JP2011149794A - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas shut-off device capable of improving the measurement accuracy and the reliability of the amount of gas consumed in gas consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The gas shut-off device includes a measurement control section 6 for measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves between ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 36 and 37; an operation section 7 capable of outputting a plurality of items of data, based on the propagation time; a selection section 8 for selecting data outputted from the operation section 7; an output section 9 for periodically outputting the data selected by the selection section 8; a flow-rate storage section 11 for encoding and storing the data; a decoding section 12 for decoding the data coded and stored in the flow-rate storage section 11; a pointer-value computing section 20 for computing gas pointer value via the use of data transmitted from the output section 9; and an alarm section 19 for comparing the data acquired by decoding stored data of the flow-rate storage section 11 at the decoding section 12 with a value of the pointer value storage section 17 and notifying an alarm, when there are deviations, or reporting to a gas supplier via a communication section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic gas shut-off device using ultrasonic measurement or the like for improving safety in use of gas and improving convenience in use of gas when using gas after a gas meter.

  When using gas appliances, in order to prevent accidents caused by forgetting to turn off gas or leaking gas, etc., the gas business operator managing the gas user's home and the gas supply path should notify the Systems that block supply paths are becoming widespread.

  As a conventional gas security device, based on the gas flow rate, etc., the gas supply is cut off when a large flow rate flows, or the gas flow is cut off when the gas flows for a long time at a minute flow rate. What shuts off when gas flows for a predetermined time is used.

  In a gas user's house or the like, a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate is installed at an inlet portion of a gas supply path. Conventionally, as this type of gas meter, a membrane-type gas meter that integrates the amount of gas that flows at a predetermined flow rate is generally used. Recently, an instantaneous flow rate is obtained using an ultrasonic signal, and this instantaneous flow rate is calculated. Ultrasonic gas meters that measure the gas flow rate by integrating the values are also installed in the market and tend to increase.

Japanese Patent No. 3490064

  However, in the conventional membrane gas shut-off device, the membrane meter mechanically measures according to the movement of the membrane, so that it is a system that does not affect the change of the gas pointer value due to noise. Recently, it has been shifted to an electronic gas shut-off device using ultrasonic measurement, etc., but the electronic gas shut-off device has a normal guideline value even if there is an abnormality in the electrical data regarding the gas flow rate guide value due to noise. It was not possible to judge whether the guideline value was abnormal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and compares the flow rate result of the flow rate measurement unit with the value of the pointer value storage unit of the control unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas shut-off device capable of improving the measurement accuracy and reliability of the amount of gas used when using a gas by reporting via a communication unit.

In order to solve the conventional problems, a gas shutoff device according to the present invention includes a shutoff valve for shutting off a gas passage provided in a gas supply pipe, a flow rate measuring unit connected to the gas supply pipe, and the shutoff valve. A control unit that shuts off gas and displays a gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measurement unit, and the flow rate measurement unit includes a measurement channel connected to the gas passage, and an upstream of the measurement channel. A pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers disposed on the downstream side, a measurement control unit for measuring the propagation time of ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers, and an operation capable of outputting a plurality of data based on the propagation times A selection unit that selects data to be output from the calculation unit to the control unit based on settings from the control unit, an output unit that periodically outputs data selected by the selection unit, and A flow rate storage unit that encrypts and stores data And a decryption unit that decrypts the data stored in the flow rate storage unit, and the control unit is sent from the flow rate measurement unit and an output setting unit that sets the type of data to be output to the flow rate measurement unit A safety control unit that controls the shut-off valve using data, a pointer value calculation unit that calculates a gas pointer value using data sent from the flow rate measurement unit, and a display unit that displays a gas pointer value , A guideline value storage unit for storing the gas guideline value, a communication unit for realizing communication with the gas company, and a data read command from the gas company via the communication unit, the stored data of the flow rate storage unit Comparing the data decoded by the decoding unit and the value of the guideline value storage unit, when there is a discrepancy, it is constituted by an alarm display or a warning unit reporting to the gas company via the communication unit, As a result, the flow measurement unit The measurement accuracy of the gas usage when using the gas is compared by comparing the value in the pointer value storage unit of the controller and the control unit, and when there is a divergence, an alarm is displayed or a notification is sent to the gas company via the communication unit. In addition, reliability can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the data stored in the flow rate storage unit is encrypted, the data in the flow rate storage unit may not be rewritten even if the data in the guideline value storage unit is rewritten unfairly by a third party.

