JP2008267740A - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas shut-off device that accurately measures and monitors flow rates of various media flowing in piping even if a flow rate used is changed by the control of an instrument itself which a consumer holds. <P>SOLUTION: The gas shut-off device is composed of a flow rate storage means 23 measuring a flow rate in a passage by a flow rate detecting means 21 and storing it as an instantaneous flow rate; a start determining means 26 determining which instrument by storing the flow rates at each instrument in an instrument information storage means 24 and normalizing from the storage values of the flow storage means 23 and instrument information storage means 24 by a normalizing means 25; a control determining means 27 determining whether another instrument is started after detecting the start of the instrument; and a shut-off means 34 for shutting off a passage when determining an abnormality by estimating the instrument by an instrument determining means 28, monitoring the flow rate and an operating time by an instrument monitoring means 29, counting an instrument monitor period simultaneously by an observation period clocking means 30, setting a shut-off value from the flow rate and the operating time by a shut-off value learning means 31 upon the completion of the counting, and determining the abnormality by an abnormality determining means 33 by comparing the flow rate and the operating time of the instrument in use. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device that, when an appliance held by a consumer is used, estimates the appliance to be used, performs optimum security monitoring, and always monitors whether or not the usage state is safe.

  As a conventional gas shut-off device of this type, there has been one having a configuration as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the gas meter. A gas meter 1 is installed in the middle of the gas supply pipe 2, and the downstream gas supply pipe 2 is connected to one or more gas appliances 3 </ b> A, 3 </ b> B, 3 </ b> C installed in the customer's house 3. The gas appliance is, for example, a water heater, a fan heater, a table stove, or the like.

  The gas meter 1 receives and accumulates flow rate signals from a gas flow rate detection means 4 such as a gas flow meter provided in the gas flow path, a gas shutoff valve 5, a gas pressure sensor 6, and a gas flow rate detection means 4. It has a gas meter control unit 7 that measures the amount of gas, further determines a gas appliance in use, and performs a security function corresponding thereto. The gas meter control unit 7 is realized by a microcomputer, for example, and a battery 8 is connected to the gas meter control unit 7.

  In addition, the gas meter 1 has a gas amount display unit 9 for displaying the measured accumulated gas amount, a seismometer 10 for detecting the occurrence of an earthquake, and notifies the remote gas center of the accumulated gas amount, and a security function. Corresponding to the communication unit 11 for receiving control of the gas cutoff valve from the monitoring center.

  The gas flow rate detection means 4 is a gas flow meter that detects an instantaneous gas flow rate at short intervals of 2 seconds or less. For example, the gas flow rate detection unit 4 sends ultrasonic waves bidirectionally along the gas flow path, It is an ultrasonic flowmeter that detects the flow velocity and outputs an instantaneous gas flow rate signal from the relationship with the cross-sectional area of the gas piping. By using a gas flow meter that can detect the instantaneous gas flow rate at relatively short intervals, the waveform of the gas flow with respect to time can be detected more accurately, and the gas appliance based on the flow rate pattern can be detected. Make a decision.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the gas meter control unit 7. The gas flow rate signal S7 output from the gas flow meter at every sampling timing of, for example, 2 seconds or less has instantaneous gas flow rate information and is stored in the flow rate storage memory 12 in correspondence with the time. Further, the gas flow rate integrating module 13 integrates the gas flow rate of the gas flow rate signal S7 and outputs a display signal S71 to the gas amount display unit 9. Therefore, the gas flow integration module 13 realizes the basic function of the gas meter.

  The gas appliance determination module 14 has a gas appliance determination function and determines the gas appliance connected to the gas pipe in the customer's home 3 from the change in the gas flow rate during use. The gas appliance determination module 14 includes a control step determination module 15 that determines each control step from the detected gas flow rate pattern (flow rate waveform with respect to time), and a part that extracts a partial flow rate pattern from the gas flow rate waveform divided for each control step. It has a flow rate pattern extraction module 16 and a matching module 19 that extracts a matching gas appliance from the flow rate pattern table 17 and the appliance table 18 using the partial flow rate pattern as a clue.

The control step determination module 15 analyzes the gas flow rate waveform stored in the flow rate storage memory 12 at regular intervals, and determines a change in the combustion control step of the gas appliance. A detected gas flow rate pattern is matched with a previously registered partial flow rate pattern in units of partial flow rate patterns obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated in accordance with combustion control of a gas appliance. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which control step currently corresponds to the detected gas flow rate pattern. Therefore, the control step determination module 15 determines which part of the gas flow rate waveform with respect to the time stored in the flow rate storage memory 12 corresponds to which control step of the combustion control.

