JP2020085541A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gas meter capable of determining abnormal tilt of the gas meter after the gas meter has been installed.SOLUTION: A gas meter 10 includes: a shut-off valve 1; flow rate measuring means 3; a seismic sensor 2; and control means 6. The control means 6 is configured to have an acceleration value of the seismic sensor at the shipping stage in the gas meter manufacturing process as a first offset value and an acceleration value of the seismic sensor at the installation stage when installing the gas meter as a second offset value, and calculate a difference value A with the first offset value when the second offset value is acquired, and when the difference value A is greater than or equal to a specified value, to determine as abnormal tilt.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter equipped with a seismic sensor capable of acquiring acceleration values in three axis directions.

Conventionally, it has been proposed that a gas meter of this type is equipped with a triaxial acceleration sensor and shuts off the meter based on seismic intensity determination (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 7 shows a conventional gas meter described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7, a gas meter 100 equipped with an acceleration sensor includes a flow rate sensor 104 arranged in a gas flow path 105 in a casing 101a for measuring a gas usage amount of a customer, and a gas flow path 105 in the gas flow path 105. Sensor 107 for measuring the pressure of the gas, a shutoff valve 106 for shutting off the gas supply in an emergency, an acceleration sensor 103 for detecting an earthquake and a tilt of a gas meter, and a usage amount for displaying a gas usage amount of a customer. It is composed of a display unit 109, an alarm display unit 108 for issuing an alarm when the inclination of the gas meter exceeds a threshold value, and a control unit 102 for exchanging information with these units and issuing a necessary command. The control unit 102 has a function of performing tilt determination of the gas meter based on the triaxial acceleration obtained by the acceleration sensor 103, opening/closing control of the shutoff valve 106 based on the determination result, alarm notification control, and the like.

The tilt monitoring after the installation of the gas meter, which is executed by the control unit 102, starts when the gas meter start operation is performed after the installation of the gas meter is completed, the acceleration value is measured by the acceleration sensor 103, and the value fluctuations of the three axes are within a predetermined threshold value. By confirming that the gas meter is still, the stationary state of the gas meter is confirmed, and in this state, the initial offset values θ ₀ and φ ₀ are acquired.

Japanese Patent No. 5773905

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the gas meter is installed, since the inclination is determined only by the initial offset value and without the reference value, it is necessary to set the offset to zero when there is no inclination. An error such as an offset or the like peculiar to the acceleration sensor 103 occurs due to the mounting state of the acceleration sensor 103 on the control substrate (not shown) on which the electronic components to be arranged are mounted, the mounting state of the housing 101a of the gas meter on the control substrate. Therefore, there has been a problem that a correction for adjusting the offset to zero is essential.

Moreover, there is a liquefaction phenomenon as an effect of the earthquake. When a liquefaction phenomenon occurs, it is expected that the house will tilt at a relatively slow speed rather than a sudden collapse, but it is difficult to detect a slow speed tilt with the conventional configuration. There was a problem that there is.

Further, the conventional configuration does not have a function for displaying information based on the information of acceleration values in the three axis directions or displaying the degree of inclination, and the means for knowing the inclination when the gas meter is installed is to measure the inclination of a level or the like. There is a problem that installation work becomes complicated because a measuring instrument and the like are required and measurement work is essential.

The present invention is to solve the above conventional problems, without the need to correct the offset value of the seismic sensor, when the gas meter is installed, when the interruption is restored, or at regular intervals, the tilt of the gas meter is detected, and the value exceeds a predetermined value. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter that determines that the tilt is abnormal when it is determined that the gas meter is tilted.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the gas meter of the present invention performs a seismic detection and an inclination detection by a shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of gas, and an acceleration value in three axial directions. A gas meter comprising a seismic sensor, and a control means for controlling an opening/closing control of the shutoff valve by determining an earthquake and a tilt abnormality based on information of the flow rate measuring means and the seismic sensor, the control means comprising: A difference value A between a first offset value, which is an acceleration value in the three axis directions of the seismic sensor in the manufacturing process, and a second offset value, which is an acceleration value in the three axis directions of the seismic sensor during installation, is calculated, When the difference value A is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, it is determined that the inclination is abnormal.

