JP2008196845A - Individual gas device operation detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an individual gas device operation detector, allowing a gas entrepreneur to easily carry out a gas bill measure without buying a new gas device to exchange an old one or without remodeling. <P>SOLUTION: The individual gas device operation detecting means includes: a gas flow detecting means 12 fitted to the midway of a gas passage 11 in a home for measuring the amount of gas used by each device or by each use; and a radio wave transmitter 23 for transmitting the measurement result to a gas meter. The gas meter 26 includes: a radio waver receiver 24 for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the individual gas device operation detecting means; and a storage means for selecting the measurement data of a predetermined gas device or the measurement data of a specified use among the received results, and integrating and storing the same, wherein predetermined specified processing is performed using the respective measurement data obtained by the gas meter 26 and the individual gas device operation detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an individual gas equipment operation detection device that detects a gas usage amount of a gas equipment.

  Conventionally, the amount of gas used is generally detected for each dwelling unit using a gas meter, or the gas device itself is provided with detection means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As shown in FIG. 7, the gas supplied to the burner 1 is controlled by the proportional valve 2. The opening degree of the proportional valve 2 is detected by the proportional valve opening degree detecting means 3 and transmitted to the calculating means 4. The calculating means 4 calculates the amount of gas used from the transmitted proportional valve opening and the valve opening time of the proportional valve 2 measured by itself, and displays the integrated result on the display means 5.
Japanese Patent No. 3528274

  However, in the conventional configuration, if a gas company intends to take a charge measure for each use of gas, it is necessary to have a means for detecting the amount of gas used for each gas appliance. For example, if a gas company intends to take a charge measure that is limited to heating applications, either a gas usage detector is installed in all gas heaters already owned by the user, or all gas is supplied to the user. There was a problem that it was necessary to buy a new heater.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is easy for a gas company to charge by installing it on a gas pipe in a home without replacing or remodeling the gas equipment that the user has now. An object of the present invention is to provide an individual gas equipment operation detection device that can implement measures.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the individual gas appliance operation detection device of the present invention includes a gas meter that measures the total gas usage of a single dwelling unit, and an individual gas that measures the gas usage by gas appliance or application. An apparatus operation detecting means, and a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating the gas meter and the individual gas apparatus operation detecting means, the individual gas apparatus operation detecting means is installed in the middle of the gas passage in the home and is gas for each appliance or application. A gas flow detection means for measuring the amount used, a radio wave transmitter for transmitting a measurement result to the gas meter, the gas meter receiving a measurement data transmitted from the individual gas equipment operation detection means, and a reception result Gas meter and individual gas appliance operation detecting means, having storage means for selecting and integrating and storing predetermined gas appliance measurement data or measurement data for specific applications It is obtained so as to perform specific processing determined in advance using the respective measurement data obtained.

  According to the above invention, in addition to the gas meter that measures the total amount of gas used in the home, gas flow detection that is attached to a pipe that supplies gas for each gas appliance and measures the gas usage by appliance or application. And an individual gas equipment operation detecting means integrally incorporating a radio wave transmitter for transmitting the measurement result to the gas meter by wireless communication, and using a measurement data of the gas meter and the individual gas equipment operation detecting means By applying this process to, for example, charge measures implemented by the gas company, it is possible to easily implement a discount service provided by the gas company without having to replace or remodel the equipment currently in use. It becomes possible.

  The individual gas equipment operation detection means of the present invention includes measurement data of a gas meter that measures the total gas usage of a single dwelling unit, and measurement data of an individual gas equipment operation detection means that measures the gas usage by gas appliance or application. Applying to specific treatments that have been pre-determined by using, for example, charge measures implemented by the gas company, etc., the price discount provided by the gas company without having to replace or remodel the equipment currently in use Services and the like can be easily implemented.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas meter for measuring a total gas usage amount of a single dwelling unit, an individual gas equipment operation detecting means for measuring a gas usage amount for each gas appliance or for each use, a gas meter and an individual gas equipment operation detecting means. A wireless communication means that communicates wirelessly, and the individual gas appliance operation detection means is installed in the middle of a gas passage in the home and measures a gas flow detection means for measuring the amount of gas used for each appliance or application, and a measurement result A radio wave transmitter for transmitting to the gas meter, the gas meter receiving a measurement data transmitted from the individual gas equipment operation detecting means, and a measurement data of a predetermined gas appliance among the reception results or It has storage means that selects and accumulates measurement data for specific applications, and uses each measurement data acquired by the gas meter and individual gas equipment operation detection means It is characterized in that so as to perform specific processing determined.

