JP2008256536A - Flowmeter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable flowmeter for inspecting the operation of an open/close means and a vibration detection means. <P>SOLUTION: The vibration detection means 5, capable of detecting vibration waveforms associated with an operation of the open/close means 3, is provided to detect the vibration waveforms, when the open/close means 3 opens/closes by the detection means 5. Positions where a valve element of the means 3 opens and closes are detected by checking the vibration waveforms, since the means 3 is opened until it closes and the waveforms, since the means 3 is closed until it opens. Thus normal operation of the valve element at a predetermined position can be monitored. In addition, by providing a regular inspection mode of the open/close means 3 and the vibration detection means 5, the high-reliability flow meter can be provided which can surely stop the supply of gas, when abnormality is detected, such as leakage, earthquake or abnormal use of the gas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device for a fluid to be measured such as LP gas and city gas.

  A conventional measuring device of this type is designed to prevent a gas accident by stopping gas supply by an opening / closing means when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, abnormal gas use, or the like is detected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 5 shows a conventional measuring apparatus described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. In FIG. 5, 1 is a fluid passage, 2 is a flow rate detection means, 3 is an opening / closing means, 4 is a pressure detection means, 5 is a vibration detection means, and 6 is a control unit.
JP 2006-25600 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, the operation of the opening / closing means is performed by the operation instruction signal from the control unit to the opening / closing means, but the malfunction of the opening / closing means driving unit or the malfunction due to dust, dust, foreign matter, the failure of the vibration detecting means, etc. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is continued without fully functioning the opening / closing means that shuts off when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, abnormal gas use or the like is detected.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable flow rate measuring apparatus that can reliably stop gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, vibration detection means capable of detecting a vibration waveform due to the operation of the opening / closing means is provided.

  With this configuration, the vibration detection means detects vibration when the opening / closing means is opened and closed, and the vibration waveform from opening to closing and from closing to opening is confirmed to detect the position of the opening and closing of the valve body of the opening and closing means. It is possible to monitor that the valve body is operating normally at a predetermined position.

  In addition, when an operation failure of the opening / closing means that the valve body is not operating normally at a predetermined position is detected, the abnormality notification of the measuring device is performed by expanding the display, communication to the facility abnormality notification, leakage, earthquake, It is possible to supply a highly reliable flow rate measuring device that can reliably stop the gas supply when an abnormality such as abnormal use of gas is detected.

  The flow rate measuring device of the present invention is provided with a periodic inspection mode for periodically confirming the operation of the opening / closing means and the vibration detecting means.

  By periodically operating the opening / closing means and checking the vibration waveform due to the operation, it is possible to check the normal operation of the opening / closing means and the vibration detecting means, and it is possible to supply a highly reliable flow measuring device.

  The measuring device of the present invention can reliably stop the gas supply at the time of detecting an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, abnormal use of gas, etc. by monitoring that the valve body of the opening / closing means is operating normally at a predetermined position. A highly reliable flow measuring device can be supplied.

  Furthermore, the reliability of the opening / closing means and the vibration detecting means is improved by periodically operating the opening / closing means and confirming normal operation.

   According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid passage, a flow rate detecting means for detecting a flow rate of the fluid passage, an opening / closing means for opening / closing the fluid passage, a pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the fluid passage, and the opening / closing means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a vibration detection means for detecting a vibration waveform during an opening / closing operation and a control section for controlling and determining each means.

  Then, the vibration detecting means detects the vibration when the opening / closing means is opened and closed, and the opening / closing position of the opening / closing means is detected by checking the vibration waveform from opening to closing and from closing to opening. A highly reliable flow measurement device that can monitor the normal operation of the valve body at a specified position and can reliably stop gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected. Can supply.

  The second invention periodically opens and closes the opening / closing means, and closes and opens the opening / closing means, detects vibrations generated during the operation by the vibration detecting means, and compares the predetermined opening / closing means with an abnormality. By providing a periodic inspection mode in which the operation is confirmed by determining the presence or absence of the flow rate, a highly reliable flow measuring device can be provided.

  In the waveform determination, in order to confirm that the vibration detection means is normal, it is also necessary to make a determination based on the vibration waveform or the vibration output value when the opening / closing means is open or closed.

  The third aspect of the invention can provide a more reliable flow rate measuring device by periodically operating the opening / closing means and providing the periodic inspection mode of the vibration detecting means.

  In particular, in a battery-powered gas meter system, the current consumption increases in the operation of the switching means, so the operation of the switching means in the periodic inspection mode of the vibration detection means is the minimum operation such as opening position → center position → open position operation. In some cases, it may be necessary to perform the operation in an energy saving mode operation with a low current consumption and a slow operating speed.

  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 is a configuration diagram of a flow rate measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a vibration waveform of an opening / closing means.