As a result, the difference between the offset value acquired when the gas meter was installed and the offset value at the shipping stage, which was acquired when the gas meter was manufactured with no inclination, is compared with the judgment value to make a tilt abnormality judgment. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the inclination abnormality determination without the need to correct the offset value in the above.

The gas meter of the present invention does not require correction of the offset value at the shipping stage at the time of manufacturing the gas meter, and can accurately perform the tilt determination when the gas meter is installed or when the gas meter is returned, and also for each predetermined period. By performing the tilt determination, it is possible to perform the tilt determination with high accuracy while further improving the safety. Further, by displaying the tilt information such as the acceleration value and the tilt degree, the tilt measurement is performed. No equipment is required, and the gas meter maintenance work can be performed more efficiently.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a gas meter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of a gas meter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of a gas meter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the gas meter in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of a gas meter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a flowchart of a gas meter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the gas meter in the conventional embodiment.

A first invention is a shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of gas, a seismic sensor for detecting an earthquake or an inclination by an acceleration value in three axial directions, the flow rate measuring means and the above. A gas meter, comprising: a control means for determining an earthquake and an inclination abnormality based on information from the seismic sensor to control opening/closing of the shutoff valve, the control means comprising three axis directions of the seismic sensor in a manufacturing process. A difference value A between a first offset value which is an acceleration value of the sensor and a second offset value which is an acceleration value in the three axis directions of the seismic sensor at the time of installation, and when the difference value A is a predetermined value or more, By judging that the tilt is abnormal, the difference between the offset value when the gas meter is installed and the offset value at the shipping stage acquired when there is no tilt when manufacturing the gas meter is compared with the judgment value to judge the tilt abnormality. Therefore, it is not necessary to correct the offset value at the shipping stage, and the accuracy of the tilt abnormality determination can be improved.

A second invention is a shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of gas, a seismic sensor for detecting an earthquake or an inclination by an acceleration value in three axial directions, the flow rate measuring means and the A gas meter, comprising: a control means for controlling the opening/closing of the shut-off valve by determining an earthquake and an inclination abnormality based on the information of the seismic sensor, wherein the control means is in three axial directions of the seismic sensor at the time of installation. The difference value B between the second offset value, which is the acceleration value of the seismic sensor, and the third offset value, which is the acceleration value in the three axis directions of the seismic sensor acquired after the installation under predetermined conditions, is calculated. It is characterized by determining that the inclination is abnormal when the value is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and performs inclination abnormality determination by comparing the difference value between the offset value when the gas meter is installed and the offset value acquired after installation with the determination value. Therefore, it is not necessary to correct the offset value at the time of installation, and the accuracy of the tilt abnormality determination can be improved.

In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the second aspect of the invention, the inclination abnormality determination performed by the control means is performed at the time of return from interruption after the gas meter is installed. The accuracy of abnormality determination can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the second aspect of the invention, the tilt abnormality determination performed by the control means is performed periodically for a predetermined period starting from the seismic blockade. After the interruption due to the above, the accuracy of the inclination abnormality determination can be improved for a predetermined period.

A fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect of the invention, the inclination abnormality determination performed by the control means is performed every preset first predetermined period after the gas meter is installed. It is possible to determine a tilt phenomenon in which a change in acceleration value that does not result in earthquake detection continues, and it is possible to accurately determine a tilt abnormality even when no interruption occurs.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the fifth aspect, the inclination abnormality determination made by the control means is within the second predetermined period with seismic blockage as a starting point, and the predetermined first determination is performed. It is characterized in that it is carried out every third predetermined period shorter than the period, and since the abnormality determination is performed with an increased frequency of inclination abnormality determination starting from the seismic blockage caused by an earthquake, the inclination abnormality can be detected quickly. Good judgment can be made and safety can be improved.