  In addition to the gas meter that measures the total amount of gas used in the home, a gas flow detecting means that is attached to a pipe that supplies gas for each gas appliance and measures the gas usage for each appliance or application, and its Provided with individual gas equipment operation detection means integrally incorporating a radio wave transmitter that transmits the measurement result to the gas meter by wireless communication, and predetermined processing using measurement data of the gas meter and the individual gas equipment operation detection means, for example, By applying to the price measures implemented by the gas company, it is possible to easily implement the price discount service provided by the gas company without replacing or remodeling the equipment currently in use. Become.

  The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the individual gas appliance operation detecting means can be detachably attached in the middle of the gas passage in the home.

  And because it can be detachably attached to existing gas pipes, it is possible to measure the amount of gas used by equipment or by application without having to replace or remodel the equipment currently in use. It is possible to easily implement the price discount service provided by, and even if the gas equipment to be serviced moves to another room or is replaced with a new appliance, Since it can be easily replaced, it is possible to continue to receive a discount service provided by the gas company.

  The third invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned second invention, in particular, the individual gas appliance operation detection means is provided with a bamboo stalk-like rubber pipe joint at both ends and is in a connection form using a rubber pipe. It is.

  And by connecting the individual gas equipment operation detection means with rubber pipe joints at both ends to the existing gas piping with rubber pipes, gas usage by equipment or by application can be measured, By using the measurement data, it is possible to easily implement a discount service provided by the gas company.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, in particular, the individual gas equipment operation detecting means is connected in the middle of a gas passage in the home via a quick joint having an O-ring seal. It is.

  And since the individual gas equipment operation detection means is attached to the existing gas pipe via a detachable quick joint, it can be easily attached to the gas appliance to be measured later, and the fee provided by the gas company Discount services, etc. can be easily implemented, and even when the gas equipment to be serviced is moved to another room or replaced with new equipment, it is easy to replace the individual gas equipment operation detection means. As a result, it will be possible to continue to receive discount services provided by gas companies.

  The fifth invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, in particular, the individual gas equipment operation detecting means is provided with a display so that the amount of gas used for each instrument or for each application can be displayed.

  And by providing an indicator in the individual gas equipment operation detection means, the gas company can check the value of the indicator of the individual gas equipment operation detection means at the time of meter reading of the gas meter every month, and use the gas for each appliance or application. Since the amount is known, it is possible to easily check the usage amount of the gas device to be discounted according to a service provided by the gas company, for example, a charge discount measure.

  A sixth invention is the above-described first invention, in particular, provided with a display, and a total gas usage measured by a gas meter and a predetermined gas appliance measured by an individual gas appliance operation detecting means or a gas usage for a specific purpose. The quantity can be displayed.

  And the measurement data of both the total gas usage of the gas meter and the individual gas usage of the individual gas equipment operation detection means, the display of the gas meter, the display of the individual gas equipment operation detection means, or a separately provided indicator, For example, it can be displayed on a home indicator, etc., and it can display the total gas usage and individual usage at the same time. It is possible to easily check the amount of gas equipment used.

  The seventh invention is the above-mentioned first invention, in particular, comprising a display device, a total gas usage measured by a gas meter, and a predetermined gas appliance or a specific usage gas usage measured by an individual gas equipment operation detecting means. The result of executing a predetermined specific process using is displayed.

  The eighth invention is characterized in that, in the first and seventh inventions, in particular, the predetermined specific process is a charge discount process.

  And, since it is possible to display the service provided by the gas company, for example, the display of the gas rate applying the discount rate of the gas equipment subject to discount according to the rate discount measure, the labor of the gas company can be saved, The user can also grasp the gas price in advance, which can be useful for enlightenment such as savings.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the individual gas equipment operation detection device in the present embodiment is installed in the middle of the gas passage 11 in the home and detects the gas flow for each gas equipment, and detects a certain time. A timer 16a, a memory 16b for accumulating and storing the time when the gas flow detection means detects the gas flow, and a display 17 for displaying the accumulated gas flow detection time are provided.

  The gas flow detecting means 12 includes a butterfly element 12a that is movable in the direction of the arrow according to the gas flow in the gas passage 11, a magnet 13 attached to a movable portion of the butterfly element 12a, and a printed circuit board outside the gas passage 11. 14 and the like.

  The printed circuit board 14 is soldered with a microcomputer 16 having a timer 16a and a memory 16b and a display unit 17. Further, the upstream and downstream extensions of the gas passage of the gas passage 11 are bamboo shoot-like rubber pipe joints 18, and rubber pipes 19 are connected to the upstream and downstream sides of the rubber pipe joint 18, respectively. The side is connected to the residential gas piping, and the downstream side is connected to the gas equipment.

