JP2009168591A - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect easily the risk of a gas leak by lowering a gas leak determination value of an alarm, when detecting a new gas appliance. <P>SOLUTION: A gas shut-off device includes the alarm 7 and a gas meter 1, which are configured to perform transmission and reception of information between them. The device detects use of a new gas appliance, outputs a new appliance detection signal from an appliance discrimination means 11, and inputs the signal into an alarm control means. An alarm control means enhances detection sensitivity by changing the gas leak determination value of the alarm 7 in the lowering direction in response to a determination value changing signal, thereby facilitating quick detection of the risk of a gas leak or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device configured to be able to transmit and receive information between an alarm device and a gas meter, and more particularly to a gas shut-off device that can change the operating conditions of the alarm device based on information from the gas meter. is there.

  Conventionally, this type of gas shut-off device shuts off gas when an alarm output is output from an alarm (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 3 shows a conventional gas shut-off device described in the publication. As shown in FIG. 3, it is composed of an alarm device 7 that gives an alarm when gas is detected and a gas shut-off device 1. In the figure, 6 is an alarm control means, 8 is a detection signal transmission means for transmitting a signal to the gas shut-off device when the gas concentration reaches an alarm level, 9 is a detection means for detecting gas, and 10 is an alarm. This is an alarm output means.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-139486

  However, in the configuration of the conventional example, the gas leak determination level of the gas alarm is determined to be a constant value without change even when the use of a plurality of new gas appliances that has never been made is added. For this reason, when the added gas appliance causes gas leakage due to an initial failure or a defective second-hand product, there is a problem that the gas leakage cannot be detected at an early stage and the danger cannot be avoided.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive information between an alarm device and a gas meter, and the use of a new device has been added using the device discrimination function of the gas meter, Alternatively, when it is detected that a specific gas appliance has been used, the detection sensitivity is increased by changing the alarm leak detection value of the alarm device, and this occurs when a new appliance is added or when a specific appliance is used. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas shut-off device capable of quickly detecting danger such as easy gas leakage.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the shut-off device of the present invention is a gas shut-off device configured to be able to transmit and receive a gas alarm installed at an appropriate place in a room and a gas meter having a shut-off function, The gas alarm device has a detection means for detecting a gas leak, an alarm transmitting / receiving means for inputting a signal for changing a judgment value for judging the gas leak and outputting an alarm signal, and a judgment according to the judgment value change signal. An alarm control means for determining a gas leak abnormality by setting a value and comparing it with a detection value; and an alarm output means for informing when the gas leak is abnormal, wherein the gas meter outputs a detection signal corresponding to the flow rate. A detection means; a control means for calculating an instantaneous flow rate value for each predetermined period based on the detection signal; and a comparison with a flow rate pattern for each instrument that is stored in advance as a flow rate pattern in association with the instantaneous flow rate value. An appliance discriminating means for discriminating the appliance to be used; a gas meter transmitting / receiving means for outputting a signal for changing the gas leak judgment value of the alarm device according to the appliance discriminating result; And the control means transmits a judgment value change signal via the gas meter transmission / reception means when the appliance discrimination means detects the use of an unprecedented new appliance and a new appliance detection signal is input. And the said alarm device control means sets the gas leak determination value according to the determination value change signal received by the alarm transmission / reception means.

  According to the above invention, when the use of a new gas appliance is detected by the appliance discriminating function using the flow rate information possessed by the gas meter, the detection sensitivity is improved by changing the alarm gas leak judgment value in the direction of lowering, and the new appliance is provided. Safety can be improved by making it possible to quickly detect dangers such as gas leaks that are likely to occur when a gas is added.

  The gas shut-off device of the present invention increases the detection sensitivity by changing the direction of lowering the gas leak judgment value of the alarm when detecting the use of a new gas appliance by the appliance discriminating function using the flow rate information of the gas meter, Since it becomes possible to quickly detect dangers such as gas leaks that are likely to occur when a new instrument is added, safety can be improved.