  The partial flow pattern extraction module 16 divides the detected gas flow pattern for each control step determined by the control step determination module 15 and extracts feature data of the divided partial flow pattern. The characteristic data of the partial flow rate pattern is an index used for pattern matching, and is a flow rate waveform characterized by time and flow rate. Therefore, the partial flow rate pattern extraction module 16 extracts feature data from the recorded gas flow rate waveform. This feature data is used by the gas appliance determination module 14 for matching with the partial flow rate pattern.

  In the flow rate pattern table 17, partial flow rate patterns obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated along with combustion control are classified and stored for each control step. Therefore, partial flow patterns of as many or all possible gas appliances are analyzed in advance, and these partial flow patterns are classified for each control step and stored in the flow pattern table 17. Further, the appliance table 18 stores a plurality of gas appliances and corresponding combinations of partial flow patterns in association with each other.

  The matching module 19 searches the flow rate pattern table 17 and extracts a partial flow rate pattern in the flow rate pattern table 17 that matches the partial flow rate pattern extracted from the detected gas flow rate. That is, using the partial flow pattern characteristic data described above as an index, the previously registered partial flow patterns that match are extracted for each control step. Further, the matching module 19 extracts a gas appliance that matches the combination of the partial flow patterns extracted from the flow pattern table from the appliance table 18. In that case, it is also determined whether or not the detected gas flow rate falls within the flow rate range for each gas appliance in the appliance table 18. Only a combination of partial flow patterns may match a plurality of gas appliances, and the absolute value of the gas flow rate is also used to identify the gas appliance in use from the plurality of gas appliances.

In other words, when the gas appliance determination module 14 can identify the gas appliance, the operation monitoring module 20 executes the optimum security control for the identified gas appliance. For example, the safety continuous use time over cutoff function by the specified gas appliance. In other words, the operation monitoring module 20 monitors whether or not the specified gas appliance has been used continuously beyond the safe continuous use time set for each type of gas appliance, and outputs the cut-off signal S72 when it exceeds. Then shut off the gas shut-off valve or output an alarm. Accordingly, operation monitoring is performed based on the safe continuous use time optimally set for each gas appliance, not the setting of the safe continuous use time depending on the gas flow rate.
JP 2003-149027 A

However, the above conventional configuration has the following problems. When the gas appliance determination control unit determines whether a water heater, fan heater, or gas table is used, the operation monitoring module determines safety, but when the season moves from winter to summer, the water temperature changes and is used depending on the appliance. Although the time changes, for example, in the summer season such as a water heater, the use time is shortened or the cooking time is shortened. If it is set, it takes a long time to shut off in the summer, and for example, there is a problem that a gas leak continues to be unfavorable for safety over a long period.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas shut-off device that performs optimum safety monitoring for each appliance even if environmental conditions change according to the season.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention measures the flow rate in the flow path by the flow rate detection means, converts the flow rate into the flow rate, stores the instantaneous flow rate, and stores the flow rate for each instrument in advance as the instrument information storage means. The normalization means normalizes from the stored values of the flow rate storage means and the appliance information storage means, the appliance activation is determined by the flow rate, and the activation determination means for determining which appliance is the output value of the normalization means, Which instrument is being used by the instrument determination means is estimated from the control determination means that determines the instrument control state after the instrument activation is detected. When the appliance is estimated by the appliance judgment means, the appliance flow rate and the appliance usage time are measured and monitored by the appliance monitoring means, and at the same time, the monitoring period is measured by the observation period timing means to measure the appliance monitoring for a predetermined period. The cutoff value learning means for setting the cutoff value based on the appliance usage time, the abnormality determination means for comparing the monitoring value and the cutoff value corrected by the cutoff value learning means to determine whether it is abnormal, and the flow path when the abnormality is established by the abnormality determination means And blocking means for blocking.