  Here, when a gas device is used and gas flows, the butterfly element 12 a is movable and tilted by the gas flow, and the magnet 13 approaches the reed switch 15. As a result, the reed switch 15 is turned on. At the same time that the microcomputer 16 detects that the reed switch 15 is turned on, the microcomputer 16 accumulates and counts the ON time of the reed switch 15 with its internal timer 16a and memory 16b, and counts and stores the accumulated gas flow detection time. Is displayed on the display unit 17.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when the gas appliance connected to the individual gas appliance operation detection device in the present embodiment is a gas heater and is subject to a discount on gas charges, If the value of the indicator 17 is confirmed at the time of meter reading and the value of the indicator 17 of the previous month is subtracted, the usage amount of the gas equipment for this month can be known, so that the charge measure can be taken at a specific discount rate. This is effective when the gas company wants to reduce the fee only for heating applications because it opposes heating equipment that uses oil as a heat source in terms of running costs.

  In the present embodiment, the butterfly element 12a having the magnet 13 is configured to turn on the reed switch 15 in accordance with the gas flow. However, the butterfly element 12a has an impeller shape and the gas flow rate flowing through the gas passage 11 is increased. If the impeller rotates in proportion and the magnet 13 disposed in the rotating part of the impeller turns on the reed switch 15 in proportion to the rotation of the impeller, the ON / OFF frequency of the reed switch 15 is set to gas. Since it can be handled as proportional data of the gas amount in the passage 11, a more accurate charge measure can be taken.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to the present embodiment has a female quick joint 20b having a male quick joint 20a and an O-ring 20c instead of the rubber pipe joint 18 of the first embodiment. The male quick joint 20a is a female quick joint 21a at the tip of the home gas pipe, and the female quick joint 20b is a male quick joint 21b at the tip of the gas cord, the other end of which is connected to a gas device. To be connected.

  According to such a configuration, for example, even if the gas device used by the user is changed, the connection can be easily changed by the quick joints 20a, 20b, 21a, and 21b. However, the gas company can implement the above-mentioned charge measures without any problems. The male type and female type of the quick joint may be reversed with respect to the gas flow direction.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 3 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the display 17 is not located on the printed circuit board 14 but is installed at a location separated from the gas passage 11, and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 14 via the lead wire 22. It is what has been.

  According to such a configuration, for example, if the display device 17 is installed in the vicinity of the gas meter, the gas company can easily enter the residence without entering the residence even if the user is away at the time of meter reading of the gas meter. The value can be confirmed, and more reliable fee measures can be implemented.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 4 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a radio wave transmitter 23 on the printed circuit board 14 on the gas flow detection means 12 side, and a radio wave receiver 24 on the separated display 17 side, and stores the accumulated values. The gas flow detection time data is transmitted and received by radio waves. A display control microcomputer 25 is electrically connected to the display 17 side.

  With this configuration, data to be displayed is transmitted from the radio wave transmitter 23, received by the radio wave receiver 24, and displayed on the display 17 by the display control microcomputer 25 that has received the data. In this case, transmission / reception by radio waves may be performed with the ON signal of the reed switch 15 and the display control microcomputer 25 may count the ON time of the reed switch 15 with its internal timer.

  According to such a configuration, since no lead wire is required between the gas flow detection means 12 and the indicator 17, complicated wiring work from the vicinity of the gas equipment in the house to the vicinity of the gas meter outside the house becomes unnecessary. Even in an existing house, there is an advantageous effect that the degree of freedom of the installation location of the display device 17 is increased.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 5 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to transmit the accumulated gas flow detection time data to the gas meter 26.

  That is, the printed circuit board 14 and the gas meter 26 are connected via the lead wire 22 at the microcomputer meter terminal 27. The gas meter 26 includes a liquid crystal display unit 28. The microcomputer 16 transmits the ON signal of the reed switch 15 to the gas meter 26 via the lead wire 22 and the microcomputer meter terminal 27, and the gas meter 26 is a gas whose gas usage should be discounted only when there is an ON signal of the reed switch 15. Accumulated and stored as the amount used, the cumulative amount of gas passing through the gas meter 26 on the display unit 28, that is, the total amount of gas used in a single dwelling unit is displayed, and at the same time, the amount of gas to be discounted is displayed side by side. Yes.

  According to such a configuration, the gas company can confirm the total gas usage amount of the single dwelling unit and the gas usage amount to be discounted only by checking only the display unit 28 at the time of meter reading of the gas meter 26. It is possible to make a fee policy more easily.

