JP2008097268A - Gas alarm system and gas alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas alarm system and a gas alarm which can raise an alarm when a gas apparatus is used in a hazardous condition without presence of people around it. <P>SOLUTION: This system comprises: a human sensor 3 which detects whether a person is present around the gas apparatus 5; and a gas meter 4 (gas supply detection part) which detects whether gas is supplied to the gas apparatus 5. A gas alarm 2 is connected to these human sensor 3 and gas meter 4, and raises an alarm in voice when a state of gas supply with no person in which no one is detected around the gas apparatus 5 and gas supply is detected, is continued beyond a predetermined period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas alarm system and a gas alarm device.

Traditionally, gas alarms have been used at home. For example, Patent Literature 1 below discloses a gas leak alarm that uses information input from a gas meter.
JP 2004-19956 A

  On the other hand, while the gas appliance is used for cooking or heating, the vicinity of the gas appliance may be temporarily left unattended with a fire on the phone or a visitor. In addition, forgetting to extinguish a fire may leave the area around the gas appliance unattended. If this condition continues for a long time, it may cause a fire and be dangerous.

  The main function of the conventional gas alarm is to warn of gas leaks. Is there a person around the gas appliance and it is used safely, or is it used in a dangerous state without a person? There was no function to make a warning according to the judgment result. Therefore, there has been a demand for a gas alarm system and a gas alarm that can issue an alarm when there is no person around the gas appliance and it is used in a dangerous state.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gas alarm system and a gas alarm that can issue an alarm when a gas appliance is being used in a dangerous state where there are no people around.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above problems, the gas alarm system of the present invention is
A human sensor that detects whether or not a person is present in a space around the gas appliance, which is defined around the gas appliance;
A gas supply detection unit that is arranged on a gas supply path to the gas appliance and detects whether gas is supplied to the gas appliance;
An audio output unit, a gas supply detection input unit to which the detection output of the gas supply detection unit is input, a human detection input unit to which the detection output of the human sensor is input, the gas supply detection input unit and the human detection input unit; Based on the input information, the gas supply detection unit detects whether the gas supply to the gas appliance is detected, and the human sensor detects whether there is a human absent gas supply state in which no person is detected in the space around the gas appliance. A gas alarm device comprising: an unattended gas supply state determining unit for determining; and an alarm control unit for outputting an unattended audio alarm to the audio output unit when the unattended gas supply state continues for a predetermined alarm standby time or longer; ,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the above invention, the human sensor is provided around the gas appliance, and the gas supply detection unit for detecting whether or not the gas is supplied is provided on the gas supply path to the gas appliance. The gas alarm device includes a human detection input unit to which detection output is input from a human sensor, and a gas supply detection input unit to which detection output is input from the gas supply detection unit. Whether the gas alarm has been detected by the gas supply detection unit to detect the supply of gas to the gas appliance, and the human sensor has not detected a person in the space surrounding the gas appliance (no-person gas supply state). A person absent gas supply state determination means for determining When this unattended gas supply state continues for a predetermined time (warning standby time) or longer, a sound alarm (person unattended sound alarm) is issued. As a result, an alarm can be issued when there are no people around and the gas appliance is used in a dangerous state, and the occurrence of an accident such as a fire can be reduced.

  The gas supply detection unit can be a gas meter that detects whether gas is supplied to the gas appliance and measures the amount of gas used. By using the gas meter as the gas supply detection unit, there is no need to provide a dedicated gas supply detection unit. Thereby, capital investment can be reduced and a gas alarm system can be constructed at low cost.

  In the present invention, the gas alarm device may include alarm standby time change setting means for changing and setting the alarm standby time according to the amount of gas used per unit time measured by the gas meter. . According to this configuration, it is possible to change and set the alarm standby time according to the amount of gas used, and therefore it is possible to optimize the timing for issuing the absence voice alert.