  A first invention is a gas shut-off device configured to be able to transmit and receive a gas alarm installed at a proper place in a room and a gas meter having a shut-off function, wherein the gas alarm detects a gas leak Means, an alarm transmitter / receiver means for inputting a signal for changing a judgment value for judging gas leakage and outputting an alarm signal, and a judgment value corresponding to the judgment value change signal is set and compared with the detection value for gas An alarm device control means for determining a leakage abnormality; and an alarm output means for notifying when a gas leakage abnormality occurs, wherein the gas meter has a predetermined period based on the detection signal and a flow rate detection means for outputting a detection signal corresponding to the flow rate. A control means for calculating an instantaneous flow rate value for each unit, and an appliance discriminating means for discriminating an appliance to be used by comparing the instantaneous flow rate value with a time series in association with a flow pattern for each appliance that is stored in advance. The control means comprises: a gas meter transmitting / receiving means for outputting a signal for changing a gas leak judgment value of the alarm device according to the instrument discrimination result and inputting an alarm signal; and a shut-off means for opening and closing the gas flow path. When a new instrument detection signal is detected by the instrument discrimination means and a new instrument detection signal is input, a judgment value change signal is transmitted via the gas meter transmission / reception means, and the alarm control means transmits / receives the alarm The gas leak judgment value corresponding to the judgment value change signal received by the means is set.

  Then, it is possible to easily detect that a new gas appliance has been used by the appliance discrimination function using the flow rate information of the gas meter. When the use of a new gas appliance is detected, the gas leak judgment value of the alarm device is lowered. By changing the detection sensitivity, it becomes possible to increase the detection sensitivity, to quickly detect a risk of gas leakage or the like that is likely to occur when a new instrument is added, and to improve safety.

  The second invention is characterized in that, in particular, the control means in the first invention sets a judgment value change signal in accordance with an appliance discrimination signal input for each appliance discriminated by the appliance discriminating means. It is.

  Since it is possible to set a gas leak judgment value for an alarm device corresponding to the appliance in use, when it is determined that a specific appliance that is prone to gas leakage, such as an instant water heater, is used, the gas leak of the alarm device is determined. The detection sensitivity can be increased by changing the determination value in the direction of lowering, and a gas cutoff device with improved safety can be provided.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided instrument information input means capable of inputting instrument information from the outside, and the control means is a judgment value change signal according to the instrument information input from the instrument information input means. This is characterized in that it is set.

  And since the instrument information can be input from the outside, it is possible to input the additional usage information of the new instrument and the usage information of the specific instrument to the control means instead of the instrument discrimination function of the gas meter. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gas shut-off device that takes into account the balance between safety and usability.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first to third aspects of the invention, when the control means cannot confirm the alarm signal before the predetermined period elapses after transmitting the judgment value change signal, the control means returns the judgment value to the pre-change judgment value. It is characterized by that.

  And even if the judgment value is changed due to the additional use of a new gas appliance or the use of a specific appliance, if it is judged that there is no abnormality such as gas leakage for a predetermined period, the judgment value is returned to the original state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination due to noise and minor abnormality due to increased sensitivity, and it is possible to improve usability while ensuring safety.

  A fifth invention is a program for causing a computer to function as all or part of the gas shut-off device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions.

  And since it is a program, at least one part of the program of this invention is easily realizable using a general purpose computer or a server. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

  Since the present invention can achieve the object of the present invention by making the main parts of the first to fourth inventions into embodiments, the details of the embodiments corresponding to each claim will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description will be made with reference to the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Further, in the description of each embodiment, the same configuration and the same function and effect are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will not be given.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gas cutoff device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the gas meter transmission / reception means 5 of the gas meter 1 constituting the gas shut-off device has an alarm signal receiving means 5b for receiving an alarm signal output from the alarm device 7, and when the alarm device 7 determines an abnormal gas leak. When the alarm signal to be transmitted is received, the content is output to the control means 2. The flow rate detection means 4 detects the gas flow rate and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the flow rate to the control means 2. The control means 2 composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuit calculates an instantaneous flow rate value for each predetermined period by inputting a detection signal from the flow rate detection means 4, and performs various processes based on the calculated flow rate data, for example, a fixed period. The calculation of the integrated flow value at, the flow pattern associated with the time series, the determination of abnormal flow and abnormal use, etc. are executed. When the abnormality is determined, control is performed so that the gas supply is shut off via the shut-off means 3, and when the abnormality is released, the gas supply is resumed.

  Further, the control unit 2 outputs the flow rate value calculated by the flow rate detection unit 4 to the appliance discrimination unit 11 as a flow rate pattern associated with time series. The appliance discriminating means 11 compares the flow rate pattern stored in association with the time series and the pre-stored flow rate pattern for each appliance, discriminates the gas appliance to be used based on the characteristic flow rate information, and has been used so far. It is determined whether the gas appliance has not been used or has been used before.