  According to the present invention, by comparing the flow rate result of the flow rate measurement unit and the value of the guideline value storage unit of the control unit, when there is a divergence, or by reporting to the gas company via the communication unit, It is possible to provide a gas shut-off device that can improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of the amount of gas used during gas use.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the 1st gas interruption | blocking apparatus in this embodiment. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ultrasonic flowmeter in this embodiment The block diagram which shows the structure of the 2nd gas cutoff device in this embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the 3rd gas interruption | blocking apparatus in this embodiment.

  The first invention is measured by a shutoff valve for shutting off a gas passage provided in the gas supply pipe, a flow rate measuring unit connected to the gas supply pipe, and shutting off the gas by the shutoff valve or the flow rate measuring part. A control unit that displays a gas flow rate value, and the flow rate measurement unit includes a measurement channel connected to the gas passage, and a pair of ultrasonic waves disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the measurement channel. Based on the setting from the transceiver, a measurement control unit that measures the propagation time of ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic transceivers, a calculation unit that can output a plurality of data based on the propagation time, and the control unit, A selection unit that selects data to be output from the arithmetic unit to the control unit, an output unit that periodically outputs data selected by the selection unit, a flow rate storage unit that encrypts and stores the data, The encrypted data stored in the flow rate storage unit is decrypted. The control unit is configured to include an output setting unit that sets a type of data to be output to the flow rate measurement unit, and a safety unit that controls the shut-off valve using data sent from the flow rate measurement unit. A control unit, a pointer value calculation unit that calculates a gas pointer value using data sent from the flow rate measurement unit, a display unit that displays a gas pointer value, and a pointer value storage unit that stores a gas pointer value A communication unit that realizes communication with the gas company, and when receiving a data read command from the gas company through the communication unit, the data stored in the flow rate storage unit is decoded by the decoding unit and the guideline value Comparing the values of the storage unit, it is composed of an alarm display when there is a discrepancy, or a warning unit that reports to the gas company via the communication unit, so that the data of the flow measurement unit and the control unit Compare the values in the guideline value storage section, Away alarm when there is a display or by report via the communication unit to the gas company, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of gas usage on a gas used.

Furthermore, since the data stored in the flow rate storage unit is encrypted, the data in the flow rate storage unit is not rewritten even if the data in the guideline value storage unit is illegally rewritten by a third party. Can do.

  In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, a measurement display unit for displaying a gas pointer value is provided in the flow rate measurement unit, whereby an electronic type is provided in the control unit of the existing membrane gas shut-off device. A flow rate measuring unit can be attached.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, a storage synchronization instructing unit for synchronizing the storage timings of the guideline value storage unit and the flow rate storage unit is provided in the control unit. When comparing the two, it is possible to realize a highly accurate comparison that eliminates the difference in the stored data due to the writing time difference.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gas cutoff device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and shows a configuration example of a gas cutoff device using a gas meter installed in a gas user's house or the like.

  In the figure, the gas shut-off device 30 is installed at a predetermined position outdoors or indoors.