  More specifically, the alarm standby time change setting means is set so that the alarm standby time becomes shorter as the amount of gas used per unit time increases. Thereby, it becomes possible to issue an unattended voice warning faster as the amount of gas used is larger, and the risk of fires can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the gas alarm device, when a person absence voice alarm is output as the first voice alarm due to the passage of the alarm standby time, and when a person is not detected by a human sensor within a predetermined time, The first person absent voice alarm can be configured to output the person absent voice alarm as a second voice alarm in which at least one of the voice pattern and the volume is different. According to this configuration, if the gas user does not notice the first sound alarm, the gas user can be made aware by issuing the second sound alarm at a high volume, for example.

  The gas meter also includes a gas shut-off valve capable of shutting off the gas supplied to the gas appliance by a gas shut-off signal input from the outside. The gas alarm is output within a predetermined time after the second sound alarm is output. When a person is not detected by the human sensor, a gas cutoff signal output means for outputting a gas cutoff signal to the gas meter can be provided. According to this configuration, when the gas user does not return within a predetermined time, the gas supply can be forcibly cut off. Therefore, even if the user forgets to turn off the gas and goes out, the risk of fire can be reduced.

  Further, the gas alarm includes a gas leak sensor for detecting gas leaking from the gas appliance, and a gas leak alarm control means for outputting a gas leak alarm to the sound output means when the gas is detected by the gas leak sensor. The absence voice alert may be provided in a form that differs from the gas leak alert in at least one of a voice pattern and a volume. According to this configuration, it is possible for the gas user to distinguish between an alarm issued due to gas leakage or an alarm issued due to absence of a person.

On the other hand, a plurality of gas appliances are provided at the end of the gas supply path, and the plurality of gas appliances have different gas flow rates when using the gas,
A plurality of human sensors are provided dispersed in positions corresponding to a plurality of gas appliances,
The gas meter is arranged at a position where the total gas usage used by the gas appliances can be measured with respect to the gas pipes to the plurality of gas appliances. Among them, a gas appliance specifying means for specifying which gas appliance is used is provided.
In the gas supply detection input unit, information of the gas appliance specified by the gas appliance specifying means is input,
The human absent gas supply state determination means is specified based on input information to the gas supply detection input unit and input information input to the human detection input unit from a human sensor provided at a position corresponding to the gas appliance. It is possible to determine whether or not a person-absent gas supply state is established in the gas appliance.

  According to the above configuration, even when a plurality of gas appliances are provided, the gas meter can identify which gas appliance is being used. And when there is no person around the specified gas appliance, a person absence voice alarm is issued.

  The gas alarm device of the present invention is used in the gas alarm system described above, and includes an audio output unit, a gas supply detection input unit to which a detection output of the gas supply detection unit is input, and a detection output of a human sensor. Based on the input information of the human detection input unit and the gas supply detection input unit and human detection input unit, the gas supply to the gas appliance is detected, and the human sensor detects the person in the space around the gas appliance. A person absent gas supply state determination means for determining whether or not a person absent gas supply state in which no person is detected is established, and when a person absent gas supply state continues for a predetermined alarm standby time or more, And an alarm control means for outputting to the audio output unit. According to this configuration, the detection output of the human sensor is input to the human detection input unit, the detection output of the gas supply detection unit is set to the gas supply detection input unit, and the human absent gas supply is obtained from the information input to these input units. It can be determined whether or not the state is established. And when a person absent gas supply state continues more than predetermined time, a person absent voice warning is emitted.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a gas alarm device 2 according to the present invention and a gas alarm system 1 incorporating the gas alarm device 2. As illustrated, a plurality of gas appliances 5 a and 5 b are arranged, and gas is supplied from a gas supply facility 6 through a gas pipe 7. The gas pipe 7 is branched into gas branch pipes 7a and 7b on the way, and gas appliances 5a and 5b are provided at the ends of the gas branch pipes 7a and 7b. A plurality of human sensors 3a and 3b are distributed and arranged at positions corresponding to the gas appliances 5a and 5b, respectively. The gas pipe 7 is provided with a gas supply detector 4 (gas meter) that detects whether or not gas is supplied to the gas appliances 5a and 5b. More specifically, the gas supply detector 4 (gas meter) measures the amount of gas used by the gas appliances 5a and 5b and displays the accumulated amount of use. The human sensors 3a and 3b are sensors that detect whether or not a person is present in a gas appliance surrounding space defined around the gas appliance. The detection outputs of the human sensors 3a and 3b and the gas supply detection unit 4 are input to the gas alarm device 2 through signal lines 15 and 16.

