JP2008122224A - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress damage from spreading by preventing occurrence of secondary disaster by inhibiting resumption of a shut-off device according to earthquake occurrence situations. <P>SOLUTION: The gas shut-off device includes: a flow rate measurement processing means 17 for measuring the flow rate and outputting it as flow rate information; a vibration sensor 21 for detecting vibrations such as an earthquake; a controller 10 deciding from each information whether or not it is necessary to shut off the gas; a shut-off device 2c for shutting off the gas by a shut-off determination signal from the controller 10; a resumption means 22 for performing prescribed processing of safety confirmation after actuation of the shut-off device 2c and automatically executing a resumption operation; and a radio module 11 capable of communicating with at least a base station 14 by carrier-direct. The radio module 11 is integrally constituted with the controller 10 and housed in a gas meter 2, and continues the shut-off operation preferentially over the automatic resumption operation of the resumption means 22 when the radio module 11 receives a resumption inhibition command transmitted from the base station 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device, and more particularly to a return means for preventing a secondary disaster at the time of a disaster.

  Conventionally, as this type of gas shut-off device, a flow rate detection means for detecting a gas flow rate, an external sensor means for detecting an earthquake abnormality, and whether or not an abnormality is detected from output signals of the flow rate detection means and the external sensor means. A shut-off judging means for judging and outputting a shut-off signal at the time of an abnormality, a shut-off means for shutting off the supply of gas, a return means for automatically returning the shut-off means when detecting a stop of the shut-off signal at the time of abnormality from the external sensor means, There is one equipped with a leak judgment means that judges whether the gas appliance is stopped after returning the shut-off means by a flow rate signal and outputs the shut-off at the time of leak, and if an abnormal state of the earthquake is detected by an external sensor means, especially in the case of an earthquake However, since it is difficult to stop using the appliance, the shut-off means is immediately activated to stop the gas supply, and when the external sensor means that the abnormal state has stopped, the return means detects the shut-off action. When there is an earthquake occurrence, it is determined whether there is a leak by the flow rate detection means, and if it is forgotten to turn off the appliance, it is shut off again, and if there is no leak, it is determined that the gas can be used normally. It is known that gas supply personnel can automatically determine leaks and return to normal operation again without running around for return operation, improving usability while maintaining safety. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Further, in a wireless automatic meter reading system or the like, a wireless master device that communicates with a wireless slave device provided in the meter via a wireless line to collect information including data measured by the meter is provided. The wireless master unit and the wireless slave unit are configured in a 1: N configuration so that N wireless slave units can be connected to one master unit. It is known that performs wireless communication with a wireless device and communicates with a center device side via a mobile phone line or a teleterminal wireless line to shut off / return gas from the center (for example, , See Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-152901 JP 2001-111701 A

  However, with the conventional gas shut-off device, when the shut-off valve is activated due to an earthquake, etc., after the earthquake has stopped, the shut-off valve is automatically returned to fill the gas pipe with gas to cause a slight gas leak or a drop in gas pressure. If there is no abnormality, the gas supply is continued. If there is an abnormality, the shut-off valve is operated again to stop the gas supply. In the event of a problem, there is a risk that if the gas is automatically restored and the gas supply is started, the gas will catch fire and damage will increase.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and incorporates a wireless module capable of communicating directly with a base station through carrier direct communication so that a return prohibition command can be received from the base station without being affected by congestion of the telephone line. The present invention provides a gas shut-off device in which an automatic return operation is restricted according to the state of occurrence.

In order to solve the above problems, a gas shut-off device according to the present invention is a gas shut-off device that performs communication using a communication line other than a telephone line and a gas meter installed in a specific area that can be transmitted and received from a base station. The gas meter includes a flow rate measurement processing unit that measures a flow rate and performs predetermined processing and outputs the flow rate information, a seismic device that detects vibration such as an earthquake, and an output from the seismic device or the flow rate measurement processing unit A control device that determines whether or not the gas needs to be shut off based on the flow rate information, a shut-off device that shuts off the gas using a shut-off determination signal from the control device, and a predetermined safety confirmation process after the shut-off device is activated. And a wireless module capable of performing carrier direct communication with at least a base station. The wireless module is configured integrally with a control device and includes the gas. Housed in a chromatography data, when receiving a return prohibition instruction transmitted from a base station wireless module, in which so as to continue the interrupted operation in preference to automatic return operation of the return means.

