JP2010249423A - Gas appliance monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas appliance monitor capable of executing safety in every appliance without providing a function for the safety in every appliance in a gas meter. <P>SOLUTION: This gas appliance monitor includes a flow measuring means 17 for measuring a gas flow rate, a gas shutoff valve 2c for shutting off a gas flow passage 16 at the time of the abnormality, a radio module 11 for transceiving information from/to a plurality of mating sides, and a communication switching means 10c for switching a communication frequency band in response to the mating side, the radio module 11 is constituted integrally with a control circuit board 10 constituting the flow measurement means 17, to be stored in a gas meter 2, and has at least a communication frequency band with a base station 14 and a communication frequency band with the plurality of gas appliances, a using time detected by an appliance detection means 22 of the specific gas appliance is measured, the abnormality is determined to be occurred, when exceeding a prescribed value, to transmit a shutoff signal to the gas meter 2. using an appliance radio module 11d, and the gas meter 2 is shut off using a shutoff valve driving means 48. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for identifying a plurality of gas appliances connected to a gas pipe after passing through a gas meter and individually monitoring the use status of the gas.

  Conventionally, as this type of gas monitoring device, the operation of the gas appliance is started without receiving a signal from the gas appliance control device by detecting the discharge noise for ignition accompanying the ignition of the gas appliance and the temperature change accompanying the start of combustion. The operation start information is transmitted to the gas meter by the wireless module, and the continuous use time of each gas appliance is obtained using the flow rate information and the operation start information measured by the gas meter (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2008-232991 A

  However, the gas appliance monitoring device disclosed in the above patent document monitors the usage time for each appliance using the appliance information and the operation start information after the gas meter receives the operation start information including the appliance information via the wireless module. There is a problem that the effect cannot be obtained unless a control circuit having an appliance discrimination function of judging whether or not there is an abnormality is installed.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and even if a gas meter is not equipped with any control circuit related to an instrument discrimination function, the gas instrument is monitored for each instrument, and if there is an abnormality, the gas instrument monitoring device shuts off the gas flow path. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the gas appliance monitoring apparatus of the present invention includes a flow rate measuring unit that measures a flow rate of a gas flowing in a gas flow path, a gas shut-off valve that shuts off the gas flow path when an abnormality occurs, and the A gas meter having a control circuit for driving the gas shut-off valve to shut off and a meter wireless communication means, and the gas appliance by detecting a temperature change accompanying use of the gas appliance connected to the flow path after passing through the gas meter. When the usage time exceeds a predetermined time, the device information transmitter transmits a cutoff signal, and the control circuit receives the cutoff signal by the meter wireless communication means. The gas shut-off valve is driven to shut off the gas supply, and the instrument information can be detected in a place where the temperature change due to combustion can be detected on the gas instrument side, even if the gas meter is not equipped with a control circuit for instrument discrimination. Simply installing the transmitter, it measures the operating time of the device, compared to the abnormal time, by outputting a blocking signal if it is determined as dangerous, so that it is a security surveillance by gas appliance. As a result, the consumer can implement security by appliance without having to replace the gas meter that is currently in use as long as it has a wireless module function.

Further, a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, a gas shut-off valve for shutting off the gas flow path at the time of abnormality, a control circuit for driving the gas shut-off valve to be shut off at the time of abnormality, a meter wireless communication means for performing transmission and reception, A gas meter having a communication switching means for switching a communication frequency band according to the gas meter, and a plurality of gas appliances connected to a pipe after passing through the gas meter, and detects a temperature change accompanying use of the gas appliance. It comprises an instrument information transmitter having instrument radio communication means for transmitting a cutoff signal to a gas meter at a predetermined communication frequency band when the usage time exceeds a predetermined numerical value set in advance. The meter wireless communication means is integrated with the control circuit and housed in the gas meter, and at least a communication frequency band with a base station and a communication frequency with the appliance information transmitter The appliance information transmitter is configured to be installed at an arbitrary place, and when the control circuit receives a cutoff signal from the appliance information transmitter, the gas cutoff valve is driven to shut off the gas. The supply is stopped and the meter wireless communication means is used to transmit the appliance continuous use abnormality information to at least the base station. The wireless communication means can communicate with the base station using a wireless communication means other than a telephone line. Since the module and the wireless module capable of receiving instrument information from a plurality of gas appliances are integrated into the control circuit board in the gas meter, the base station and the telephone line are used simply by installing the gas meter. Communication is possible, and various commands from the base station can be smoothly transmitted without being affected by the congestion status of the line, and connected to the piping after passing through the gas meter. It is possible to acquire appliance information including a signal indicating a cutoff from a specific gas appliance among a plurality of gas appliances, and solve the problem that communication with the center cannot be performed due to congestion of telephone lines as in the past. it can.