  As a result, after estimating the equipment used, the flow rate value and usage time of the equipment used are stored during the observation period, and the monitoring time for each equipment is optimized according to the season based on the equipment flow rate and equipment usage time stored after completion of the observation period. It is possible to learn security values and monitor security.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a gas appliance is used, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection means, the instantaneous flow rate after the detection of the appliance flow rate is stored in the flow rate storage means, and the appliance flow rate stored in the appliance information storage means is Is normalized by the normalization means, and the activation determination means determines which device is rising, and the control determination means determines whether one instrument or a plurality of instruments are used. As a result, the appliance determination means Identify hot water heaters or heaters such as fan heaters, observe the maximum gas flow value and appliance usage time for each appliance with appliance monitoring means, and use the cutoff value learning means to determine the optimum cutoff value that does not shut off after a specified period. Therefore, it is extremely safe, abnormal monitoring is performed at a flow rate or usage time different from the actual flow rate of the instrument, and erroneous shut-off occurs, improving the usability without unnecessary operation by the gas company, and ensuring safety. But there is an effect of improving.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention achieves the above-described object, a flow rate detecting means for measuring a flow rate in a flow path, a flow rate calculating means for converting a detection value in the flow rate detecting means into a flow rate, and an instantaneous flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculating means. A flow rate storage means that stores the flow rate of each appliance in advance, a normalization means that normalizes the stored values of the flow rate storage means and the appliance information storage means, An activation determination unit that determines and determines which appliance is based on the output value of the normalization unit, a control determination unit that determines an appliance control state after detection of appliance activation, and an appliance that is determined by the activation determination unit and the control determination unit An instrument determining means for estimating whether the instrument is being used, an instrument monitoring means for measuring and monitoring the instrument flow rate and instrument usage time when the instrument is estimated by the instrument determining means, and for measuring the instrument monitoring for a predetermined period of time. An observation period time measuring means for measuring time, an interruption value learning means for setting an interruption value based on an instrument flow rate and an appliance use time when the observation period timing means is completed, and until the interruption value is re-registered by the interruption value learning means. A monitoring value storage means for setting an initial cutoff value, an abnormality determination means for comparing the monitored value with the cutoff value corrected by the cutoff value learning means to determine whether there is an abnormality, and a flow when an abnormality is established by the abnormality determination means It comprises blocking means for blocking the road.

  When any gas appliance is used, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection means, the detected flow rate is stored in the flow rate storage means, the flow rate pattern for each instrument group stored in the appliance information storage means, the activation determination means, and the control determination means After comparing and determining with the appliance determination means, and specifying the appliance, the appliance monitoring means monitors the flow rate value and the usage time of the appliance, stores the maximum value during the observation period, and the cutoff value learning means By setting the cutoff value by multiplying the maximum value by the safety factor, the cutoff value is set to the optimum value even if the usage time of the equipment changes every season. Since there is no longer a problem of safety monitoring due to a large margin until shut-off, and there is no problem of false shut-off in the winter season according to the actual usage in the summer, the optimal shut-off value is set according to the actual use in each season Because safety Te is high, thereby improving the security effect.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, components having the same functions as those in FIG. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a gas cutoff device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 21 is a flow rate detection means for detecting the gas flow rate in the flow path of a gas medium such as city gas or LPG. For example, as an example of the flow rate detection means 21, an ultrasonic signal is transmitted from one to the other with an ultrasonic sensor installed in the flow path, and the used gas flow rate is detected from the propagation time, or a hot wire sensor is installed in the flow path. A flow sensor that obtains the flow rate from the impedance that changes depending on the installed flow, or that measures the amount of gas with a metering membrane and detects the flow rate as an electrical pulse signal using a magnet and a reed switch or a magnetoresistive element, etc. There is.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a flow rate calculation means for converting the signal obtained by the flow rate detection means 21 into an instantaneous flow rate. For example, in the case of an ultrasonic sensor, the flow rate is calculated from the propagation time. Reference numeral 23 denotes a flow rate storage means for storing the obtained average flow rate in time series.

  24 is appliance information storage means for each gas appliance group such as gas appliances used in general households, for example, water heaters, floor heaters, FF type hot air heaters or fan heaters, cooking utensils such as gas tables, etc. The flow rate value for each predetermined interval time, the variance indicating variation, or the standard deviation are stored.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a normalizing unit that normalizes the flow rate value stored in the appliance information storage unit 24 as a reference so that the flow rate patterns of the appliances can be easily compared. For example, when the correlation between instruments is determined using a correlation coefficient, it becomes easier to compare similarities in the flow rate direction of the flow rate pattern if normalized.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes an activation determination unit. When it is detected that the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit 21 is greater than or equal to a predetermined flow rate, the flow rate data group stored in the flow rate storage unit 23 and the data group of the instrument information storage unit 24 are used to determine the flow rate. The rising change is determined to determine which instrument group it belongs to. Usually, a water heater changes sharply in a large flow rate region. In addition, gas tables, fan heaters, etc., increase gradually as compared with hot water heaters.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a control determination unit, which monitors whether the same device is continuously used or another device is used after the activation of the device is started by the activation determination unit 26. For this reason, when the flow rate change is detected by the flow rate detection means 21, the instrument flow rate change pattern group in the instrument information storage means 24 is referred to. As a result, it is determined whether the temperature control of the fan heater, the hot water temperature control of the water heater, the combustion amount control of the gas table, or the use of another gas appliance is started.