  According to the above invention, since the wireless module capable of communicating with the base station using the wireless communication means other than the telephone line is integrally incorporated in the control device in the gas meter, the base can be simply installed by installing the gas meter. Communication is possible without using a telephone line with the station, and various information from the base station can be smoothly transmitted without being affected by the congestion status of the line. Since the operation permission or prohibition command can be sent directly to the gas meter, it is possible to determine whether the return operation is possible according to the earthquake occurrence status, for example, the magnitude of the earthquake, or whether the return operation is possible based on the surrounding fire occurrence status. Therefore, it is possible to issue a command to prohibit the return operation for each gas meter, and by prohibiting the return of the shut-off device according to the situation, It can be a to prevent suppress the spread of damage.

  The gas shut-off device of the present invention can communicate with the base station without using a telephone line simply by installing a gas meter, and can smoothly transmit various information from the base station without being affected by the congestion status of the line. Yes, it is possible to directly send to the gas meter permission or prohibition of automatic return operation after the shut-off device is activated when an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs, so the return operation according to the earthquake occurrence status grasped by the base station, for example, the magnitude of the earthquake From the judgment of availability or the judgment of availability of return operation based on the surrounding fire occurrence status, it is possible to issue a command to prohibit the return operation for each gas meter, and by prohibiting the return of the shut-off device according to the situation, secondary disasters Can be prevented and the spread of damage can be suppressed.

  A first invention is a gas shut-off device that performs communication using a communication line other than a telephone line and a gas meter installed in a specific area that can be transmitted and received from a base station. The gas meter measures a flow rate. The flow measurement processing means that performs predetermined processing and outputs it as flow information, the seismic device that detects vibration such as an earthquake, and the gas is blocked by the output from the seismic device or the flow information of the flow measurement processing means. A control device that determines whether or not it is necessary, a shut-off device that shuts off gas by a shut-off determination signal from the control device, and a predetermined safety confirmation process after the operation of the shut-off device to automatically perform a return operation. And a return module to be executed and a wireless module capable of at least carrier direct communication with the base station, and the wireless module is integrated with the control device and housed in the gas meter. When the return inhibition command transmitted from a base station has been received by the wireless module, and is characterized in that so as to continue the interrupted operation in preference to automatic return operation of the returning means.

Since the wireless module capable of communicating with the base station using wireless communication means other than the telephone line is integrated into the control device in the gas meter, the base station and the telephone line can be simply installed by installing the gas meter. Communication is possible without using the network, and various information from the base station can be smoothly transmitted without being affected by the congestion status of the line. Since the prohibition command can be sent directly to the gas meter, it is possible to determine whether the return operation can be performed according to the earthquake occurrence status ascertained by the base station, for example, depending on the magnitude of the earthquake, or based on the surrounding fire occurrence status. It is possible to send a prohibition command for the return operation to the gas meter and prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters by prohibiting the return of the shut-off device according to the situation. It is possible to suppress the spread of damage.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the return prohibition command transmitted from the base station is issued based on the cutoff information from the gas meter installed in the specific area and the specific disaster information and transmitted at a predetermined cycle, and the return prohibition The safety confirmation process of the return means is stopped when the wireless module receives the command.

  Then, determine the scale of the earthquake in a specific area from the shut-off information sent from the gas meter belonging to the base station, or send a return prohibition command if expansion damage is expected based on earthquake or fire information from the Japan Meteorological Agency, etc. Thus, since the automatic return operation of the shut-off device is prohibited, it is possible to make an accurate determination according to the situation, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster and suppress the spread of damage.

  The third invention is characterized in that when the wireless module receives a return cancellation command transmitted from the base station, the gas shut-off device can be automatically returned by a return signal from the return means.

  When the base station determines that the occurrence of the expansion damage has been resolved based on a large amount of information, the base station directly sends a cancel command for the automatic return operation to the gas meter. The return conditions of the automatic return operation of the gas meter can be unified, and the gas supply can be properly restored while performing safety management of the gas supply in consideration of the entire specific area.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the return cancellation command transmitted from the base station is issued based on the gas company's own investigation results and the cancellation information of a specific disaster information center and is transmitted at a predetermined cycle. When the module receives it, the safety confirmation processing of the return means is started.