A seventh aspect of the present invention further comprises a display means for displaying information on acceleration values in the three axial directions from the seismic sensor and the degree of inclination detection on the display means. Can be easily recognized as a guide, and a measuring device for measuring the inclination is not required, and the work at the time of installation and at the time of restoration can be performed accurately and efficiently.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gas meter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a gas meter 10 is manufactured when a shutoff valve 1, a seismic sensor 2 using a triaxial acceleration sensor, a flow rate measuring means 3, a returning means 4, an opening operation means 5, a control means 6, and a gas meter are manufactured. A first offset value storage unit 7 that stores a first offset value that is an offset value at the shipping stage that is acquired in a state without inclination, and a second offset value that is an installation-time offset value that is acquired when the gas meter is installed. Second offset value storage means 8, third offset value storage means 9 for storing a third offset value which is an offset value when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the gas meter is installed, and three axis directions from the seismic sensor 2 The display means 12 displays the information on the acceleration value of the vehicle and the degree of inclination detection.

Next, the operation of the inclination abnormality determination when installing the gas meter will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the gas meter 10 is manufactured in the meter manufacturing process. At this time, the offset value at the shipping stage in a state without inclination is acquired from the seismic sensor 2, and is stored in the first offset value storage means 7 as the first offset value via the control means 6. The method of acquiring the offset value from the seismic sensor 2 may be, for example, a means of calculating an average value for a stable predetermined period in which the variation of the acceleration value is within a predetermined range for each of the three axes.

Next, the gas meter 10 is installed at the installation site. At this time, the gas meter is installed, for example, so that the inclination in the horizontal direction is within 5°. When the gas meter 10 is connected to the gas pipe and the opening operation is performed by the opening operation means 5 and the returning means 4, the gas meter becomes usable (step S1 in FIG. 2). At this time, the offset value at the installation stage is acquired from the seismic sensor 2, and is stored in the second offset value storage means 8 via the control means 6 as the second offset value (step S2 in FIG. 2).

Then, when the second offset value is acquired, the difference value A from the first offset value stored in the first offset value storage means is calculated (step S3 in FIG. 2). Next, the calculated difference value A is compared with the determination value 1 for determining the tilt abnormality during installation (step S4 in FIG. 2). If the difference value A is greater than or equal to the determination value 1, the installation tilt abnormality is established (step S5 in FIG. 2). If the difference value A is less than the determination value 1, the installation tilt abnormality is not established (step S6 in FIG. 2).

The above is the operation of the tilt abnormality determination when the gas meter 10 is installed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the gas meter 10 is installed, the second offset value at the installation stage is acquired, and when the gas meter is manufactured, the first offset value at the shipping stage, which is acquired in an uninclined state. If the difference value A is greater than or equal to the judgment value 1, it is determined that the inclination at installation is abnormal, and the acceleration value is corrected without correcting the acceleration value at the shipping stage (including the manufacturing time). It is possible to make an abnormality determination with high accuracy based on the resolution of.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the present embodiment. Further, the system configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The second embodiment is an operation for determining a tilt abnormality when the gas meter is in the cutoff state due to some factor and returns, which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

First, the shutoff valve 1 of the gas meter 10 is closed. For example, when a switch operation for a return operation is performed by the return means 4, a disconnection return operation is performed (step S7 in FIG. 3). At this time, the offset value at the return stage is acquired from the seismic sensor 2, and is stored in the third offset value storage means 9 via the control means 6 as the third offset value (step S8 in FIG. 3).

Then, when the third offset value is acquired, the difference value B from the second offset value stored in the second offset value storage means is calculated (step S9 in FIG. 3). Next, the calculated difference value B is compared with the determination value 2 for determining the tilt abnormality at the time of recovery from interruption (step S10 in FIG. 3). If the difference value B is greater than or equal to the determination value 2, the return-time tilt abnormality is established (step S11 in FIG. 3). If the difference value B is less than the determination value 2, the return inclination abnormality is not established (step S12 in FIG. 3).

