the fixed portion facing the rotating member 30, here, the lower fixed surface of the printed circuit board 31 fixed to the substrate case 24. It is arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 is located at a position corresponding to a portion equally divided into three in the circumferential direction of the rotating member 30, that is, along the rotating direction of the rotating member 30. In the illustrated example, they are arranged at intervals of 120 °.

  Here, each of the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 is a reflection type photodetector composed of a light emitting element 36 and a light receiving element 37, and detects the light reflecting portion 32 to rotate the impeller 14. Sensing is intermittently performed to detect the state, that is, the rotation direction, the rotation speed, and the rotation speed. The light beam emitted from the light emitting element 36 strikes and reflects the light reflecting portion 32 of the rotating member 30 to rotate, returns to the light receiving element 37, photoelectrically converts it, and outputs a digital signal.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the printed circuit board 31 is equipped with a microcomputer 39 as control means, and the microcomputer 39 is connected with three first to third optical sensors 33 to 35. . The microcomputer 39 includes a storage unit 40, a forward / reverse determination unit 41, and an arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42. Here, the detection signals of the first to third first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 are sent to the microcomputer 39 in this order with the first optical sensor 33 as a reference.

  The forward / reverse determination unit 41 inputs detection signals from the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35, determines the input order of the detection signals, and determines the rotation direction of the impeller 14. In addition, the rotation direction of the impeller 14 and the rotation member 30 when tap water passes in the forward direction is defined as normal rotation. The arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42 calculates an integrated value by adding or subtracting the rotational speed of the impeller 14 according to the determination result of the forward / reverse determination unit 41. Furthermore, the storage unit 40 temporarily holds detection signals from the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35, stores data such as integrated values calculated by the calculation / integration circuit unit 42, and stores the stored data. Send to outside upon request.

  Further, a wireless device 44 is connected to the microcomputer 39 via a cable 43. The wireless device 44 is, for example, near the ground surface directly below the lid (not shown) of the meter box in which the electronic water meter 11 is installed. It is arranged. The wireless device 44 includes a printed circuit board 45, an antenna 46, and the like, and electronic components that form a wireless communication circuit are mounted on the printed circuit board 45. The wireless device 44 receives a command signal from an external wireless unit or a management server, or transmits the stored data to an external wireless unit or the like.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a battery for supplying power to the radio device 44. The battery 47 is installed in the upper part of the main body of the electronic water meter 11, here in the recess of the cover 16. The battery 47 is also used as a power source for the microcomputer 39 and the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 built in the electronic water meter 11. Note that a liquid crystal display unit for digitally displaying the integrated value or the like can be connected to the storage unit 40 of the microcomputer 39.

  Next, calculation and integration processing of the sensor signal will be described in detail. The detection signals of the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 are defined as first to third outputs S1 to S3, respectively. Now, assuming that tap water flows in the forward direction and the impeller 14 makes one rotation in the forward rotation direction, the first to third photosensors 33 to 35 have the first output S1, as shown in FIG. The second output S2, the third output S3, and the first output S1 are detected in this order and stored in the storage unit 40 of the microcomputer 39.

  This stored data is sent to the forward / reverse determination unit 41. The forward / reverse rotation determination unit 41 determines that the rotation direction of the impeller 14 is “forward rotation” after sensing that the input order of the detection signals is the above-mentioned order, and calculates the result as an arithmetic / integration circuit unit. 42. Then, the calculation / integration circuit unit 42 adds (+1) to the current integrated value by one. In short, in this addition process, +1 is counted when the second output S2 and the third output S3 are detected in this order before the first output S1 is detected.

  Unlike the above, if the tap water flows backward and the impeller 4 makes one rotation in the reverse direction, the detection signals of the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 are as shown in FIG. The output S1, the third output S3, the second output S2, and the first output S1 are detected in this order and stored in the storage unit 40 of the microcomputer 39.