  Note that the discrimination of the gas appliance in the appliance discriminating means 11 not only discriminates the use of a new gas appliance but also discriminates a predetermined specific gas appliance, for example, a gas appliance that needs to be used with caution. Also used in cases.

If it is determined in the determination result that an unprecedented gas appliance or a specific gas appliance that needs to be used with caution is used, a new appliance detection signal is sent from the appliance discrimination means 11 to the control means 2. Output to. When the new instrument detection signal is input, the control means 2 derives a predetermined determination value change signal according to the input new instrument detection signal, and sends it to the determination value change signal transmission means 5a of the gas meter transmission / reception means 5. Output. The output judgment value change signal is transmitted to the alarm transmitter / receiver means 8 via the judgment value change signal transmission means 5a.

  The judgment value change signal received by the judgment value change signal receiving means 8a of the alarm transmission / reception means 8 is output to the alarm control means 6, and the gas leak judgment value that has been conventionally set by the alarm control means 6 is The value is changed to a gas leakage determination value determined according to the determination value change signal.

  Thus, when a new gas appliance that has never been used is used, or when a specific gas appliance that needs to be used with caution is used, the gas leak judgment value of the gas alarm 7 is lowered. By changing the direction, the detection sensitivity of the gas leak detected by the gas detection means 9 is increased, and it is possible to quickly detect the risk of gas leak that is likely to occur when a new gas appliance is added. The control means 6 notifies the user via the alarm signal output means 10, transmits the alarm signal to the alarm signal receiving means 5 b of the gas meter 1 via the alarm signal transmitting means 8 b, and stops the gas supply via the shut-off means 3. In this way, safety is improved.

  Further, the determination value change signal is transmitted according to the type and number of gas appliances used determined by the appliance discriminating means 11. Even when a new gas appliance is discriminated, the gas appliance is changed. The determination value change signal varies depending on the type of the device, and when a plurality of instruments are used at the same time, the determination value change signal varies. In this way, by changing the gas leak judgment value of the gas alarm 7 finely according to the usage environment of the gas appliance, it may occur when a new gas appliance is added or when an appliance requiring attention such as an instantaneous water heater is used. Risks such as easy gas leakage can be quickly detected.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the flow rate detecting means 4 is used as a method for confirming the installation status of a gas appliance that needs to be used with caution or that a new gas appliance is installed. There is provided appliance discriminating means 11 for comparing a flow rate pattern in which the calculated flow rate values are associated in time series with a pre-stored flow rate pattern for each appliance, and discriminating the gas appliance to be used based on the characteristic flow rate information. However, as another method, an instrument information input unit 12 capable of inputting instrument information from the outside is provided, and the control unit 2 sets a determination value change signal according to the instrument information input from the instrument information input unit 12. In this way, it is possible to determine what kind of gas appliance is installed in the home and whether or not a new gas appliance is installed.

  Also, a new instrument detection signal is sent from the instrument discriminating means 11 or the instrument information input means 12 to the control means 2, and a determination value change signal corresponding to the new instrument detection signal is derived by the control means 2, and a determination value change signal transmitting means When the gas leak judgment value is changed in accordance with the judgment value change signal transmitted from 5a to the gas alarm device transmission / reception means 8 of the gas alarm device 7 and received by the judgment value change signal reception means 8a, the control means 2 previously A fixed period of time is counted, and a gas leak is detected with the gas leak judgment value changed until the time is completed. If no gas leakage is detected during this fixed period, the gas leakage determination value is returned to the original determination value when the fixed period has elapsed, and monitoring is continued as a normal gas leakage condition. In addition, when a gas leak is detected during this fixed period, an alarm signal is output to the alarm output means 10 of the gas alarm device 7 for notification. If the gas leakage situation is improved by this notification process, the gas leakage judgment value is further changed for a certain period, and if no gas leakage is detected during the certain period, the gas leakage judgment is performed when the certain period has elapsed. The value is returned to the original judgment value, and monitoring is continued as a normal gas leakage condition.