  Even if the gas meter is not equipped with a control circuit for instrument discrimination, simply install a device equipped with a radio module at a location where the temperature change due to combustion can be detected on the gas appliance side. Compared with time, if it is determined as dangerous, a safety signal can be monitored for each gas appliance by outputting a shut-off signal. As a result, the consumer can implement security by appliance without having to replace the gas meter that is currently in use as long as it has a wireless module function.

  The gas appliance monitoring device according to the present invention can be used only by installing a device equipped with a radio module in a place where a temperature change due to combustion can be detected on the gas appliance side, without installing a control circuit related to appliance discrimination on the gas meter. By measuring the time, comparing it with an abnormal time, and outputting a cut-off signal when it is determined to be dangerous, safety monitoring can be performed for each gas appliance. As a result, the consumer can implement security by appliance without having to replace the gas meter that is currently in use as long as it has a wireless module function.

The block diagram which shows the communication form of the gas appliance monitoring apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the communication form with the various gas appliances in the gas appliance monitoring apparatus Configuration diagram of appliance radio module in the gas appliance monitoring device Control block diagram of appliance detection means in the gas appliance monitoring device The figure which shows the external appearance and component of the gas appliance monitoring device Internal configuration diagram of the gas appliance monitoring device Configuration block diagram of the control circuit board of the gas appliance monitoring device The figure which shows the communication form of the same gas appliance monitoring apparatus and a specific terminal device (A) The figure which shows the charge information display form in the same specific terminal device (b) The figure which shows the return information display form in the same specific terminal device Control block diagram of the gas appliance monitoring device

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of a gas flowing through a gas flow path, a gas shut-off valve that shuts off the gas flow path when an abnormality occurs, a control circuit that drives the gas shut-off valve to shut off when an abnormality occurs, A gas meter provided with a wireless communication means; and a temperature change associated with use of the gas appliance connected to the flow path after passing through the gas meter is detected to measure a usage time of the gas appliance, and the usage time is predetermined. The control circuit, when receiving the shut-off signal by the meter wireless communication means, drives the gas shut-off valve to shut off and supply the gas. Even if the gas meter is not equipped with a control circuit for instrument discrimination, the instrument usage time can be measured simply by installing an instrument information transmitter on the gas instrument where it can detect temperature changes due to combustion. And, compared to the abnormal time, by outputting a blocking signal if it is determined as dangerous, so that it is a security surveillance by gas appliance. As a result, the consumer can implement security by appliance without having to replace the gas meter that is currently in use as long as it has a wireless module function.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, a gas shut-off valve for shutting off a gas flow path at the time of abnormality, a control circuit for driving the gas shut-off valve to be shut off at the time of abnormality, and a meter wireless communication means for performing transmission / reception And a gas meter comprising a communication switching means for switching the communication frequency band according to the other party, and a plurality of gas appliances connected to the pipe after passing through the gas meter, and the temperature associated with the use of the gas appliance An instrument information transmitter having instrument wireless communication means for detecting a change and measuring a usage time and transmitting a cutoff signal to a gas meter in a predetermined communication frequency band when the usage time exceeds a predetermined numerical value set in advance. The meter wireless communication means is configured integrally with the control circuit and accommodated in the gas meter, and communicates at least with the communication frequency band with the base station and the appliance information transmitter. The instrument information transmitter has a frequency band, and the instrument information transmitter can be installed in an arbitrary place. When the control circuit receives a cutoff signal from the instrument information transmitter, the control circuit drives the gas cutoff valve to shut off. The supply of gas is stopped, and instrument continuous use abnormality information is transmitted to at least the base station using the meter wireless communication means.