  28 is an appliance determination means, which estimates the appliance as a result of determination by the activation determination means 26 and the control determination means 27. 29 is an appliance monitoring means, and when an appliance is specified by the appliance determination means 28, an increased flow rate cutoff value or a usage time cutoff time of the appliance is output, and the usage time and usage flow value are measured and monitored.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes an observation period timing means, which is a learning timer for a predetermined period in order to determine the cutoff value for each instrument.

  The cutoff value learning means 31 sets the cutoff value of the maximum flow rate, the stable flow rate and the increased flow rate used during the observation period by the appliance monitoring means 29 or the new limit time for cutoff of the usage time of the appliance. For example, the maximum value during the observation period is stored, and a new cutoff value is set by multiplying that value by a safety factor.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a monitoring value storage means, and an initial cutoff value for each appliance is set until a new cutoff value is set by the cutoff value learning means 31. The limit value of the usage time cutoff of the appliance flow rate or the monitoring judgment value of the maximum usage flow rate, for example, the total cutoff flow rate value, the increased flow rate cutoff value, and the like are stored.

  Reference numeral 33 denotes an abnormality determination unit that determines whether the gas usage amount registered by the flow rate registration unit 13 is in an abnormal usage state as a determination value of the monitoring value storage unit 15. For example, when the hose that supplies gas to the appliance used, such as a stove, is disconnected for some reason, it is used for much longer than the total flow cutoff value to monitor the abnormal large flow rate that occurs and the maximum normal use time of the appliance The use time cut-off limit time defining the use time limit time corresponding to the case is compared by the abnormality determination means 33 and monitored for an abnormality.

  34 is a blocking means, and when it is determined that there is an abnormality from the abnormality determining means 33, a blocking signal is output to block the flow path. Reference numeral 35 denotes an informing means. When the abnormality determining means 33 determines that the gas use state is abnormal and the shut-off means 34 is driven, the shut-off state and the content of the shut-off are displayed on the liquid crystal display element and the safety monitoring of the gas is performed. Report to the center via telephone line.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. Gas appliances, such as heaters such as gas stoves and fan heaters, small water heaters, hot water heaters (bath water heaters, remedies), floor heating, hot water heaters with bath tubs, dryers, gas tables And gas cookers. The normal gas flow rate range is divided and the usage time is monitored for each flow rate category. There are inherent characteristics for each gas appliance, and the safety monitoring cutoff value and time limit should be set according to the characteristics of the appliance, not for each flow rate category. Therefore, when the consumer starts using the appliance, the flow rate detecting means 21 detects it. The detected value obtained by sampling periodically is converted into an instantaneous flow rate by the flow rate calculation means 22. The sampled flow rate value is stored in the flow rate storage means 23.

  On the other hand, in the appliance information storage means 24, start-up is started for each gas appliance group such as data relating to gas appliances, for example, heating appliances such as water heaters, small water heaters, FF hot air heaters or fan heaters, cooking appliances such as gas tables, etc. Stored are a flow rate value at every predetermined interval time, a variance indicating variation, or a standard deviation, a flow rate change pattern when shifting to the control after the start of startup, a flow rate change width at that time, a variance, and a standard deviation.

  The appliance estimation process is performed from the stored flow rate value of the flow rate storage means 23, the appliance information storage means 24, and the normalization means 25, and the appliance determination means 28 specifies which appliance group it belongs to. It normalizes on the basis of the flow rate value stored in the appliance information storage means 24, and makes it easy to compare the flow rate patterns for each appliance. For example, when the correlation between appliances is determined using a correlation coefficient, it becomes easy to compare similarities in the flow rate direction of the flow rate pattern if normalized.

  Next, when the activation determination unit 26 detects that the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit 21 is equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate, that is, when it is detected that the instrument has started to be used, the flow rate data stored in the flow rate storage unit 23. The rising change of the flow rate is determined from the group and the data group of the appliance information storage means 24, and it is determined to which appliance group the appliance that has started to be used belongs. Usually, a water heater changes sharply in a large flow rate region. In addition, gas tables, fan heaters, etc., increase gradually as compared with hot water heaters. When the device starts to use and the flow rate increases and starts up, the device starts its own control.