  The gas shut-off device 30 includes a shut-off valve 3 that shuts off the gas passage 2 provided in the gas supply pipe 1, a flow rate measuring unit 4 connected to the gas supply pipe 1, a gas shut-off, a gas pointer value display, and the like. The flow rate measurement unit 4 includes a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 36 and 37 arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the measurement flow path 35 and ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 36 and 37. A measurement control unit 6 that measures the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the gas flow by transmitting and receiving sound waves, and an instantaneous flow rate value based on the propagation time measured by the measurement control unit 6 In addition to calculating the integrated value and the propagation time value, the calculation unit 7 that outputs a pulse at every predetermined integrated flow rate, and the instantaneous flow rate value and the integrated value as output data to the control unit 5 based on the setting from the control unit 5 , Selection of either propagation time value or pulse output Unit 8, output unit 9 that periodically outputs data selected by selection unit 8 to control unit 5, parameter storage unit 10 that stores operation parameters, and flow rate storage that encrypts and stores the calculated data A deciphering unit 12 for decoding data stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 and a permission unit 13 for determining whether to permit setting from the control unit 5 and for reading data from the flow rate storage unit 11 The control unit 5 is configured to control the shutoff valve using an output setting unit 14 that sets a type of data to be output to the flow rate measuring unit 4 and output contents sent from the flow rate measuring unit 4. Unit 15, display unit 16 for displaying the gas guideline value, guideline value storage unit 17 for storing the gas guideline value, communication unit 18 for realizing communication with the gas company, and gas via the communication unit 18 Password from operator When the reading instruction A of the output content of the flow rate measurement unit is received, the permission command B is output to the permission unit 13, and the data stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 is decoded by the decoding unit 12 and the pointer value is stored It compares with the value of the part 17, and when there is a divergence, it is comprised by the warning part 19 which alert | reports via a communication part 18 or a warning display.

  Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  The flow rate measuring unit 4 has a measurement flow path 35 having a rectangular cross section communicating with the gas supply pipe 1, and a pair of ultrasonic waves is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path walls facing each other of the measurement flow path 35. Transceivers 36 and 37 are arranged. These ultrasonic transceivers 36 and 37 are set so that the ultrasonic propagation path obliquely crosses the gas flow flowing through the measurement flow path 35, and by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves alternately under the control of the measurement control unit 6. The ultrasonic wave is propagated in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the gas flow.

  At this time, the distance between the ultrasonic transceivers 36 and 37, that is, the measurement distance is L, the angle of the ultrasonic propagation path with respect to the gas flow is φ, and the ultrasonic propagation time from the upstream to the downstream of the ultrasonic transceivers 36 and 37 is If t1, the ultrasonic propagation time from downstream to upstream is t2, and the sound velocity is C, the flow velocity V can be obtained by the following equation.

V = L / 2 cos φ ((1 / t1) − (1 / t2)) (Equation 1)
From the flow velocity V and the cross-sectional area of the measurement flow path 35, using the calculation parameters stored in the parameter storage unit 10, the calculation unit 7 calculates an instantaneous flow rate value, an integrated value, and a propagation time value. Count pulses for each predetermined flow rate.

  Note that the pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 36 and 37 can be disposed on either one of the measurement channels 35 so as to face each other through one surface of the measurement channel 35.

  The control unit 5 is the data output from the flow rate measuring unit 4 by the output setting unit 14, that is, the data among the instantaneous flow rate value, the integrated value, the propagation time value, and the pulse count number for each predetermined flow rate. Is transmitted to the selection unit 8, and the selection unit 8 outputs the selected data to the control unit 5 via the output unit 9.

  Each data calculated by the calculation unit 7 is encrypted by a password or data scrambled with limited disclosure and stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 using a nonvolatile memory.

  When the control unit 5 receives a read command A having a password from the gas company via the communication unit 18, the control unit 5 outputs a permission command B to the permission unit 13 of the flow rate measurement unit 4, and the decoding unit 12 When B is received, the data stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 is decoded.

  The security control unit 15 controls the shut-off valve using data sent from the flow rate measuring unit 4. The display unit 16 displays the gas pointer value using liquid crystal. The guide value storage unit 17 periodically stores the gas guide value using a nonvolatile memory. The pointer value calculation unit 20 calculates a gas pointer value using the flow rate result sent from the flow rate measurement unit.

  The warning unit 19 compares the data decoded by the decoding unit 12 with the data stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 and the value of the guideline value storage unit 17, and displays a warning on the display unit 16 or a gas operator when there is a deviation. Is notified via the communication unit 18. The warning unit 19 can also compare the stored data of the flow rate storage unit 11 with the data decoded by the decoding unit 12 by comparing with the pointer value calculation unit 20 of the control unit 5.