  And when the base station determines that the occurrence of the expansion damage has been resolved based on a lot of information, the automatic return operation release command is sent directly to the gas meter to check for safety such as gas leaks. The gas supply can be properly restored while performing safety management of the gas supply in consideration of the entire specific area.

  5th invention is equipped with the radio | wireless module which can communicate with a specific terminal device, and transmits various information, such as interruption | blocking information of interruption | blocking apparatus, the return prohibition information transmitted from a base station, return cancellation information, and return | return information of interruption | blocking apparatus It is characterized by doing so.

  And, by incorporating a wireless module that can communicate with a specific terminal device such as a TV or mobile phone in a specific communication frequency band into the gas meter, information related to the occurrence of an abnormality such as an earthquake is transmitted to the TV or mobile phone. Therefore, various information transmitted from the base station and abnormality processing information of the gas meter can be displayed on the screen of a television or the like to notify consumers, and can also serve as an information relay function .

  A sixth invention includes a wireless module capable of communicating with a specific terminal device, wherein the wireless module capable of communicating with a base station is a wide-area communication wireless module having a wide-area communication frequency band, and is capable of communicating with a specific terminal device Is an area communication wireless module having a specific low-power wireless communication frequency band.

Then, a wide area communication wireless module capable of carrier direct communication with the base station and an area communication wireless module capable of communicating within a predetermined range using a specific low-power wireless communication frequency band are configured integrally with the control device, Information is transmitted on the communication line other than the station and the telephone line, and information is transmitted on a specific low power wireless communication frequency band with a specific terminal device such as a television or a mobile phone. Information on the base station can be accurately transmitted to consumers, and a command from the base station can be promptly transmitted to the gas meter regardless of the congestion of the telephone line, and appropriate processing can be executed.

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

(Embodiment 1)
1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication mode between a gas cutoff device and a base station and a customer's house in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view of the gas cutoff device and components, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit board of the gas cutoff device.

  In the figure, a gas meter 2 is installed at the inlet portion of the gas supply pipe 1 of each household, and the pipe branches from the gas pipe 3 after passing through the gas meter 2 to a place where various gas appliances used at home are installed. Gas is supplied. For example, a gas water heater 4 is installed outdoors, and hot water generated by the gas water heater 4 is installed in a kitchen hot water tap 5, a bath 6 in which a bathtub and a shower device are installed, a living room and the like through a water pipe. The floor heating 7 is supplied to form various usage forms.

  In addition, when indoors, gas is supplied to a gas table 8 installed in a kitchen, a gas fan heater 9 installed in a living room, a bedroom, or the like, and is used as needed.

  When the installed gas appliance is used and gas consumption occurs, the amount of use is measured by the gas meter 2, and the data is accumulated and stored every predetermined period. The data stored in the gas meter 2 is subjected to predetermined information processing based on a periodic data request command from the gas company 15, and then the gas fee, the amount of gas used, a discount service provided by the gas company 15, etc. Is transmitted to the consumer 13 and the gas business operator 15 as the information.

  As the transmission means, as shown in FIG. 2, a wireless module 11 integrated with a control circuit board 10 constituting a control device built in the gas meter 2 is used, and this wireless module 11 is connected by a connector 10d. A gas meter that is detachably mounted on the control circuit board 10 and that does not have the wireless module 11 and does not have a communication function and a gas meter that has the communication function that has the wireless module 11 can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, it can be used regardless of the presence or absence of the communication function.