  In this embodiment, the total gas usage of a single unit and the gas usage to be discounted are displayed side by side. However, it may be displayed in a time-sharing manner, and normally only the total gas usage of a single unit is displayed. It may be displayed, and the gas usage amount that should be discounted only when some operation is performed on the gas meter 26 may be displayed. Further, the discounted gas usage amount may be subtracted from the total gas usage amount from the gas usage amount data to be discounted, or the amount to be charged may be displayed.

  In addition, the printed circuit board 14 and the microcomputer meter terminal 27 are connected by the lead wire 22, but the wireless communication may be performed without using the lead wire 22. Further, although the microcomputer meter terminal 27 is a pair of terminals and the ON signal input of the reed switch 15 is single, a plurality of microcomputer meter terminals 27 may be provided.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 6 shows an individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to fifth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The individual gas appliance operation detection apparatus according to the present embodiment transmits the accumulated gas flow detection time data to the T-NCU 29. The T-NCU 29 is connected to the telephone line 30. The printed circuit board 14 and the T-NCU 29 are connected by a lead wire 22. The T-NCU 29 receives the ON signal of the reed switch 15 and counts the accumulated ON time, and together with the total gas amount data received from the gas meter 26, it is sent to the computer of the gas company's office through the telephone line 30. Send and calculate discounted billing gas charges.

  Although the communication line between the T-NCU 29 and the computer of the gas company's office is the telephone line 30, if the communication charge is an ADSL or optical fiber internet line that is not proportional to the number of communications, the ON signal of the reed switch 15 Each time the T-NCU 29 receives an OFF signal, the total gas amount data of the gas meter 26 is transmitted, and a more complicated gas charge can be calculated by the computer of the gas company's office. In addition, the printed circuit board 14 and the T-NCU 29 are connected by the lead wire 22, but the wireless communication may be performed without using the lead wire 22.

  According to such a configuration, there is a further advantageous effect that it is possible to implement a gas charge measure using the automatic meter reading infrastructure of the gas meter using the T-NCU 29.

  As described above, the individual gas equipment operation detection device according to the present invention can be easily installed by the gas operator by installing it on the gas pipe in the home without having to replace or modify the existing gas equipment by the user. Since it is possible to implement fee measures, it can be applied to industrial use as well.

Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 5 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the individual gas equipment operation | movement detection apparatus in Embodiment 6 of this invention. The figure which shows the gas usage-amount detection means of the conventional gas heater

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Gas passage 12 Gas flow detection means 12a Butterfly element 13 Magnet 14 Printed circuit board 15 Reed switch 16 Microcomputer 16a Timer 16b Memory 17 Display device 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b Quick joint 23 Radio wave transmitter
24 Radio Receiver 26 Gas Meter 28 Display Unit 29 T-NCU

Claims (8)

A gas meter that measures the total gas consumption of a single unit;
Individual gas equipment operation detection means for measuring gas usage by gas appliance or application,
A wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between the gas meter and the individual gas equipment operation detection means, and the individual gas equipment operation detection means is installed in the middle of the gas passage in the home and measures the gas usage by appliance or by application. A gas flow detection means for transmitting and a radio wave transmitter for transmitting a measurement result to the gas meter,
The gas meter selects and accumulates a radio wave receiver that receives measurement data transmitted from the individual gas appliance operation detection means, and measurement data of a predetermined gas appliance or measurement data for a specific application among reception results. Having storage means;
An individual gas equipment operation detection apparatus that executes a predetermined process using measurement data acquired by the gas meter and the individual gas equipment operation detection means. The individual gas equipment operation detection device according to claim 1, wherein the individual gas equipment operation detection means can be detachably attached in the middle of a gas passage in the home. The individual gas equipment operation detection device according to claim 2, wherein the individual gas equipment operation detection means is provided with a bamboo shoot-like rubber pipe joint at both ends and is connected to the rubber pipe. The individual gas equipment operation detection device according to claim 2, wherein the individual gas equipment operation detection means is connected in the middle of a gas passage in the home via a quick joint having an O-ring seal. The individual gas equipment operation detection device according to claim 1, wherein the individual gas equipment operation detection means is provided with a display so that the gas usage amount for each instrument or each application can be displayed. The individual gas equipment operation | movement of Claim 1 provided with the indicator and which can display the total gas usage amount measured with a gas meter, and the predetermined gas appliance measured with an individual gas equipment operation detection means, or the gas usage amount of a specific use Detection device. A display is provided that displays the result of executing a specific process using a predetermined gas appliance or gas usage for a specific purpose that is measured by the total gas usage measured by the gas meter and the individual gas equipment operation detection means. The individual gas appliance operation detection device according to claim 1. The individual gas appliance operation detection device according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the predetermined specific process is a charge discount process.

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