JP2010282554A - Lp gas central monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To centralize management and security of LP gas for each customer in a processing center. <P>SOLUTION: The LP gas central monitoring system has: an LP gas management system which transmits indicator data acquired by a terminal monitoring unit 33 to the processing center 10, and utilizes the indicator data as billing data and container delivery data to be transmitted to an LP gas office 20; an LP gas security system which causes a gas leakage alarm 32 to detect gas leakage at a customer's house 30 to issue a gas leakage alarm 32 while causing the terminal monitoring unit 33 to acquire the indicator data, and notifies the customer of the occurrence of gas leakage and gas leakage countermeasures or/and requests the LP gas office for call-out for the customer by transmitting the indicator data to the processing center 10; and an arbitrary communication system which accepts information on LP gas, which is transmitted by an intention of an individual customer 40 in the processing center. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a centralized monitoring system for LP gas, and in particular, centrally monitors the remaining amount of gas in the LP gas container installed at the customer's home and the occurrence of gas leaks centrally at one processing center. In addition, the present invention relates to an LP gas centralized monitoring system that takes measures capable of promptly taking appropriate measures corresponding to the remaining amount of gas and occurrence of gas leakage.

  Conventionally, it is possible to detect the supply abnormality of the gas supplied to the secondary side gas system and shut off the gas supply, or detect that the supply abnormality of the gas supplied to the secondary side gas system has been canceled A proposal has been made on a gas shut-off return method for returning the supply of gas (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, the weight of the bulk container filled with LP gas is detected, and the detection signal is processed by a remaining amount management device attached to the bulk container to calculate the remaining liquid amount, and the calculated data is sent to the bulk container. It has been proposed to use for LP gas filling timing and maintenance management such as maintenance (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, it is also known that household gas meter information is collected using a public line, and safety management is performed remotely based on the data (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  By the way, LP gas customers (users) receive gas from LP gas containers and bulk containers installed at customer's homes and use gas appliances, etc., in order to maintain stable use at customer homes. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the LP gas from running out during the use of the LP gas supplied from the LP gas container permanently installed in the customer's house.

  In addition, when an unexpected situation such as a gas leak occurs at a customer's home, it is required to block the gas leak and prevent an explosion or fire from occurring.

  Furthermore, for LP gas companies, the meter reading staff dispatched to the customer's home regularly checks the gas meter guidelines and uses the data for billing operations.

JP 11-118572 A JP 2000-291895 A JP-A-6-276283

    The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and each customer has a billing service, an LP gas management service useful for LP gas stable supply, an LP gas security service useful for emergency measures such as when a gas leaks, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide an LP gas centralized monitoring system that can perform centralized processing at each processing center.

  An LP gas centralized monitoring system according to the present invention includes a gas meter, a gas leak alarm device and a terminal monitoring unit installed in a customer's home where a LP gas container is permanently installed, an information processing device installed in a processing center, and an LP gas business. It is necessary to provide a communication terminal installed at a place and a communication line that enables mutual communication between the individual customer and the processing center.

  In this LP gas centralized monitoring system, the pointer data of the gas meter acquired by the terminal monitoring unit is transmitted to the information processing device of the processing center, and the pointer data transmitted to the information processing device is transmitted to the customer at the processing center. LP gas management system used as price billing business data and container delivery business data to be transmitted to the communication terminal of the LP gas office, and the gas leak alarm device by detecting the gas leak at the customer's home with the above gas leak alarm device And obtaining the gas meter pointer data by the terminal monitoring unit, and transmitting the gas meter pointer data acquired by the terminal monitoring unit to the information processing device of the processing center. Then, based on the above guideline data transmitted to the information processing device, to customers using communication lines An LP gas security system that performs one or both of the notification of gas leak occurrence and gas leak countermeasures, and the request for disaster prevention dispatch to the LP gas establishment using the above communication terminal, and sent by the customer's individual intention And an optional communication system for receiving information about the LP gas at the processing center.

  In the present invention, the LP gas management system is preset in the gas meter with an automatic meter reading process in which the terminal monitoring unit periodically acquires the pointer data of the gas meter and transmits the pointer data to the information processing device of the processing center. It is desirable to include a remaining gas amount monitoring process in which the remaining gas amount management information is acquired by the terminal monitoring unit and the remaining gas amount management information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus in the processing center.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the processing center notifies the LP gas establishment of the container delivery command based on the gas remaining amount management information transmitted to the information processing apparatus of the processing center.

  In the present invention, the LP gas security system forcibly shuts off the outlet valve of the LP gas container at the customer's home by remote control using a communication line based on the gas meter guide data transmitted to the information processing apparatus of the processing center. It is desirable to include a gas shut-off process.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that the information regarding the LP gas received by the processing center through the above-mentioned optional communication system includes a call signal from the transmitting device possessed by the individual customer.