  A wireless module capable of communicating with the base station using wireless communication means other than a telephone line and a wireless module capable of receiving instrument information from a plurality of gas appliances are integrated with a control circuit board in the gas meter. Because it is built in, it is possible to communicate with the base station without using a telephone line simply by installing a gas meter, and various commands from the base station can be smoothly transmitted without being affected by the congestion status of the line. Yes, it is possible to acquire equipment information from a specific gas appliance among a plurality of gas appliances connected to the pipe after passing through a gas meter, and it is impossible to communicate with the center due to congestion of telephone lines as in the past. Trouble can be solved.

  Even if the gas meter is not equipped with a control circuit for instrument discrimination, simply install a device equipped with a radio module at a location where the temperature change due to combustion can be detected on the gas appliance side. Compared with time, if it is determined as dangerous, a safety signal can be monitored for each gas appliance by outputting a shut-off signal. As a result, the consumer can implement security by appliance without having to replace the gas meter that is currently in use as long as it has a wireless module function.

  Then, as the appliance information of the gas appliance, without receiving a signal from the gas appliance control device, the temperature change generated with the combustion operation of the gas appliance is detected, and a predetermined process is performed from this temperature change to detect the abnormality of the appliance. Since the judgment signal is output to the appliance radio module, the appliance detection means can be configured independently of the gas appliance control device, and it can be used for existing gas appliances, particularly old type gas appliances. It can be mounted without any change, and it is possible to detect abnormal use of the instrument by simply setting it in a place where temperature changes can be detected.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the second aspect of the invention, the meter wireless communication means communicates using a communication frequency band different from the wireless communication means with the base station and the wireless communication means with the appliance information transmitter. The wireless communication means with the information transmitter is an area communication wireless module having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band, and the wireless communication means with the base station is a wide area communication wireless module having a wide communication frequency band.

Then, a wide area communication wireless module capable of communicating directly with a base station by carrier direct and an area communication wireless module capable of communicating within a predetermined range using a specific low power wireless communication frequency band are configured integrally with a control circuit board, Information is transmitted on base stations and communication lines other than telephone lines, and information is transmitted on specific gas appliances and specific low-power radio communication frequency bands. Information can be acquired in real time and reliably, and gas flow management based on this acquired information can be performed accurately, and the management results for each device can be sent to the base station by simply switching the meter radio module. It can be transmitted directly, and a rational communication means can be constructed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the third aspect, the area communication wireless module enables communication with a specific terminal device in addition to communication with a specific gas appliance, and a specific terminal when abnormality information of the appliance is transmitted. It is also sent to the device.

  By using the area communication wireless module built in the gas meter to enable communication with a specific terminal device such as a television or a mobile phone, it is possible to transmit abnormality information, and the abnormality is displayed on the screen of the television or mobile phone. It is possible to display that the gas shutoff valve has been activated and to prompt the customer to be alerted.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the second to fourth aspects of the invention, the appliance wireless communication means measures from an identification code changing means for setting or changing a unique identification code for specifying the appliance, and temperature information. When it is determined that the used time is abnormal, the device information transmitting means for transmitting the device information to which the identification code is added together with the signal indicating the interruption is provided to the gas meter.

  And, by assigning a unique identification code for each type of specific gas appliance used in the home, and transmitting a cutoff signal together with this identification code, it can be surely notified which appliance has been used abnormally, Since it has an identification code changing means that can arbitrarily change or set the identification code for each appliance, even if the appliance is changed by replacement, etc., it is possible to respond by simply changing the identification code. It can be reused and can provide extremely effective device information transmitting means.