  This stored data is sent to the forward / reverse rotation determination unit 41 as described above, and the forward / reverse rotation determination unit 41 senses that the input order of the detection signals is the order described above, and then rotates the impeller 14. Is “reverse”, and the result is sent to the arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42. Then, the arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42 performs a subtraction (−1) process by 1 on the current integrated value. In short, in this subtraction process, -1 is counted when the third output S3 and the second output S2 are detected in this order before the first output S1 is detected.

  In this embodiment, when the detection signals input from the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 to the forward / reverse determination unit 41 of the microcomputer 39 have the same number, that is, the first output S1 and the second output. When either S2 or the third output S3 is continuously input, there is an input from only one of the first optical sensor 33, the second optical sensor 34, or the third optical sensor 35. Treat it as if it were.

  In addition, after the first output S1 is detected, if the second output S2, the third output S3, and the first output S1 are detected, it is recognized that the impeller 14 has made one rotation. This is only when the number of pulses of the second output S2 and the third output S3 is the same, and this is the target of addition processing or subtraction processing.

  As described above, when the impeller 4 rotates in the reverse direction due to the reverse flow of the tap water, the integrated value is corrected by performing a subtraction process. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous calculation caused by the backflow of tap water and always measure the amount of tap water used accurately.

  In addition, since the present invention has a gear transmission type mechanical structure, the rotational speed of the impeller 14 is transmitted to the numeral wheel 22 through a plurality of gears 28 and the like, and an integrated value of the rotational speed is obtained. Can be displayed. Therefore, even if the measurement is impossible due to lightning or battery life, the integrated value is stored as it is, and the main meter function (excluding the external data output function) can be maintained well.

  Furthermore, since the rotational state of the impeller 14 is optically sensed to perform calculation / integration processing of the amount of tap water used, it is hardly affected by magnetism, and accurate measurement results can be obtained stably over a long period of time. In addition, since sensing by the first to third optical sensors 33 to 35 is performed by intermittent driving, the amount of electricity consumed supplied to the optical sensors 33 to 35 is reduced.

  Furthermore, even when the wireless device 44 is mounted near the ground surface, the battery 47 that supplies power to the wireless device 44 is built in the upper part of the main body of the electronic water meter 11. Therefore, the temperature drop is smaller than when the battery 47 is installed near the ground surface. Thus, there is almost no deterioration in the performance of the battery 47 due to a temperature drop, and the battery can be used stably over a long period of time.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that it is replaced with the three optical sensors and the rotating member with the light reflecting portion as means for detecting forward / reverse rotation of the impeller, and two magnetic sensors 50 and 51 and magnetized. The difference is that a rotating member 52 with a portion (detected portion) is used. Since other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals for description.

  In the electronic water meter having the same mechanical configuration as in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper end portion of the gear shaft 27 passes through the hole 29 on the upper base plate 26 side. A rotating member 52 is integrally fixed to the upper end portion of the gear shaft 27, and the rotating member 52 is disposed on the upper base plate 26. In this embodiment, the rotating member 52 is composed of a disk-shaped magnet in which a pair of N poles and S poles (detected parts) are arranged along the circumference.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the N pole and the S pole are formed with an interval of 180 ° in the circumferential direction of the rotating member 52. Further, two fixed first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 serving as forward / reverse detection sensors are provided on a fixed portion near the side of the rotating member 52, here, a lower surface of the printed circuit board 31 or a protrusion formed on the lower surface. It is fixed. The first magnetic sensor 50 and the second magnetic sensor 51 sense the N pole and the S pole. Here, in order to produce a predetermined phase difference between the sensor outputs T and T2, here, the rotating member of the illustrated example is used. They are arranged at intervals of 45 ° along the circumferential direction of 52. Further, the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 electromagnetically detect the rotation of the rotating member 52 and convert it into a digital signal.

  In this embodiment, the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 are connected to a microcomputer 39 mounted on the printed circuit board 31 as shown in FIG. The microcomputer 39 includes a storage unit 40, a forward / reverse determination unit 41, and an arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42. Here, the detection signal of the first magnetic sensor 50 and the detection signal of the second magnetic sensor 51 are sent to the microcomputer 39 in this order.