  This compares the data stored in the flow rate measurement unit with the value stored in the guideline value storage unit of the control unit, and when there is a divergence, displays an alarm or reports to the gas operator via the communication unit. It is possible to improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of gas usage during use.

  Furthermore, since the data stored in the flow rate storage unit is encrypted, the data in the flow rate storage unit is not rewritten even if the data in the guideline value storage unit is illegally rewritten by a third party. Can do.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the thing of the same code | symbol as embodiment has the same structure, and abbreviate | omits description.

The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the flow measurement unit 4 is provided with a measurement display unit 41 using a liquid crystal for displaying a gas pointer value, and the control unit 5 is not provided with a gas pointer value display. Is a point.

  As a result, the gas cutoff device 31 can be configured using a control unit of an existing membrane gas cutoff device that does not have a display unit that displays a gas pointer value by a liquid crystal display element or the like.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the thing of the same code | symbol as embodiment has the same structure, and abbreviate | omits description.

  The gas cutoff device 32 of the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that a storage synchronization instruction unit 42 that synchronizes the storage timings of the pointer value storage unit 17 and the flow rate storage unit 11 is provided in the control unit.

  When the values of the pointer value storage unit 17 and the flow rate storage unit 11 are compared by the warning unit 19 by matching the writing timings of the guide value storage unit 17 and the flow rate storage unit 11 configured by a nonvolatile memory. In addition, it is possible to realize a highly accurate comparison that eliminates a difference in stored data due to a writing time difference.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for a gas shut-off device that can improve the safety of gas use by specifying the gas appliance that leads to carbon monoxide poisoning by the magnitude of flow rate fluctuation or pressure fluctuation during digestion. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas supply pipe 2 Gas passage 3 Shut-off valve 4 Flow rate measurement part 5 Control part 6 Measurement control part 7 Calculation part 8 Selection part 9 Output part 11 Flow rate storage part 12 Decoding part 14 Output setting part 15 Security control part 16 Display part 17 Pointer Value storage unit 18 Communication unit 19 Warning unit 20 Pointer value calculation unit 30, 31, 32 Gas shut-off device 35 Measurement flow path 36, 37 Ultrasonic transceiver 41 Measurement display unit 42 Storage synchronization instruction unit

Claims (3)

A shutoff valve for shutting off a gas passage provided in the gas supply pipe, a flow rate measuring unit connected to the gas supply pipe, a shutoff of gas by the shutoff valve, a display of a gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring part, etc. And a flow rate measuring unit, a flow channel connected to the gas passage, a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the measurement channel, and the ultrasonic channel A measurement control unit that measures the propagation time of ultrasonic waves between the sound wave transmitter / receiver, a calculation unit that can output a plurality of data based on the propagation time, and the control from the calculation unit based on settings from the control unit A selection unit for selecting data to be output to the unit, an output unit for periodically outputting the data selected by the selection unit, a flow rate storage unit for encrypting and storing the data, and encryption in the flow rate storage unit A decryption unit that decrypts stored data Configured, the control unit, an output setting unit that sets the type of data to be output to the flow rate measurement unit, a safety control unit that controls the shut-off valve using data sent from the flow rate measurement unit, Gas indicator value calculation unit that calculates the gas pointer value using data sent from the flow rate measurement unit, a display unit that displays the gas pointer value, a guide value storage unit that stores the gas pointer value, and a gas company When receiving a data read command from the gas company via the communication unit, the communication unit that realizes communication with the communication unit, the data stored in the flow rate storage unit is decoded by the decoding unit and the value of the guideline value storage unit A gas shut-off device composed of a warning unit that compares and displays a warning or reports to a gas company via a communication unit when there is a difference. The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein a measurement display unit for displaying a gas pointer value is provided in the flow rate measurement unit. The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, wherein a storage synchronization instruction unit that synchronizes storage timings of the guideline value storage unit and the flow rate storage unit is provided in the control unit.

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