  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)
1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication mode between a gas meter, a base station, and a customer's house in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication mode with a specific gas appliance in the home in the gas appliance monitoring device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the appliance radio module in the gas appliance monitoring apparatus, FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the gas appliance monitoring apparatus, FIG. 5 is an external view and components of the gas appliance monitoring apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit board of the gas appliance monitoring apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of gas appliances connected to piping after passing through the gas meter 2 and a communication function possessed by the gas meter 2 will be described first.

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

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

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

  As the transmission means, as shown in FIG. 5, the wireless module 11 is integrally incorporated in the control circuit board 10 constituting the control device built in the gas meter 2, and this wireless module 11 is connected by a connector 10d. A gas meter that is detachably mounted on the control circuit board 10 and that does not have the wireless module 11 and does not have a communication function and a gas meter that has the communication function that has the wireless module 11 can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, it can be used regardless of the presence or absence of the communication function.

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

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the wireless module 11 is different from the telephone line for communicating with the base station 14, for example, a wide-area communication wireless module 11 a having a communication frequency band of 200 MHz, a television 12 a in the customer's house 13, Area communication wireless module 11b having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band of, for example, 429 MHz in order to communicate with a specific terminal device 12 such as a personal computer or a mobile phone 12b, an adjacent gas meter, and a specific gas appliance installed in the home. And the data from the control circuit 10a for calculating the amount of gas used or detecting an abnormality such as an earthquake or gas leak based on the flow rate signal or sensor signal, and further transmitted from the gas operator 15 via the base station 14. Various information transmitted from an adjacent gas meter, and specific gas appliances In response to the received data, for example, the gas shutoff valve is activated due to the occurrence of abnormalities such as gas charges, gas usage or earthquakes, gas leaks, etc., and pulsation occurs from the adjacent gas meter. In the case of contents to be notified to the consumer, such as a change of the measurement mode corresponding to the information to be notified, or the gas supply management of a specific gas appliance, the television 12a or the mobile phone in the consumer's house 13 using the area communication wireless module 11b When data is transmitted to a specific terminal device 12 such as 12b and instrument information is transmitted from a specific gas instrument, the information is received and input to the control circuit 10a.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the specific terminal device 12 also includes a wireless module 11c having the same communication frequency band as that of the area communication wireless module 11b built in the gas meter 2, so that the gas meter 2 The transmitted data can be received, and this data is displayed through the screen of the television 12a or the mobile phone 12b, so that information can be transmitted directly to the consumer from the gas meter. There is no need to adopt an information transmission method in which data is transmitted from the gas meter 2 to the gas company 15 and information processed by the gas company 15 such as postcards such as a charge notice is sent to the customer by mail or the like. Therefore, the number of man-hours required for the notification work can be reduced, and postage expenses such as postcards for notifications can be eliminated. It is intended to contribute to a reduction in gas rates be realized.

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

  Next, the flow rate measurement processing means for measuring the gas flow rate built in the control circuit 10a, performing a predetermined process and outputting it as flow rate information will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. A gas inlet 2a and a gas outlet 2b are provided, and a pair of ultrasonic sensors 17a and 17b are provided as a flow rate measuring unit 17 for measuring a gas flow rate and a shutoff valve 2c for shutting off the gas in the gas flow path 16 therebetween. A pressure sensor 2d for detecting the gas pressure is disposed on the downstream side. A control circuit board 10 equipped with a control circuit 10a for calculating a gas flow rate based on signals from the ultrasonic sensors 17a and 17b is arranged so as to face the liquid crystal display 10e on the display unit 2e of the gas meter 2, and further control is performed. A battery 2f for driving the circuit 10a is accommodated. Further, a return button 2g is arranged as means for manually performing a return operation after the shutoff valve 2c is activated.