  In addition, since the wireless module 11 is detachable, even if it has a communication function, it is not necessary to acquire the standard as a communication device in the gas meter body if the wireless module that has acquired the communication standard is installed. In the case of changing the gas meter, etc., it can be changed relatively freely without being restricted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless module 11 is different from the telephone line for communicating with the base station 14, for example, a wide-area communication wireless module 11 a having a communication frequency band of 200 MHz, a television 12 a in the customer's house 13, In order to communicate with a specific terminal device 12 such as a personal computer or a mobile phone 12b, the area communication wireless module 11b having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz, for example, is used, and the amount of gas used based on a flow rate signal or a sensor signal When receiving various data transmitted from the gas company 15 via the base station 14 and data from the control circuit 10a that performs the calculation of anomaly or detects abnormalities such as earthquakes, gas leaks, etc., according to the received data, for example, Gas shut-off valve operation in response to the occurrence of abnormalities such as gas charges, gas consumption or earthquakes, gas leaks, etc. In the case of contents to be notified to the consumer, such as a return prohibition command information prohibiting the automatic return of the shutoff valve, a specific terminal device 12 such as a television 12a or a mobile phone 12b in the customer's house 13 using the area communication wireless module 11b. Send data to.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the gas meter 2 can also be installed in a specific terminal device 12 by incorporating a radio module 11 c having the same communication frequency band as the area communication radio module 11 b built in the gas meter 2. Data can be received, and this data can be displayed on the screen of the television 12a or the mobile phone 12b, so that information can be transmitted directly to the consumer from the gas meter. , Information transmitted from the gas meter 2 to the gas company 15 and data processed by the gas company 15, or return prohibition command information from the gas company 15, such as notification of charge prohibition or automatic return prohibition, etc. Sending postcards to customers by mail, etc., or communicating information to each household by the gas company 15 Since it is not necessary to adopt, it can reduce the number of steps required for the notification work, and also eliminates the generation of mailing costs notification postcards, etc., thereby contributing to the reduction of the gas charge to realize the rationalization of notification operations.

  When various information is transmitted from the gas meter 2 to the specific terminal device 12, a notification completion signal is sent from the area communication wireless module 11b to the wide area communication wireless module 11a, and the wide area communication wireless module 11a sends the notification completion signal to the base station. 14 to notify the gas company 15 that the information transmission to the consumer has been completed. In this case, it is preferable that a response signal from a specific terminal device 12 is received and a notification completion signal is transmitted, information can be more reliably transmitted to a consumer, and a rational information transmission system can be provided. Can be built.

  Next, the flow rate measurement processing means for measuring the gas flow rate built in the control circuit 10a, performing a predetermined process and outputting it as flow rate information will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. A gas valve 2c having a gas inlet 2a and a gas outlet 2b is provided with a shutoff valve 2c for shutting off the gas in the event of an abnormality and a pair of ultrasonic sensors 17 for measuring the gas flow rate. A pressure sensor 2d for detection is arranged. A control circuit board 10 equipped with a control circuit 10a for calculating a gas flow rate based on a signal from the ultrasonic sensor 17 is arranged so that the liquid crystal display 10e faces the display unit 2e of the gas meter 2, and the control circuit board 10 A seismic sensing device 21 for detecting vibration such as an earthquake is integrally attached to the gas meter 2 so as to detect vibration and impact applied to the gas meter 2 and output a predetermined signal. The gas cutoff valve 2c is activated by the output signal to stop the gas supply. The gas shut-off valve 2c has a self-holding function so that the shut-off state is maintained even when the shut-off signal disappears. When a separate return signal is input, the return means 22 shuts off the gas to release the self-hold function. An automatic return function is provided such that the return operation of the valve 2c is performed to change the shut-off state to the open state and the gas supply is resumed. A battery 2f for driving the control circuit 10a is also housed.

Then, the flow rate measurement unit 17 and the control circuit 10a that measure the gas flow rate, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, arrange a pair of ultrasonic sensors in the gas flow path, and change the propagation time that changes according to the flow rate that flows through the flow path. Some measure the flow rate by measuring. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described. A measurement control unit having a switching means that constitutes a control circuit 10a, in which a first transmitter / receiver 17A for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves and a second transmitter / receiver 17B for receiving or transmitting ultrasonic waves are arranged in the flow direction. Switching between transmission and reception is possible by 18 and the flow state of fluid such as gas is detected. The flow rate is measured by processing the signals of the first transmitter / receiver 17A and the second transmitter / receiver 17B. Specifically, the first transmitter / receiver 17A is first driven by the measurement control unit 18 and the second transmitter / receiver 17B is then driven. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward the upstream, that is, from the upstream to the downstream. Then, the signal received by the second transmitter / receiver 17B is amplified by the amplifying means provided in the measurement control unit 18, the amplified signal is compared with the reference signal, and after the signal equal to or higher than the reference signal is detected, the measurement control unit The above-described transmission / reception is repeated a predetermined number of times by the repeating means provided at 18, and each time value is measured by a time measuring means such as a timer counter provided at the measurement control unit 18.