  The phase detected by the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 differs by 180 ° between when the rotating member 52 rotates forward and when it rotates backward. By discriminating this phase difference, the rotation direction of the rotating member 52 is detected. Further, by counting the number of pulses output from the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51, an integrated value of the number of rotations of the rotating member 52 and the like are calculated.

  Next, processing of the sensor signal will be described in detail. If tap water flows in the forward direction and the rotating member 52 rotates 1/2 in the forward direction, as shown in FIG. 12, after the first magnetic sensor 50 detects the N pole, it is delayed by 45 °. Then, the second magnetic sensor 51 detects the N pole. Output waveforms T1 and T2 detected by the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 are stored in the storage unit 40 of the microcomputer 39.

Next, the stored data is sent from the storage unit 40 to the forward / reverse determination unit 41, it is determined that the rotation direction of the impeller is “forward rotation”, and the result is sent to the arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42. Then, the arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42 performs an addition (+1) process on the current integrated value by 1 when the rotating member 52 rotates 180 °. In short, in this addition process, after the first magnetic sensor 50 detects the N pole, the second magnetic sensor 51 detects the N pole, and when the rotating member 52 makes a 1/2 rotation, +1 is counted. .

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the tap water flows backward and the impeller and the rotating member 52 rotate 1/2 in the reverse direction (see FIG. 13). Then, as shown in FIG. 14, after the second magnetic sensor 51 detects the south pole, the first magnetic sensor 50 detects the south pole with a 45 ° delay, and the detected output waveforms T1 and T2 are The data is sent to the storage unit 40 and forward / reverse determination unit 41 of the microcomputer 39. Then, the forward / reverse determination unit 41 determines that the rotation direction of the impeller is “reverse rotation”, and sends the result to the calculation / integration circuit unit 42.

  Thus, the arithmetic / integration circuit unit 42 performs a subtraction (−1) process on the current integrated value by 1 when the rotating member 52 rotates 180 °. In short, in this subtraction process, after the second magnetic sensor 51 detects the N pole, the first magnetic sensor 50 detects the N pole, and when the rotating member 52 makes 1/2 rotation, −1 is counted. The

  As described above, when the impeller rotates in reverse with the backflow of tap water, the integrated value is corrected by subtraction processing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the calculation error due to the backflow of tap water and always measure the amount of tap water used accurately.

  In the present embodiment, since the current consumption of the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 is large, the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 are intermittently sampled in order to reduce the current consumption. Make it work. In this case, when the power sources of the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 are intermittently sampled, the sensor outputs are also sampled intermittently.

  Therefore, the output waveforms detected by the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 are shaped and returned to the illustrated output waveforms. Since the intermittent sampling operation mechanism and the output waveform shaping function are mounted on the microcomputer 39, the operation control of the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 is performed via the microcomputer 39. Is done.

  Thus, since the sensing by the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 is performed by intermittent driving, the amount of electricity supplied to the first and second magnetic sensors 50 and 51 is continuously driven. Reduced compared to when Also in the present embodiment, as in the above embodiment, even if the measurement is impossible due to lightning or battery life, the integrated value is stored as it is, and the main meter function is maintained well.