  Then, the flow rate measurement unit 17 and the control circuit 10a that measure the gas flow rate change according to the flow rate of the gas flow path 16 through which a pair of ultrasonic sensors are arranged as shown in FIG. Some measure flow rate by measuring propagation time. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described. A measurement control unit having a switching means that constitutes a control circuit 10a, in which a first transmitter / receiver 17A for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves and a second transmitter / receiver 17B for receiving or transmitting ultrasonic waves are arranged in the flow direction. Switching between transmission and reception is possible by 18 and the flow state of fluid such as gas is detected. The flow rate is measured by processing the signals of the first transmitter / receiver 17A and the second transmitter / receiver 17B. Specifically, the first transmitter / receiver 17A is first driven by the measurement control unit 18 and the second transmitter / receiver 17B is then driven. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward the upstream, that is, from the upstream to the downstream. Then, the signal received by the second transmitter / receiver 17B is amplified by the amplifying means provided in the measurement control unit 18, the amplified signal is compared with the reference signal, and after the signal equal to or higher than the reference signal is detected, the measurement control unit The above-described transmission / reception is repeated a predetermined number of times by the repeating means provided at 18, and each time value is measured by a time measuring means such as a timer counter provided at the measurement control unit 18.

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

  A shutoff valve 2c for shutting off the gas flow is provided in the gas flow path 16 in which the flow rate measuring unit 17 is disposed, and when the flow rate value required by the signal processing means 19 is abnormally large or normal When the flow rate value is detected beyond the possible usage time, it is determined that there is an abnormality and the shutoff valve 2c is operated to shut off the gas flow path 16.

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

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

  Further, when the shutoff valve 2c is operated due to an earthquake or impact, the cause is investigated, and when the return instruction from the gas operator 15 is transmitted in the wide communication frequency band (200 MHz) via the base station 14, the gas meter 2 Is received by the wide-area communication wireless module 11a, and the return instruction information is sent to the control circuit 10a mounted on the same board. When the return instruction information is input, the control circuit 10a sends information related to the return work stored in the information storage means 10b to the area communication wireless module 11b via the communication switching means 10c, and the area communication wireless module 11b In the power wireless communication frequency band (429 MHz), the data is transmitted to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the display terminal device 12 such as the television 12a, and the procedure of the return work as shown in FIG. 9B is displayed on the screen, for example. To do. Then, when the transmission to the display terminal device 12 is completed, as described above, a notification completion signal is transmitted to the gas company 15 to notify the completion of information transmission to the consumer.

  As described above, the control circuit 10a has the communication switching means 10c to select the radio module having a different communication frequency band corresponding to the other party to communicate according to the information to be transmitted. 15, it is necessary to transmit the information stored in the information storage means 10b to the gas operator 15 and the specific terminal device 12 based on the information received by the wide area communication wireless module 11a. When the wide area communication wireless module 11a having the communication frequency band and the area communication wireless module 11b having the specific low power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz, for example, are selected and the return instruction from the gas company 15 is given, the display terminal device 12 It is only necessary to transmit the information stored in the information storage means 10b. In this case, for example, a specific low power wireless communication of 429 MHz. It may be selected area communication wireless module 11b having a waveband.

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

  Next, security monitoring of the gas appliance in the gas meter having the above communication function will be described. Generally, in order to prevent accidents caused by forgetting to turn off gas appliances, the continuous use time is limited, and the continuous use time is set according to the flow rate, and the gas is shut off when the continuous use time elapses. This is known.

  However, the above general equipment security monitoring is designed to set the continuous use time uniformly according to the gas flow rate regardless of the type of gas equipment. Because it is not set, for example, the same gas appliances with the same flow rate, the latest gas appliances with enhanced safety functions, and the same gas appliances with the same flow rate as the gas appliances 20 years ago with less safety functions. If the usage time is limited based on the latest gas appliance, the time to prevent the gas appliance from being turned off 20 years ago becomes longer and the risk becomes higher. On the other hand, when the use time is limited on the basis of a gas appliance 20 years ago, there is a problem that the latest gas appliance is prematurely cut out.