  Next, transmission / reception of the first transmitter / receiver 17A and the second transmitter / receiver 17B is switched by the measurement control unit 18 having switching means, and the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the second transmitter / receiver 17B to the first transmitter / receiver 17A, that is, from downstream to upstream. A signal is transmitted, this transmission is repeated as described above, and each time value is measured. Then, the flow rate value is obtained by the signal processing unit 19 in consideration of the size of the flow path 16 and the flow state of the fluid from the ultrasonic propagation time difference between the first transceiver 17A and the second transceiver 17B. The obtained flow rate data is accumulated in the information storage means 10b and stored as accumulated data for each predetermined period.

  Further, the flow path 16 in which the flow rate measuring unit 17 is disposed is provided with a shutoff valve 2c that shuts off the gas flow in the event of an abnormality or the like. When the flow rate value is detected beyond a certain usage time, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the shutoff valve 2c is operated to shut off the gas flow path 16.

  When an earthquake, impact, or abnormal gas pressure signal is input from the seismic device 21 or the pressure sensor 2d, the shutoff valve 2c is operated via the control circuit 10a to shut off the gas flow path 16, and Report to the center.

  Next, an example of information transmission using the wireless module 11 built in the gas meter 2 will be described. First, when a meter reading instruction from the gas operator 15 is transmitted through the base station 14 in a wide communication frequency band (200 MHz). The wide-area communication wireless module 11a built in the gas meter 2 receives and the meter reading instruction information is sent to the control circuit 10a mounted on the same substrate. In the control circuit 10a, the flow rate data measured by the flow rate measuring means is accumulated every predetermined period, and the accumulated data or information converted into charge data is stored in the information storage means 10b. When the meter reading instruction information is input, the control circuit 10a sends the flow rate accumulated data in the information storage means 10b or the information converted into the charge data to the area communication wireless module 11b and the wide area communication wireless module 11a via the communication switching means 10c. The wide-area communication wireless module 11a transmits to the base station 14 in the wide-area communication frequency band (200 MHz), and meter reading information is transmitted from the base station 14 to the gas company 15 using a dedicated line. Further, the area communication wireless module 11b transmits to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a in the specific low power wireless communication frequency band (429 MHz), and, for example, FIG. ) Display charge information and usage as shown in Then, when transmission to the specific terminal device 12 is completed, as described above, a notification completion signal is transmitted to the gas company 15 to notify that information transmission to the consumer is completed.

  Further, when the shutoff valve 2c is activated due to an earthquake or impact, the shutoff information is transmitted to the base station 14 in the wideband communication frequency band (200 MHz) using the wideband communication wireless module 11a. After that, when the return prohibition command information is not transmitted from the base station 14, the return means 22 is operated to perform normal gas leakage confirmation. When the abnormality cannot be confirmed, it is determined as normal and the gas supply is resumed.

However, as shown in FIG. 8, the magnitude of an earthquake or the like is large and transmitted to the base station 14 in the communication line with the gas meters 2A to 2F in a specific area (region A to region E) managed by one base station 14. If there is a lot of blockage information, earthquake distribution information based on blockage information from each region, or if damage in the target area is expected to expand based on information from a specific organization such as the Japan Meteorological Agency, etc. If it is determined that a secondary disaster is expected if the return operation is permitted by obtaining information that a fire has occurred in the surrounding area, all gas meters installed in a specific area from the base station 14 or separated gas meters Further, return prohibition command information is transmitted at a predetermined cycle in a wide communication frequency band (200 MHz) to a predetermined gas meter, and this command is stored in the gas meter 2. When frequency communication wireless module 11a receives, so that prohibits automatic return operation to continue the interrupted operation of the returning means 22. The earthquake-related information transmitted from the base station 14 is sent to the area communication wireless module 11b via the communication switching means 10c, and the area communication wireless module 11b is connected to the television 12a or the like in the specific low power wireless communication frequency band (429 MHz). The data is transmitted to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the specific terminal device 12, and displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 6B, for example, to notify the customer of the situation.