  According to the LP gas centralized monitoring system according to the present invention, the LP gas management business useful for billing business and the stable supply of LP gas, the LP gas security business useful for emergency measures in case of gas leakage, etc. are unified for each customer. In addition to making it easier for customers to make billing and gas container delivery operations more efficient, it is possible to respond quickly and appropriately to contingencies such as gas leaks. become.

It is explanatory drawing which showed roughly the whole structure of the LP gas concentration monitoring system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a LP gas management system. It is explanatory drawing of a LP gas security system. It is explanatory drawing of an arbitrary communication system.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an LP gas centralized monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the LP gas centralized monitoring system shown in the figure, between the customer home 30 and the processing center 10, between the processing center 10 and the LP gas office 20, and between the LP gas office 20 and the customer home 30, respectively. Communication is possible. Communication is also possible between the individual customer 40 who is out of the customer's home 30 and the processing center 10 and the LP gas office 20. As the communication means, an Internet line, a telephone line, and other communication lines are used.

  An information processing apparatus 11 configured by a communication terminal such as a host computer or a telephone is disposed in the processing center 10. The LP gas office 20 includes LP gas dealers and LP gas filling factories. The LP gas office 20 is provided with a communication terminal 21 that can communicate with a host computer and a communication terminal of the processing center 10. In the customer's home 30, an LP gas container (LP gas cylinder or LP gas bulk) and a gas meter 31 are permanently installed, and a gas leak alarm 32 and a terminal monitoring unit 33 are also installed. The gas meter 31 integrates and displays the amount of LP gas used. Further, the terminal monitoring unit 33 acquires the pointer data of the gas meter 31, acquires the remaining gas amount management information, and transmits the data to the information processing apparatus 11 of the processing center 10.

  The LP gas centralized monitoring system shown in FIG. 1 includes the LP gas management system shown in FIG. 2, the LP gas security system shown in FIG. 3, and the optional system shown in FIG. Three communication systems are included. Hereinafter, each of these systems will be described individually.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the LP gas management system. In this LP gas management system, the terminal monitoring unit 33 acquires the pointer data of the gas meter 31 and transmits it to the information processing apparatus 11 of the processing center 10. In the processing center 10, the guideline data transmitted to the information processing apparatus 11 is used as price billing business data for the customer and container delivery business data transmitted to the communication terminal of the LP gas office 20.

  The acquisition of the guideline data by the terminal monitoring unit 33 can be performed periodically, for example, at a predetermined date and time every month. Similarly, transmission of the guideline data to the information processing apparatus 11 can be performed periodically at a predetermined date and time every month. In this way, since the processing center 10 can periodically grasp the amount of gas used at the customer's home 30, monthly automatic meter reading processing can be performed without dispatching a meter reader to the customer's home 30. In the center 10, it becomes possible to carry out centralized operation according to each customer. Also, if the gas usage in the current month is compared with the average gas usage in the past month, and if the gas usage is extremely increased or decreased, an abnormal situation has occurred regarding the gas usage. It becomes possible to judge the possibility of being.

  Further, the terminal monitoring unit 33 acquires gas remaining amount management information set in advance in the gas meter 31. The residual gas amount management information acquired by the terminal monitoring unit 33 is the target of the residual gas amount monitoring process. The remaining gas monitoring process is a process of transmitting the remaining gas management information acquired by the terminal monitoring unit 33 to the information processing apparatus 11 of the processing center 10. Based on the remaining gas amount management information transmitted to the information processing apparatus 11, the processing center 10 notifies the LP gas establishment 20 of a container delivery command. When this notification is made, the LP gas establishment 20 delivers a new LP gas container to the customer's home 30 and replaces the LP gas container. By performing the remaining gas amount monitoring process and the container delivery without delay, the LP gas can be stably supplied at the customer's home 30.

  For example, when two 50 kg LP gas containers are permanently installed in the customer's home 30, the first stage of the remaining amount setting performed in advance for the gas meter 31 is 55%, and the second stage is 25%. In this case, the remaining amount of LP gas at the customer's home 30 is 100 kg when the two LP gas containers are combined, so when 45 kg is used and the remaining amount reaches 55 kg, the remaining amount becomes the terminal monitoring unit 33. And the first alarm is sent to the processing center 10. Thereafter, when the container is delivered from the LP gas establishment 20 to the customer's home 30 based on the container delivery command, the LP gas container is replaced, and the reset button of the gas meter 31 is pressed, the remaining amount calculation is newly performed from that point. Start. For some reason, when the first alarm is given and the container is not delivered, the remaining amount is calculated up to the second stage, and when the second alarm condition is met, the terminal monitoring unit 33 And the second alarm is called to the processing center 10. Thereafter, when the container is delivered from the LP gas establishment 20 to the customer's home 30 based on the container delivery command, the LP gas container is replaced, and the reset button of the gas meter 31 is pressed, the remaining amount calculation is newly performed from that point. Start.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the LP gas security system. In this LP gas security system, a gas leak at the customer's home 30 is detected by the gas leak alarm 32, and the gas leak alarm 32 is sounded, causing a gas leak to the individual customer and the residents in the vicinity of the customer's home. It is done to let you know. When customers and neighbors know that the gas leak alarm 32 is ringing, they can take secondary measures such as explosions and fires by taking certain measures such as closing the gas valve. The occurrence of disasters can be prevented.