  Therefore, in addition to the method of monitoring the continuous use time for each flow rate region, the importance of the security function for each appliance that acquires appliance information for each gas appliance and individually monitors based on the appliance information is increasing.

  Therefore, firstly, a method for mounting an instrument discrimination function on a gas meter and performing safety monitoring for each instrument was considered, but in this embodiment, storage monitoring is performed for each gas instrument without mounting any instrument discrimination function on the gas meter. A method will be described.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the area communication radio module 11b built in the gas meter 2, the appliance radio module 11d having the same communication frequency band, the combustion unit, the waste cylinder and the output port when the gas appliance is burned A device detecting means 22 for detecting a temperature change that is always accompanied, converting it into a temperature signal of the device and outputting it to the device wireless module 11d, and a device usage time measuring device for measuring the usage time of the gas device after detecting the device. An appliance use abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality in comparison with a preset threshold value, a driving battery power supply 23, an appliance wireless module 11d, an appliance detecting means 22, an appliance use time measuring means, and an appliance use abnormality determining means. Is integrated on the appliance wireless module substrate 24 and housed in the case 25 to constitute the appliance information transmitter 26.

  Then, the appliance information transmitter 26 is housed inside the gas appliance or attached to a suitable location on the exterior. At this time, it is necessary to set at a position where the temperature associated with combustion can be detected. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of the gas fan heater 9, the temperature that changes with combustion can be detected simply by attaching the appliance information transmitter 26 to the combustion section or the hot air output port. The use state of the gas fan heater 9 can be detected without connecting to the control device of the fan heater 9 and receiving a signal. In other words, the use state of the appliance can be detected simply by placing the appliance information transmitter 26 in a place where the temperature that changes with combustion can be detected. Therefore, since it can be set in any place and can be detachably stored, it can be removed for gas appliances that do not require transmission of instrument information, and can be easily set in the case of replacement, etc. It is something that can be done.

  Since most of the gas appliances burn and emit heat, the appliance detection means 22 can detect the usage status of various types of gas appliances such as an instantaneous water heater and a gas stove in addition to the gas fan heater 9.

  In the present embodiment, a method for implementing security for each appliance will be described in detail using the control block diagram of FIG. In the present embodiment, the gas fan heater 9 will be described as an example, but it goes without saying that the same detection is possible in other gas appliances.

When the gas fan heater 9 starts an ignition operation, the igniter is actuated to start discharge between the electrodes connected to the high voltage output side, and the supplied gas is ignited to start combustion. At this time, the combustion section is warmed by the influence of heat generated during combustion, and the ambient temperature rises rapidly. In addition, the warm air output port is supplied with air heated in the combustion section, and the temperature rises higher than that at room temperature. The temperature change accompanying this combustion is detected by the temperature change detecting means 22a. The temperature change can be detected by installing a temperature sensor that measures the room temperature, and comparing the room temperature with the temperature changed by combustion to detect when a temperature difference of a threshold value or more has occurred, or by using a single temperature sensor. A method may be considered in which the temperature is measured periodically and the previous temperature and the current temperature are compared to detect when a difference exceeds a certain threshold.

  When the temperature change is detected, it is considered that the operation of the gas appliance has been started, and the appliance usage time measuring means @ measures the appliance usage time. The measurement is stopped when the temperature change indicating the operation stop is obtained by the temperature change detecting means 22a. Once the operation start signal is obtained, the measurement is continued until the operation stop signal is obtained, and the measurement time is cleared to zero after receiving the operation stop signal or restarted after receiving the next operation start signal.

When the usage time is measured by the appliance usage time measuring means 22b, the appliance abnormal usage time determination means 22c determines whether or not the measured value is abnormal. Specifically, a predetermined numerical value determined in advance is compared with the measured value, and when the measured value exceeds the predetermined numerical value, it is determined that there is an abnormality. If the predetermined predetermined numerical value can be changed by a communication message, the versatility is increased and the usability is improved. When it is determined as abnormal by the appliance abnormal use time judging means 22c, a cutoff signal is sent to the equipment information transmitting means 11f, and a unique identification code of the gas fan heater 9 set by the identification code changing means 27 is given as equipment information. It transmits to the area communication wireless module 11b of the gas meter 2.