  A block diagram of the gas alarm device 2 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the gas alarm device 2 has an audio output unit 9 (speaker), a gas supply detection input unit 14 to which a detection output of the gas meter 4 (gas supply detection unit) is input, and a detection output of the human sensor 3 input. A human detection input unit 13. In addition, it includes a gas leak sensor 10 and an LED, LCD, or the like, and includes a display unit 11 that displays an abnormality when the gas leaks. The sound output unit 9, the gas leak sensor 10, the display unit 11, the human detection input unit 13, and the gas supply detection input unit 14 are connected to the control unit 8 and are driven by electric power supplied from the power supply 12.

  The control unit 8 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 80, a ROM 81, a RAM 82, an input / output unit (I / O) 83 storing a control program 81a, and a bus line 84 connecting these. When the CPU 80 reads out the control program 81a stored in the ROM 81 and executes it on the RAM 82, the unattended gas supply state determination means, alarm control means, alarm standby time change setting means, gas cutoff signal output means of the present invention, Each of the gas leak alarm control means is realized.

  Next, the operation of the control program 81a will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in step S <b> 1, it is determined whether gas has been supplied to the gas appliance 5 based on input information to the gas supply detection input unit 14. Here, standby is continued until Yes, and when it becomes Yes, it progresses to S2. In S <b> 2, it is determined whether or not there is a person around the gas appliance 5 based on information input to the human detection input unit 13. If yes, the process returns to S1, and if no, the process moves to S3. In this way, a gas-absent gas supply state in which gas supply to the gas appliance 5 is detected by the gas meter 4 (gas supply detection unit) by S1 and S2 and no person is detected around the gas appliance 5 by the human sensor 3 It is determined whether or not is established. If the unattended gas supply state is not established, the process returns to S1, and if established, the process proceeds to S3.

  In S3, a timer count is started. In S4, it is determined whether or not the timer value is equal to or longer than the alarm standby time. If yes, the process moves to S7, and if no, the process moves to S5. In S5, it is determined whether or not a person has been detected by the human sensor 3. If Yes, the process moves to S6, and if No, the process returns to S3. That is, in the processing of S3 to S5, the timer count is advanced until the person returns around the gas appliance 5 within a predetermined time (alarm standby time) after the human absent gas supply state is started. If the person returns by the alarm waiting time, the answer is Yes in S5, the timer is reset in S6, and the process returns. Further, when the unattended gas supply state continues for the alarm standby time or longer, the result is Yes in S4, and it is determined whether or not the gas supply is continued by moving to S7. And when supply of gas is continuing (Yes), it moves to S8 and outputs a person absent voice alert.

  Note that the gas alarm 2 (FIG. 1) outputs a gas leak alarm when a gas leak is detected. The no-person voice alarm in S8 (FIG. 3) is different from the gas leak alarm in the sound pattern and volume. Either one is output in a different form. Thus, when the gas user hears the alarm, the gas user can distinguish whether the alarm is output because of gas leakage or whether the alarm is output because there is no person.

  Next, another embodiment of the flowchart is shown in FIG. In this flowchart, when it is determined No in S2 (the unattended gas supply state is established), the process proceeds to S2a, and information on the flow rate of the supplied gas is acquired from the gas meter 4. Then, the process proceeds to S2b, and the alarm standby time is changed and set according to the acquired gas flow rate. With this configuration, it is possible to optimize the timing for issuing the absence voice alert. More specifically, in S2b, the alarm standby time is set shorter as the gas flow rate is higher. Thereby, it becomes possible to issue an unattended voice warning faster as the amount of gas used is larger, and the risk of fires can be reduced. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the steps other than S2a and S2b are the same as those in FIG.