  Further, in parallel with the sounding of the gas leak alarm 32 or after the gas leak alarm 32 is sounded for a predetermined time, the terminal monitoring unit 33 causes the pointer data of the gas meter 31 to be acquired. In this process, even if the customer or neighbors know that the gas leak alarm 32 is ringing, some customers or residents could not find the gas leak point, so appropriate measures are taken. This process is effective when it is not possible. Acquisition of the pointer data of the gas meter 31 by the terminal monitoring unit 33 at this time is automatically performed by the function of the terminal monitoring unit 33 itself. The pointer data of the gas meter 31 acquired by the terminal monitoring unit 33 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 11 of the processing center 10.

  In the processing center 10, based on the guideline data transmitted to the information processing apparatus 11, notification of gas leakage occurrence and gas leakage countermeasures to customers using a communication line such as a telephone, and to the LP gas establishment 20 using a communication terminal Do one or both of customer request for disaster prevention. Individual customers who know the occurrence of gas leaks and measures against gas leaks through notification from the processing center 10 can prevent secondary disasters such as fires by executing the reported gas leak measures immediately. , Gas leakage can be shut off. In addition, the LP gas establishment 20 that has received the request for dispatch is urgently dispatched to the customer's home 30 as soon as possible to perform repair of the gas leak point, gas leak blocking work, safety check, and the like. If necessary, the processing center 10 uses a communication line to send a gas shut-off signal to the customer's house 30 and forcibly shuts off the LP gas container outlet valve by remote control. By this processing, measures that cannot be performed by the customer or measures that cannot be performed are performed.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an optional communication system. This optional communication system is a system that accepts information related to LP gas transmitted by the intention of the individual customer 40 to the processing center 10. The information regarding the LP gas received by the processing center 10 through the optional communication system includes a call signal from the transmitting device possessed by the individual customer 40. This call signal is a signal that is sent to the processing center 10 only when a push button type transmitter is handed over to an elderly person living alone and the elderly person alone pushes the push button of the transmitter. When the processing center 10 accepts this signal, it becomes possible for the processing center 10 to call the customer individual 40 and confirm the safety information. The call signal transmission also includes an action in which the individual customer 40 who is out of the office is concerned about forgetting to close the gas stopper of the customer's home 30 and informs the processing center 10 of this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Processing center 11 Information processing apparatus 20 LP gas establishment 21 Communication terminal 30 Customer home 31 Gas meter 32 Gas leak alarm 33 Terminal monitoring unit 40 Customer individual

Claims (5)

A gas meter, gas leak alarm and terminal monitoring unit installed at the customer's home where the LP gas container is installed, an information processing device installed at the processing center, a communication terminal installed at the LP gas office, and an individual customer A communication line enabling mutual communication with the processing center,
The guide data of the gas meter acquired by the terminal monitoring unit is transmitted to the information processing device of the processing center, and the processing guide center transmits the guide data transmitted to the information processing device to the billing business data for the customer and the LP gas establishment. LP gas management system used as container delivery business data to be transmitted to the communication terminal;
The terminal monitoring unit is configured to detect the gas leak at the customer's home with the gas leak alarm and to sound the gas leak alarm and to acquire the gas meter pointer data with the terminal monitoring unit. The gas meter guideline data obtained in step 1 is transmitted to the information processing device of the processing center, and the processing center takes measures against gas leak occurrence and gas leakage for the customer using the communication line based on the guideline data transmitted to the information processing device. An LP gas security system that performs one or both of the above notification and the request for disaster prevention dispatch for customers to the LP gas establishment using the communication terminal,
An optional communication system that accepts information about LP gas transmitted at the customer's individual will to the processing center;
An LP gas centralized monitoring system characterized by comprising: The LP gas management system
An automatic meter reading process for periodically acquiring gas meter guideline data by the terminal monitoring unit and transmitting the guideline data to the information processing device of the processing center;
A gas remaining amount monitoring process in which gas remaining amount management information set in advance in a gas meter is acquired by the terminal monitoring unit and the gas remaining amount management information is transmitted to an information processing device in a processing center. The LP gas centralized monitoring system described.   The LP gas centralized monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the processing center notifies the LP gas establishment of a container delivery command based on the gas remaining amount management information transmitted to the information processing device of the processing center.   The LP gas security system performs a gas shut-off process for forcibly shutting off the outlet valve of the LP gas container at the customer's home by remote control using a communication line, based on the gas meter guide data transmitted to the information processing device of the processing center. The LP gas centralized monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   The LP gas according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information relating to the LP gas received by the processing center through the optional communication system includes a call signal from a transmitting device possessed by the individual customer. Centralized monitoring system.

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