  In FIG. 1, a fluid passage 1, a flow rate detection means 2 for detecting a flow rate through the fluid passage 1, an opening / closing means 3 for opening / closing the fluid passage 1, a pressure detection means 4 for detecting the pressure of the fluid passage 1, and opening / closing A flow rate measuring device is constituted by the vibration detecting means 5 for detecting the vibration waveform generated by the operation of the means 3 and the control section 6 for controlling and determining each means. Note that the vibration detection means 5 can detect a vibration waveform due to an earthquake or impact in addition to the vibration waveform of the opening / closing means 3 and make a distinction.

  In order to efficiently transmit the vibration of the opening / closing means 3 to the vibration detecting means 5, a vibration transmitting means 7 may be provided.

  The operation and action of the flow rate measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected, an operation instruction is issued from the control unit 6 to the opening / closing means 3. The opening / closing operation of the opening / closing means 3 is performed according to the operation instruction. The vibration detection means 5 detects the vibration caused by the opening / closing operation, sends the waveform to the control unit 5, compares the set waveform and the set value stored in advance, detects the position of the valve body of the opening / closing means 3, and arbitrarily sets Whether or not the position detection value in time is normal is determined by the control unit 6.

  By monitoring whether the valve body of the opening / closing means 3 is operating normally at a predetermined position by the determination, it is possible to reliably stop the gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake or abnormal use of gas is detected. Can be supplied.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a vibration waveform of the opening / closing means in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the opening / closing means 3 is provided with an inspection mode for periodically checking the operation.

  The operation and action of the measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a periodic inspection instruction is issued to the opening / closing means 3. The opening / closing operation of the opening / closing means 3 is performed according to the periodic inspection instruction. The vibration detection means 5 detects the vibration due to the opening / closing operation, sends the waveform to the control unit 6, compares the set waveform and the set output value stored in advance, detects the position of the valve body of the opening / closing means 3, and The control unit 6 determines whether or not the detected value is normal. Further, the normality of the vibration detecting means 5 is also determined by comparing with the output of the vibration detecting means 5 assumed in advance based on the vibration output values at the closed and open positions.

  Highly reliable flow measurement that can reliably stop gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected by monitoring that the valve body of the opening / closing means 3 is operating normally at a predetermined position. Can supply equipment.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the opening / closing means 3 is periodically opened / closed, and the vibration due to the operation is detected by the vibration detecting means 5 and determined by the control unit 6, thereby guaranteeing the operation of the opening / closing means 3. An effective inspection mode can be realized.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 shows the vibration waveform of the opening / closing means in the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, the earthquake detection means 5 has an inspection mode for periodically checking the operation.

  The operation and action of the flow rate measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a periodic inspection instruction is issued from the control unit 6 to the opening / closing means 3. The opening / closing operation of the opening / closing means 3 is performed according to the periodic inspection instruction. The vibration detection means 5 detects the vibration due to the opening / closing operation, sends the waveform to the control unit 6, compares the set waveform and the set output value stored in advance, detects the position of the valve body of the opening / closing means 3, and The control unit 6 determines whether or not the detected value is normal. Further, the normality of the vibration detecting means 5 is also determined by comparing with the output of the vibration detecting means 5 assumed in advance based on the vibration output values at the closed and open positions.

  However, in the battery-driven gas meter system, when the opening / closing means 3 is opened / closed for each periodic inspection, there is a concern about battery consumption due to an increase in current consumption. Therefore, the operation of the opening / closing means 3 is recommended to be a periodic inspection operation in an energy saving mode operation with a low operation speed and a low operation speed in a minimum operation range, such as an operation of an open position → a center position → an open position.

  FIG. 4 shows the vibration waveform of the opening / closing means at this time. By this periodic inspection, it is possible to supply a highly reliable flow rate measuring device that can reliably stop gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the opening / closing means 3 is periodically opened / closed, the vibration due to the operation is detected by the vibration detecting means 5 and determined by the control unit 6, thereby ensuring the operation of the vibration detecting means 5. An effective inspection mode can be realized.

  As described above, the flow measuring device according to the present invention can supply a highly reliable measuring device that can reliably stop the gas supply when an abnormality such as leakage, earthquake, or abnormal use of gas is detected. It can also be used for measuring devices such as gases other than city gas and fluids.

Configuration diagram of a flow rate measuring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the vibration waveform in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the vibration waveform in Embodiment 2 of this invention The figure which shows the vibration waveform in Embodiment 3 of this invention. Configuration diagram of a conventional measuring device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fluid passage 2 Flow rate detection means 3 Opening / closing means 4 Pressure detection means 5 Vibration detection means 6 Control part 7 Transmission means

Claims (3)

A fluid passage, a flow rate detecting means for detecting a flow rate of the fluid passage, an opening / closing means for opening / closing the fluid passage, a pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure of the fluid passage, and a vibration waveform during the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing means. A flow rate measuring device comprising: a vibration detecting means for detecting the control means; and a control unit for controlling and determining each of the means. The flow rate measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a periodic inspection mode for performing periodic operation confirmation of the opening / closing means. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a periodic inspection mode for performing periodic operation confirmation of the vibration detecting means.

Images