  When the area communication wireless module 11b receives the appliance information including the cutoff signal transmitted from the appliance information transmission means 11f of the appliance information transmitter 26, the control circuit 10a sends the cutoff signal to the cutoff valve drive circuit 48 to send the gas cutoff valve. 2c is performed, and a signal is transmitted to the wide area communication wireless module 11a and the area communication wireless module 11b to transmit the appliance use time interruption information to the base station 14 and the specific terminal device 12. As a result, the abnormality information is notified to the base station and the specific terminal device, so that the user or the gas company can immediately recognize which gas appliance has been abnormally used.

  According to the gas appliance monitoring apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to implement security by appliance even if the gas meter is not equipped with a control circuit for appliance security.

2 Gas meter 2c Gas shut-off valve 10a Control circuit 10b Information storage means 10c Communication switching means 11 Wireless module 11a Wide area communication wireless module 11b Area communication wireless module 11d Appliance wireless module 12 Specific terminal device 14 Base station 16 Gas flow path 17 Flow rate measuring means 22 Instrument detection means 26 Instrument information transmitter 27 Identification code changing means 48 Shut-off drive circuit

Claims (5)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate flowing in the gas flow path; a gas shut-off valve that shuts off the gas flow path in the event of an abnormality; a control circuit that drives the gas shut-off valve to shut off in the event of an abnormality; and a meter wireless communication means. When the temperature of use of the gas appliance is detected by detecting a temperature change accompanying the use of the gas meter and the gas appliance connected to the flow path after passing through the gas meter, and the usage time exceeds a predetermined time An instrument information transmitter for transmitting a shut-off signal, and the control circuit, when receiving the shut-off signal with the meter wireless communication means, shuts off the gas shut-off valve and stops the gas supply when receiving the shut-off signal. . A flow rate measuring means for measuring the gas flow rate, a gas shut-off valve for shutting off the gas flow path in the event of an abnormality, a control circuit for shutting off and driving the gas shut-off valve in the event of an abnormality, a meter wireless communication means for performing transmission and reception, and depending on the destination A gas meter having a communication switching means for switching a communication frequency band, and a plurality of gas appliances connected to a pipe after passing through the gas meter, and used by detecting a temperature change associated with the use of the gas appliance. An instrument information transmitter having instrument wireless communication means for measuring a time and transmitting a cut-off signal to a gas meter in a predetermined communication frequency band when the usage time exceeds a preset predetermined numerical value; The wireless communication means is configured integrally with the control circuit and accommodated in the gas meter, and has at least a communication frequency band with the base station and a communication frequency band with the appliance information transmitter. The appliance information transmitter is configured to be installed at an arbitrary place, and when the control circuit receives a cutoff signal from the appliance information transmitter, the gas cutoff valve is driven to shut off the gas supply. In addition, a gas appliance monitoring apparatus that transmits instrument continuous use abnormality information to at least a base station using a meter wireless communication means. The meter wireless communication means communicates using a communication frequency band different from the wireless communication means with the base station and the wireless communication means with the appliance information transmitter, and the wireless communication means with the appliance information transmitter is a specific low power wireless. 3. The gas appliance monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area communication wireless module has a communication frequency band, and the wireless communication means with the base station is a wide area communication wireless module having a wide communication frequency band. 4. The area communication wireless module enables communication with a specific terminal device in addition to communication with a specific gas appliance, and transmits the abnormality information of the appliance to the specific terminal device when transmitted. Gas appliance monitoring device. The appliance wireless communication means includes an identification code changing means for setting or changing a unique identification code for specifying the appliance, and an identification code together with a signal indicating interruption when the usage time measured from the temperature information is determined to be abnormal. The gas appliance monitoring device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising appliance information transmitting means for transmitting the appliance information to which the gas is provided to the gas meter.