The above is the operation of the inclination abnormality determination when the gas meter is turned off and restored.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the gas meter 10 is returned from the cutoff state, the third offset value of the return step is acquired, and the installation step of the installation step when it is determined that the gas meter 10 is not tilted when the gas meter is installed The difference value B from the second offset value is calculated, and if the difference value B is the judgment value 2 or more, it is determined that the tilt error at the time of return is abnormal, and thus the acceleration value at the time of installation is corrected in the same manner as the judgment of the tilt error at installation. Without doing so, the abnormality determination can be performed with high accuracy based on the resolution of the acceleration value.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a gas meter according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the difference from FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment is that a timer means 11 is added, and those having the same reference numerals have the same structure and will not be described. In addition, in the first embodiment, the tilt determination is performed at the timing of the return from the cutoff, whereas in the present embodiment, the tilt determination is periodically performed.

The timer means 11 measures the elapsed time of the first predetermined period (for example, 30 days) for carrying out the periodic inclination determination.

The operation of the tilt abnormality determination when periodically checking will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, the timer means 11 measures the first predetermined period for periodical confirmation after installation, and determines whether or not the first predetermined period has elapsed (step S13 in FIG. 5). .. When the first predetermined period elapses, the counting of the first predetermined period is restarted (step S13 in FIG. 5).

Next, the offset value when the first predetermined period has elapsed is acquired from the seismic sensor 2, and is stored in the third offset value storage means 9 as the third offset value via the control means 6 (FIG. 5). Step S8). When the third offset value is acquired, the difference value B from the second offset value stored in the second offset value storage means is calculated (step S9 in FIG. 5).

Then, the calculated difference value B is compared with the determination value 2 for determining the tilt abnormality at return (step S10 in FIG. 5). If the difference value B is equal to or greater than the determination value 2, the regular tilt abnormality is established (step S15 in FIG. 5). If the difference value B is less than the determination value 2, the regular tilt abnormality is not established (step S16 in FIG. 5).

The above is the operation of the tilt abnormality determination when regularly checking the gas meter.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the first predetermined period of the gas meter 10 has elapsed, the third offset value is acquired, and the installation stage when it is determined that the gas meter 10 is not tilted when the gas meter is installed The difference value B from the second offset value is calculated, and if the difference value B is the judgment value 2 or more, the acceleration error is corrected at the time of installation similarly to the judgment of the tilt error at the time of restoration by determining the tilt error at the regular time. Without doing so, the abnormality determination can be performed with high accuracy based on the resolution of the acceleration value, even for the inclination due to the vibration in which the amount of change in the acceleration value is small.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, as a fourth embodiment, the operation of the inclination abnormality determination after the seismic isolation is described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The block diagram of the gas meter according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment, except for the operation of the timer means 11 and the timing of acquiring the third offset value.

Further, although the third embodiment performs the tilt determination on a regular basis, the present embodiment is different in that the tilt determination is performed based on the elapsed time after the seismic isolation.

The timer means 11 has a second predetermined period (for example, 5 days) and a third predetermined period (for example, 1 hour), and measures the respective elapsed times. The gas meter 10 detects an earthquake by the seismic sensor 2 and closes the shutoff valve 1 by shutting down the seismic shock (step S17 in FIG. 6). Next, timing of a second predetermined period, which is a fixed period after the seismic isolation, and a third predetermined period, which is a period in which the inclination is regularly determined within the second predetermined period, is started (see FIG. 6). Step S18).

Next, the elapse of the third predetermined period is determined (step S19 in FIG. 6). When the third predetermined period has elapsed, the clocking of the third predetermined period is restarted (step S20 in FIG. 6). Next, the offset value when the third predetermined period has elapsed is acquired from the seismic sensor 2, and is stored in the third offset value storage means 9 as the third offset value via the control means 6 (FIG. 6). Step S8).