  As described above, the control circuit 10a has the communication switching means 10c to select the radio module having a different communication frequency band corresponding to the other party to communicate according to the information to be transmitted. In the case of the meter reading command from 15, it is necessary to transmit the information stored in the information storage means 10b to the gas company 15 and the specific terminal device 12, and in this case, for example, the wide area communication wireless module 11a having a communication frequency band of 200 MHz. For example, if the area communication wireless module 11b having a specific low-power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz is selected and a return prohibition command is issued from the gas company 15, it is only necessary to transmit the earthquake-related information to the specific terminal device 12. In this case, for example, the area communication wireless module 11b having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz may be selected. .

  Note that the wide area communication radio module 11a and the area communication radio module 11b may be provided separately, or may be configured as a common radio module, and the communication frequency band may be switched between the wide area communication frequency band and the specific low power radio communication frequency band. However, in the former case, the communication switching means 10c needs to select the wide area communication wireless module 11a and the area communication wireless module 11b, and there is a merit that simultaneous communication is possible, but there are demerits such as a large installation space and high cost. is doing. In the latter case, the communication switching means 10c needs to switch the communication frequency band according to the communication partner, and has the demerit that the simultaneous communication cannot be performed and the alternate communication is possible while having the advantages of small installation space and low cost. ing.

  Next, processing when a disaster such as an earthquake occurs and instructions from a gas company will be described.

  When an earthquake occurs, the seismic device 21 built in the gas meter 2 detects the signal, and a signal corresponding to the magnitude of the vibration is output. When the control circuit 10a detects a vibration of a predetermined magnitude or larger, an operation signal is sent to the shutoff valve 2c. Output and execute shut-off operation. This cutoff information is transmitted from the wide area communication wireless module 11a to the base station 14. The base station 14 estimates the magnitude of the earthquake by creating an earthquake distribution in the specific area based on the cutoff information transmitted from a plurality of gas meters installed in the specific area, and other meteorological agencies and related organizations. Even if the damage status is obtained and the return operation is permitted, it will be judged whether the damage will not be expanded due to the occurrence of secondary damage, and if it is determined that the damage will not be expanded, the return permission signal Or the return prohibiting signal is not sent to enable the return means 22 to automatically return the gas shut-off valve 2c, and when a safety check process such as a predetermined leak check is performed and safety is confirmed, Restart the gas supply. When the base station 14 determines that the damage is expected to be expanded, a return prohibition command is transmitted at a predetermined cycle, and when the wide-area communication wireless module 11a built in the gas meter 2 receives the command, the reception information is controlled. An automatic return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c by the return means 22 is prohibited by inputting to the circuit 10a, and a return operation prohibiting process mode for preferentially continuing the shut-off operation is executed.

Then, when the return operation prohibition processing mode is being executed, a return cancellation command is transmitted from the base station 14 at a predetermined cycle, and when this command is received by the wide area communication wireless module 11a, the received information is input to the control circuit 10a to return the return means 22 The automatic return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c is permitted, and a return operation release processing mode for performing a predetermined safety confirmation process by the return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c is executed. This restoration cancellation order is issued when it is determined that the occurrence of expansion damage has not been anticipated based on the results of the gas company's own investigations and cancellation information of related organizations.

  Further, when a return prohibition command is received from the base station 14 or when a return cancellation command is received, the information is transmitted to the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a using the area communication wireless module 11b built in the gas meter 2. The information is transmitted to the built-in wireless module 11c, displayed on the screen as earthquake-related information, and notified to the consumer.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the wireless module 11 capable of communicating with the base station 14 using the wireless communication means other than the telephone line is integrally incorporated in the control device 10 in the gas meter 2. Therefore, it is possible to communicate with the base station 14 without using a telephone line only by installing the gas meter 2, and various information from the base station 14 can be smoothly transmitted without being affected by the congestion state of the line. Since an automatic return operation permission or prohibition command after the operation of the shut-off device 2c when an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs can be sent directly to the gas meter 2, the earthquake occurrence status ascertained by the base station 14, for example, the magnitude of the earthquake Based on the judgment on whether or not the return operation is possible or the judgment on whether or not the return operation is possible based on the surrounding fire occurrence situation, it is possible to send a prohibition command for the individual gas meter. By prohibiting the return of the blocking device according, it is possible to suppress the spread of damage by preventing the occurrence of secondary disasters.

  In addition, if the scale of an earthquake in a specific area is determined from the block information transmitted from the gas meter belonging to the base station 14, or if damage is expected based on earthquake or fire information from the Japan Meteorological Agency, etc., a return prohibition command is issued. Since the transmission device prohibits the automatic return operation of the shut-off device, it is possible to make an accurate determination according to the situation, prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster, and suppress the spread of damage.