  The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one Example which concerns on this invention, and demonstrates schematic structure of an electronic water meter. The enlarged view which shows the rotation member vicinity with the light reflection part of the electronic water meter of FIG. The top view which shows the rotating member with a light reflection part of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the position of the optical sensor of the electronic water meter of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the detection state of the optical sensor which concerns on one Example. The output waveform figure explaining the pulse signal of a photosensor when the rotation member with a light reflection part concerning one example rotates forward. The output waveform figure explaining the pulse signal of a photosensor when the rotation member with a light reflection part concerning one example reversely rotates. The block diagram explaining the structure of the microcomputer based on one Example which concerns on one Example. The principal part detail drawing which shows the other Example which concerns on this invention, and shows the rotation member vicinity of an electronic water meter. Explanatory drawing which shows a state when the rotation member which concerns on another Example rotates forward. The output waveform figure explaining the signal output by a magnetic sensor when the rotation member of FIG. 10 rotates forward. Explanatory drawing which shows a state when the rotation member which concerns on another Example rotates reversely. The output waveform figure explaining the signal output by a magnetic sensor when the rotation member of FIG. 12 reversely rotates. The block diagram explaining the structure of the microcomputer which concerns on another Example. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a prior art example and demonstrates schematic structure of an electronic water meter. The top view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Electronic Water Meter 14 Impeller 15 Metering Unit 17 Register Box 18 Instruction Display Unit 19 Driving Side Magnet 20 Gear 21 Driven Side Magnet 22 Number Wheel 27 Gear Wheel 28 Gear 30 Rotating Member 31 Printed Circuit Board 32 Light Reflector 33 1 optical sensor (detection sensor)
34 Second optical sensor (detection sensor)
35 Third optical sensor (detection sensor)
36 Light-Emitting Element 37 Light-Receiving Element 39 Microcomputer 40 Storage Unit 41 Forward / Reverse Determination Unit 42 Calculation / Integration Circuit Unit 44 Radio 47 Battery 40 First Magnetic Sensor (Detection Sensor)
51 Second magnetic sensor (detection sensor)
52 Rotating member (magnet)

Claims (6)

It has an impeller whose rotational speed increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water, and transmits the rotational speed of the impeller to a numerical wheel via a plurality of gears so as to display an integrated value of the rotational speed. Water meter
A rotating member having a detected portion such as a light reflecting portion on the circumference is provided on any one of the plurality of gear shafts so as to rotate integrally with the gear, and the detected portion is detected. Three or more optical sensors for sensing the rotation state such as the rotation direction of the impeller are disposed,
A microcomputer is connected to the optical sensor, and the microcomputer performs an addition process on the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the forward direction and performs a subtraction process on the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the reverse direction. An electronic water meter comprising an integrating circuit unit and a storage unit for storing the integrated value data.   The number of the detected parts is one and the number of the optical sensors is three, and the three optical sensors are arranged with a predetermined interval along the rotation direction of the rotating member. 2. The microcomputer according to claim 1, further comprising a forward / reverse determination unit that determines a rotation direction of the impeller based on an input order of detection signals transmitted from the three optical sensors. Electronic water meter. It has an impeller whose rotational speed increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water, and transmits the rotational speed of the impeller to a numerical wheel via a plurality of gears so as to display an integrated value of the rotational speed. Water meter
A rotating member formed by arranging a pair of N poles and S poles that are detected portions along the circumference of any one of the plurality of gears is provided so as to rotate integrally with the gears, Two magnetic sensors for detecting the detected portion and sensing the rotational state of the impeller are disposed,
A microcomputer is connected to the two magnetic sensors, and the microcomputer performs an addition process on the integrated value when the impeller is rotating forward, and a subtracting process on the integrated value when the impeller is reverse rotated. An electronic water meter, comprising: an arithmetic / integration circuit unit that performs the above-described operation and a storage unit that stores the integrated value data.   4. The electronic water supply according to claim 3, wherein the microcomputer includes a forward / reverse rotation determining unit that determines a rotation direction of the impeller based on a phase difference between detection signals transmitted from the two magnetic sensors. Meter.   The electronic water meter according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the optical sensor or the magnetic sensor is driven intermittently to perform sensing. It has an impeller whose rotational speed increases or decreases according to the flow rate of tap water, and transmits the rotational speed of the impeller to a numerical wheel via a plurality of gears so as to display an integrated value of the rotational speed. Water meter
A rotating member having a detected portion is provided on any one of the plurality of gears so as to rotate integrally with the gear, and the detected state is detected to sense the rotational state of the impeller. A detection sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor for
A microcomputer is connected to the detection sensor, and the microcomputer performs an addition process on the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the forward direction and performs a subtraction process on the integrated value when the impeller rotates in the reverse direction. -An integration circuit unit and a storage unit for storing the integrated value data;
Further, a wireless device for performing wireless meter reading by transmitting and receiving the integrated value data and the like to the outside is connected to the microcomputer, and a battery for supplying power to the wireless device is disposed in the main body of the water meter. Electronic water meter characterized by

Images