When the third offset value is acquired, the difference value B from the second offset value stored in the second offset value storage means is calculated (step S9 in FIG. 6). Next, the calculated difference value B and the judgment value 2 for judging the tilt abnormality at the time of return are compared (step S10 in FIG. 6).

If the difference value B is equal to or greater than the determination value 2, the regular tilt abnormality is established (step S15 in FIG. 6). If the difference value B is less than the determination value 2, the regular tilt abnormality is not established (step S16 in FIG. 6).

On the other hand, when the third predetermined period has not elapsed, it is determined whether the second predetermined period has elapsed, and the tilt abnormality determination is periodically performed only for the predetermined period after the vibration isolation (FIG. 6). Step S21).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tilt abnormality is generated at the third predetermined period, which is shorter than the first predetermined period, for the predetermined period that is the second predetermined period, starting from the seismic isolation caused by the earthquake. By performing the judgment, the frequency of tilt abnormality judgment is increased, and it is possible to judge the abnormality with high accuracy based on the resolution of the acceleration value even for the tilt due to the vibration with a small amount of change in the acceleration value, and it is safe. It can also improve the sex.

When seismic blockage occurs while performing the periodic inclination abnormality determination in the first predetermined period described in the second embodiment, only the second predetermined period is shorter than the first predetermined period. The inclination abnormality determination may be performed for each third predetermined period, or the third predetermined period may be divided into several stages according to the elapsed time from the occurrence of seismic blockage. The time may be increased as the elapsed time increases.

As described above, the gas meter according to the present invention, when the gas meter is installed, at the time of gas meter restoration and at regular checks, based on the offset value in the state where there is no inclination, the inclination is compared with the offset value at the time of each implementation. Since it can be determined, it does not require offset adjustment of the seismic sensor, it can accurately determine the tilt abnormality, and it enables efficient maintenance work, so it can be applied to applications such as electricity meters and water meters. ..

1 shut-off valve 2 seismic sensor 3 flow rate measuring means 4 returning means 5 opening operation means 6 control means 7 first offset value storage means 8 second offset value storage means 9 third offset value storage means 10 gas meter

Claims (7)

A shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of gas, a seismic sensor for performing earthquake detection and tilt detection by acceleration values in three axial directions, and information on the flow rate measuring means and the seismic sensor. A gas meter provided with a control means for controlling the opening and closing of the shutoff valve by judging an earthquake and an inclination abnormality based on:
The control means is a difference value between a first offset value which is an acceleration value of the seismic sensor in the three axis directions in a manufacturing process and a second offset value which is an acceleration value of the seismic sensor in the three axis directions at the time of installation. A gas meter, which calculates A, and determines that the inclination is abnormal when the difference value A is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. A shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of gas, a seismic sensor for performing earthquake detection and tilt detection by acceleration values in three axial directions, and information on the flow rate measuring means and the seismic sensor. A gas meter having a control means for controlling the opening and closing of the shutoff valve by judging an earthquake and an inclination abnormality based on:
The control means has a second offset value that is an acceleration value of the seismic sensor in the three axis directions at the time of installation, and a third offset value that is an acceleration value of the seismic sensor in the three axis directions acquired under a predetermined condition after the installation. A gas meter characterized by calculating a difference value B with respect to an offset value, and determining that the inclination is abnormal when the difference value B is a predetermined value or more. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the inclination abnormality determination performed by the control unit is performed at the time of recovery from interruption after the gas meter is installed. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the tilt abnormality determination performed by the control unit is periodically performed for a predetermined period starting from seismic isolation. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the inclination abnormality determination performed by the control unit is performed every preset first predetermined period after the gas meter is installed. The tilt abnormality determination made by the control means is performed every third predetermined period shorter than the predetermined first predetermined period within a second predetermined period starting from seismic isolation. The gas meter according to claim 5, wherein the gas meter is a gas meter. Further equipped with display means,
The gas meter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit displays information on acceleration values in the three-axis directions from the seismic sensor and the degree of inclination detection on the display unit. .

Images