  Since the fan heater of the heater performs stepwise gas amount control depending on the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature, the stable flow rate operation like a gas table is different. That is, the control determination unit 27 monitors whether the activation determination unit 26 starts the operation of the device and whether the same device is continuously used or whether another device is used during the use of the first device. For this reason, when the flow rate change is detected by the flow rate detection means 21, the instrument flow rate change pattern group in the instrument information storage means 24 is referred to. For example, when the use of the fan heater is started and the use of the water heater is started during the temperature control, a rapid flow rate change at the rising edge is detected, and it is estimated that the use of the water heater is started while the fan heater is used. It is determined whether the hot water temperature control, the gas table combustion amount control, or another gas appliance is started to be used.

  The appliance determination means 28 is a signal obtained by discriminating the same appliance group group from the rising characteristics from the activation determination means 26 and the flow rate after the start of use of the appliance by the control determination means 27 rises. Based on the determination signal, it is determined which device is the final device, whether it is a water heater, a small water heater, a fan heater, or a gas table.

  Next, the instrument monitoring means 29 starts measuring and monitoring the flow rate value and usage time of the specified instrument, and stores the maximum use value during the timing period of the observation period timing means 30. When the cutoff value learning period elapses, an increased flow cutoff value and a usage time cutoff value for each appliance are determined.

  Further, the cutoff value learning means 31 calculates the sum of the calculated increased flow cutoff values of the appliance, sets the total cutoff value by multiplying by the safety factor. When a plurality of appliances are used, each appliance is set. When the consumer starts using the appliance, learning starts. At the same time, the abnormality determination means 33 performs safety monitoring of the usage state. Before the cutoff value is set by the cutoff value learning means 30, monitoring is performed with the cutoff value initially set in the monitoring value storage means 32 in advance. The initial cutoff value for each appliance is set to a maximum value and is set to a value that does not cause an erroneous cutoff.

  When the usage time of the monitoring instrument exceeds the set time limit, or when the increase flow rate cutoff value set for each instrument is exceeded by the abnormality determination unit 33, the cutoff unit 34 is driven to stop the gas supply.

  In this way, by learning the usage time and flow rate value for each device and setting and learning the optimum safety monitoring cutoff value, it is erroneously determined as another device even though it is a single device, and is divided into multiple flow values. It is possible to prevent accidental interruption without monitoring, and the safety and security reliability are greatly improved.

  As described above, the gas shut-off device according to the present invention includes various gas media, LP gas, city gas, and hydrogen gas flowing in the pipe using a membrane type, ultrasonic sensor, hot wire sensor, fluidic sensor, and the like. It can be applied to uses such as water meters that measure liquids such as water using measurement or ultrasonic sensors.

Control block diagram of gas shutoff device of Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional gas shutoff device Control block diagram of a conventional gas shut-off device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Flow rate detection means 22 Flow rate calculation means 23 Flow rate memory means 24 Instrument information storage means 25 Normalization means 26 Start-up determination means 27 Control determination means 28 Instrument determination means 29 Instrument monitoring means 30 Observation period time measurement means 31 Cutoff value learning means 32 Monitoring value Storage means 33 Abnormality determination means 34 Blocking means

Claims (2)

A flow rate detecting means for measuring a flow rate in the flow path, a flow rate calculating means for converting a value detected by the flow rate detecting means into a flow rate, a flow rate storing means for storing an instantaneous flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculating means, and an instrument in advance Appliance information storage means for storing each flow rate, normalization means for normalizing from the stored values of the flow rate storage means and the appliance information storage means, appliance activation is determined by the flow rate, and the output value of the normalization means Activation determination means for determining which appliance is used, control determination means for determining the appliance control state after detection of appliance activation, and appliance determination means for estimating which appliance is used by the activation determination means and the control determination means And an instrument monitoring means for measuring and monitoring the instrument flow rate and instrument usage time when the instrument is estimated by the instrument determination means, and an observation period timing means for measuring the period for measuring the instrument monitoring for a predetermined period. When the observation period timing means completes timing, the cutoff value learning means for setting the cutoff value from the appliance flow rate and the appliance usage time, and the monitoring value storage for setting the initial cutoff value until the cutoff value is registered again by the cutoff value learning means Means, an abnormality determination means for comparing the monitored value with the cutoff value corrected by the cutoff value learning means to determine whether it is abnormal, and a cutoff means for blocking the flow path when the abnormality is established by the abnormality determination means. Gas shut-off device. A program for causing a computer to function as all or part of means of the shut-off device according to claim 1.

Images