Next, a program for executing the control flow stored in the control means 2 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the control means 2 determines whether or not a new instrument detection signal has been received from the instrument discriminating means 11 (S1). If there is no reception, the process proceeds to S6. A flag is set (S2), the instrument detection counter is cleared to zero (S3), and a determination value change signal for changing the gas leak determination value of the gas alarm device 7 in a direction to be lowered based on a predetermined condition is derived ( S4), a judgment value change signal for setting a new leak judgment value is output to the judgment value change signal transmission means 5a of the gas meter transmission / reception means 5 and transmitted to the judgment value change signal reception means 8a of the alarm transmission / reception means 8 (S5). ). In S6, it is determined whether or not a new instrument detection flag is set. If it is not set, the process ends. If it is set, the process proceeds to S7. In S7, the appliance detection counter indicating how long has passed since the new gas leakage determination value has been changed is incremented to determine whether the appliance detection counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S8). If it is less than the predetermined value, the process is terminated, and if it is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the gas leak judgment value of the gas alarm device 7 is changed to the original judgment value so as to return to the original judgment value (S9). And the newly determined determination value is output to the determination value change signal transmitting means 5a and transmitted to the determination value change signal receiving means 8a (S10), the instrument detection counter is cleared to zero (S11), and the new instrument detection flag is reset. (S12), the process is terminated, and the process proceeds to the flow rate detecting means again.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by detecting a new gas appliance and lowering the threshold value of the gas leak detection level only for a predetermined period, it is possible to prevent the threshold value of the gas leak detection level from being lowered too much. It is possible to prevent false alarms that occur due to excessively low values.

  In each of the above embodiments, the control flow is executed by causing the microcomputer to function with the program stored in the control means, but it is also possible to execute it with hardware instead of the program. Further, the transmission method of each signal of the gas shut-off device and the alarm device can be applied to any of a wired method, a wireless method, and a combination of a wired method and a wireless method.

  As described above, the gas shut-off device according to the present invention can be realized by transmitting each signal of the gas meter and the alarm device, and therefore can be applied to a system in which each signal is concentrated and controlled at a relay point.

The block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 1 of this invention Flow chart showing the operation of the gas shutoff device Block diagram of a conventional gas shut-off device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas shut-off device 2 Control means 3 Shut-off means 4 Flow rate detection means 5 Gas meter transmission / reception means 5a Determination value change signal transmission means 5b Alarm signal reception means 6 Alarm device control means 7 Gas alarm device 8 Alarm device transmission / reception means 8a Determination value change signal reception Means 8b Alarm signal transmission means 9 Detection means 10 Alarm output means 11 Appliance discrimination means

Claims (5)

A gas shut-off device configured to be able to transmit and receive a gas alarm installed at a proper place in a room and a gas meter having a shut-off function,
The gas alarm device detects a gas leak, inputs a signal for changing a judgment value for judging a gas leak, outputs an alarm signal, and transmits and outputs a warning signal, and a judgment value change signal. An alarm control means for determining a gas leakage abnormality by setting a determination value and comparing it with a detection value; and an alarm output means for informing at the time of a gas leakage abnormality,
The gas meter includes a flow rate detection unit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a flow rate, a control unit that calculates an instantaneous flow rate value for each predetermined period based on the detection signal, and inputs the instantaneous flow rate value in time series as a flow rate pattern. In addition, the device discriminating means for discriminating the appliance to be used in comparison with the flow rate pattern for each appliance stored in advance, and a signal for changing the gas leak judgment value of the alarm device according to the appliance discrimination result, and an alarm signal Gas meter transmission / reception means for input, and shut-off means for opening and closing the gas flow path,
The control means detects the use of a new instrument that has not been used in the instrument discrimination means, and when a new instrument detection signal is input, transmits a judgment value change signal via the gas meter transmission / reception means,
The gas shutoff device in which the alarm control means sets a gas leak judgment value according to the judgment value change signal received by the alarm transmission / reception means. 2. The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein the control means sets a determination value change signal in accordance with an appliance discrimination signal input for each appliance discriminated by the appliance discriminating means. Provide equipment information input means that can input equipment information from the outside,
The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein the control means sets a determination value change signal in accordance with the appliance information input from the appliance information input means. The gas shut-off according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means returns the judgment value before the change to the judgment value before the change when the alarm signal cannot be confirmed before the predetermined period elapses after the judgment value change signal is transmitted. apparatus. The program which makes a computer function as all or one part of the gas interruption | blocking apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4.

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