  In addition, when the base station 14 determines that the occurrence of the expansion damage has been resolved based on a large amount of information, the automatic return operation cancel command is directly transmitted to the gas meter. It is possible to unify the return conditions of the automatic return operation of the gas meter in the inside, and to properly restore the gas supply while performing safety management of the gas supply in consideration of the entire specific area.

  Further, by incorporating in the gas meter 2 a wireless module 11b that can communicate with a specific terminal device 12 such as a TV 12a or a mobile phone 12b in a specific communication frequency band, information related to the occurrence of an abnormality such as an earthquake is displayed on the TV 12a. Can be transmitted to the mobile phone 12b or the like, so that various information transmitted from the base station 14 and abnormality processing information of the gas meter 2 can be displayed on the screen of the television 12a or the like to notify consumers. It can also serve as a relay function.

  According to the gas shut-off device of the present invention, a built-in wireless module capable of carrier direct communication with the base station enables the return prohibition command from the base station to be received without being affected by the congestion of the telephone line, and the occurrence of an earthquake. Since the automatic return operation can be limited according to the situation, it can be applied to a gas shut-off system that performs safety management for each region.

Whole block diagram which shows the communication form of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the external appearance and component of the gas shut-off device Internal configuration diagram of the gas shutoff device Configuration block diagram of the control circuit board of the gas shutoff device The figure which shows the communication form of the gas cutoff device and the specific terminal device (A) The figure which shows the charge information display form in the same specific terminal device (b) The figure which shows the earthquake related information display form in the specific terminal device Control block diagram of the gas shutoff device The figure which shows the communication form of the base station and the gas meter according to each region

Explanation of symbols

2 Gas meter 2c Gas shut-off valve 10 Control circuit board (control device)
10a Control circuit (control device)
10b Information storage means 10c Communication switching means 11 Wireless module 11a Wide area communication wireless module 11b Area communication wireless module 12 Specific terminal device 12a Television 12b Mobile phone 14 Base station 17 Flow rate measurement means (flow rate measurement processing means)
21 Seismic device 22 Return means

Claims (6)

A gas shut-off device that performs communication using a communication line other than a gas meter and a telephone line installed in a specific area that can be transmitted and received from a base station,
The gas meter includes a flow rate measurement processing unit that measures a flow rate, performs predetermined processing and outputs the flow rate information, a seismic device that detects vibration such as an earthquake, and an output from the seismic device or the flow rate measurement processing unit A control device that determines whether or not the gas needs to be shut off based on the flow rate information, a shut-off device that shuts off the gas using a shut-off determination signal from the control device, and a predetermined safety confirmation process after the shut-off device is activated. A return means for automatically performing a return operation, and a wireless module capable of communicating at least with the base station by carrier direct,
The wireless module is configured integrally with the control device and housed in the gas meter,
A gas cutoff device that continues a cutoff operation in preference to an automatic return operation of the return means when the wireless module receives a return prohibit command transmitted from a base station. The return prohibition command transmitted from the base station is issued based on shutoff information from a gas meter installed in a specific area or specific disaster information and transmitted at a predetermined cycle, and the wireless module receives the return prohibition command. 2. The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein the safety confirmation processing of the return means is stopped when it is done. 3. The gas cutoff device according to claim 1, wherein when the wireless module receives a return cancellation command transmitted from the base station, an automatic return operation of the gas cutoff device is enabled by a return signal from the return means. The return cancellation command sent from the base station is issued based on the gas company's own investigation results and release information of a specific disaster information center, and is sent at a predetermined cycle. When the wireless module receives the return cancellation command, it returns The gas cutoff device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a safety confirmation process of the means is started. A wireless module that can communicate with a specific terminal device
The gas shut-off device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein various information such as shut-off information of the shut-off device, return prohibition information transmitted from the base station, return release information, and return information of the shut-off device are transmitted. . A wireless module that can communicate with a specific terminal device
The wireless module capable of communicating with a base station is a wide area communication wireless module having a wide communication frequency band, and the wireless module capable of communicating with a specific terminal device is an area communication wireless module having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band. The gas cutoff device of any one of -5.