  Next, the process after step S8 is demonstrated using FIG. After S8 (output of an absence voice alert), the process moves to S9 in FIG. 5 and it is determined whether or not a person is detected around the gas appliance 5 by the human sensor 3. If a person is detected (Yes), the process proceeds to S13, and if not detected (No), the process proceeds to S10 to start the timer count. After S10, the process proceeds to S11, and it is determined whether or not the timer value is larger than a predetermined set value. If the timer value is smaller than the set value, the process returns to S9.

  That is, in S9 to S11, it is determined whether or not a person returns within a set time after the absence voice alarm is output. When the person returns, it is determined Yes in S9, the person absence voice alarm is stopped (S13), and then the timer is reset (S14) and the process returns. If the person does not return after the set time has elapsed, it is determined Yes in S11, and the process proceeds to S12 to determine whether or not the gas supply is continued. If the gas supply is continued (Yes), the process moves to S15 to give a high level warning. More specifically, in S15, in a mode (second voice alarm) in which at least one of the voice pattern and the volume is different from that of the person absent voice warning (first voice alarm) in S8 (FIGS. 3 and 4). An absent voice alert is output. According to this configuration, even if the gas user does not notice the first sound alarm, the second sound alarm can be made to be noticed by increasing the volume, for example.

  Next, the process after S15 is demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG. After the second sound alarm is output in S15, the timer count is advanced until the person returns within the set time by processing S16 to S18. If a person is detected within the set time after the second audio alarm (S15), it is determined Yes in S16, and the process proceeds to S22 to stop the alarm. Thereafter, the timer is reset (S23) and the process returns. If no person is detected after the second audio alarm even after the set time has elapsed, a gas cutoff signal is output to the gas meter 4 (S20). The gas meter 4 is provided with a gas cutoff valve that receives this gas cutoff signal and automatically shuts off the gas supply. By adopting such a configuration, after the second sound alarm (S15), if no person appears even after the set time has elapsed, the gas supply can be forcibly stopped, and there is a risk of fire. Can be reduced. After S20, it is notified that the gas shut-off valve of the gas meter 4 has been shut off (S21), and when the shut-off valve restart button 40 (see FIG. 1) of the gas meter 4 is pressed, etc., the notification is terminated and the process returns. .

  Next, returning to FIG. 1, a method for specifying which gas appliance 5 is used by the gas meter 4 when there are a plurality of gas appliances 5 will be described. As shown in the figure, a plurality of gas appliances 5 are provided at the end of the gas supply path 7, and the gas flow rates of the individual gas appliances 5 are different when using the gas. The gas meter 4 is arranged at a position where the total amount of gas used by the plurality of gas appliances 5a and 5b can be measured. The gas meter 4 stores the gas consumption of each gas appliance 5a, 5b when the gas is used in a storage device such as a RAM. More specifically, for example, about 15 gas flow rate divisions are determined in advance, and each gas appliance 5a, 5b is preset in the gas meter 4 as to which of the gas flow rate divisions the gas consumption during use belongs to. Yes. When either of the gas appliances 5a and 5b is used, the gas meter 4 identifies which gas appliance 5 is used from the gas flow rate. Information on the specified gas appliance 5 is transmitted to the gas alarm device 2. And when the human sensor 3 provided in the position corresponding to the specified gas appliance 5 does not detect a person, it is determined that the person absent state is established in the specified gas appliance 5.

One structural example of a gas alarm device and a gas alarm system. The block diagram of a gas alarm. An example of a flowchart. 4 is another example of a flowchart. The flowchart following FIG. 3 or FIG. The flowchart following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas alarm system 2 Gas alarm device 3a, 3b Human sensor 4 Gas meter (gas supply detection part)
5a, 5b Gas appliance 6 Gas supply equipment 7 Gas piping (gas supply path)
9 Voice output unit 10 Gas leak sensor 13 Human detection input unit 14 Gas supply detection input unit

Claims (9)

A human sensor that detects whether or not a person is present in a space around the gas appliance, which is defined around the gas appliance;
A gas supply detection unit that is arranged on a gas supply path to the gas appliance and detects whether or not the gas is supplied to the gas appliance;
An audio output unit, a gas supply detection input unit to which detection output of the gas supply detection unit is input, a human detection input unit to which detection output of the human sensor is input, the gas supply detection input unit and the person Based on input information with the detection input unit, the gas supply detection unit detects the gas supply to the gas appliance, and the human sensor does not detect the person in the space around the gas appliance. A person absent gas supply state determination means for determining whether or not a supply state is established, and a person absence voice alarm when the person absent gas supply state continues for a predetermined alarm standby time or longer to the sound output unit. A gas alarm device comprising an alarm control means for outputting;
A gas alarm system comprising:   The gas alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply detection unit is a gas meter that detects whether the gas is supplied to the gas appliance and measures the amount of the gas used.   The gas alarm system according to claim 2, wherein the gas alarm device includes an alarm standby time change setting unit that changes and sets the alarm standby time according to the amount of the gas used per unit time measured by the gas meter.   The gas alarm system according to claim 3, wherein the alarm standby time change setting means sets the alarm standby time to be shorter as the amount of the gas used per unit time increases.   The gas alarm is generated when the person sensor is not detected by the person sensor within a predetermined time after the person absence voice alarm is output as the first voice alarm due to the passage of the alarm standby time. The gas according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first person absent voice alert outputs the second person absent voice alert as a second voice alert in which at least one of a voice pattern and a volume is different. Alarm system. Comprising the requirements of claim 2;
The gas meter includes a gas cutoff valve capable of shutting off the gas supplied to the gas appliance by a gas cutoff signal input from the outside,
The gas alarm is a gas that outputs the gas cutoff signal to the gas meter when the person is not detected by the human sensor within a predetermined time after the second sound alarm is output. 6. The gas alarm system according to claim 5, further comprising a cutoff signal output means. The gas alarm includes a gas leak sensor that detects the gas leaking from the gas appliance, and a gas leak alarm that causes the sound output means to output a gas leak alarm when the gas is detected by the gas leak sensor. Control means,
The gas alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the unattended audio alarm is performed in a form in which at least one of an audio pattern and a volume is different from the gas leak alarm. Comprising the requirements of claim 2;
A plurality of the gas appliances are provided at the end of the gas supply path, and the gas appliances have different gas flow rates when using the gas,
A plurality of the human sensors are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of gas appliances, respectively.
The gas meter is disposed at a position capable of measuring the total amount of gas used by the gas appliances with respect to the gas pipes to the plurality of gas appliances. A gas appliance specifying means for specifying which of the gas appliances is used,
In the gas supply detection input unit, information of the gas appliance specified by the gas appliance specifying means is input,
The unattended gas supply state determination means is based on input information to the gas supply detection input unit and input information input to the human detection input unit from a human sensor provided at a position corresponding to the gas appliance. The gas alarm system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein it is determined whether or not the unattended gas supply state is established in the specified gas appliance. A gas alarm used in the gas alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An audio output unit, a gas supply detection input unit to which detection output of the gas supply detection unit is input, a human detection input unit to which detection output of the human sensor is input, the gas supply detection input unit and the person Based on input information to the detection input unit, supply of the gas to the gas appliance is detected, and a human absent gas supply state in which the person is not detected in the space around the gas appliance by the human sensor is established. Unattended gas supply state determination means for determining whether or not there is, and alarm control means for outputting an unattended sound alarm to the sound output unit when the unattended gas supply state continues for a predetermined alarm standby time; ,
A gas alarm device comprising:

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