JP2020106487A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gas meter capable of searching for external devices connected when prescribed conditions are met.SOLUTION: A gas meter 1 has a shutoff valve 2, flow rate measuring means 5, recovery means 3, forced shutoff means 6, external communication means 9, and control means 7. A connected device search instruction means 8 is configured so as to, when the recovery means 3 starts the opening operation and determines the opening operation has completed, instruct the control means 7 to search the connected devices, and the control means 7 carries out the search the devices connected to the external communication means 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter having a function of searching for a device connected to an external communication terminal, which is performed when installing or replacing a gas meter or a wireless device connected to the gas meter.

Conventionally, this type of gas meter has an external communication terminal, and a wireless slave unit having a relay function was connected to the external communication terminal to communicate with a management center, etc., and a network of wireless slave units was constructed. A wireless telemeter system has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the wireless telemeter system described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 8, a wireless slave device 102 is connected to each gas meter 101, and wireless communication is performed with a wireless master device 103, and via a wide area wireless network 104 and a center side network control device 105. It is connected to the host computer 106 of the management center.

FIG. 9 shows a general conventional gas meter 101. As shown in FIG. 9, a gas meter 101, a shutoff valve 112, a return means 113 such as a return switch, a display means 114 such as a liquid crystal display, a flow rate measuring means 115 for measuring a gas flow rate, and a forced shutoff by a reed switch or the like. A means 116, a control means 117 for controlling each means, a connected device search instruction means 118 for issuing a search instruction at predetermined time intervals, an external communication means 119 by, for example, U-bus communication, and a terminal block for connecting an external device. 120, an external device A 121 such as a wireless device, and an external device B 122 such as an alarm device.

For example, when a wireless device is connected to the terminal block 120 (for example, a U-bus communication terminal) as the external device A121, the wireless device is connected and a predetermined setting (not shown) is performed to make it usable. On the other hand, in the gas meter 101, the connected device search instruction means 118 causes the external device connected to the terminal block 120 each time a predetermined time elapses (for example, once a day) regardless of the connection time of the external device A 121. Perform a search such as A121.

Then, the gas meter 101 performs a search for an external device and acquires the ID of the wireless master device 103 if there is a wireless master device 103 among the connected external devices. Data can be transmitted and received between the management center 106 and the management center 106 via the wide area wireless network 103. The external device search function performed every time a predetermined time elapses is used to reconfigure the network by installing or exchanging the gas meter 101 or the external device or to forget setting when installing the external device.

JP, 2016-92443, A

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the connected device search of the gas meter (for example, the U-bus device search) is performed once a day, the execution timing is controlled inside the gas meter and cannot be known from the outside. Due to the configuration, when the gas meter is installed or replaced, it takes a maximum of one day to acquire the ID of the wide area terminal device from the wireless device. It should be noted that it is conceivable to shorten the interval for performing the connected device search (for example, once an hour), but it is difficult to shorten the interval because the gas meter uses a battery as a power source.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter that searches for a device connected to an external communication terminal when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the gas meter.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the gas meter of the present invention includes a shutoff unit that shuts off the gas, a flow rate measurement unit that measures the flow rate of the gas, and a return unit that opens the shutoff valve. A gas meter, comprising: a forced shutoff means for forcibly shutting off a shutoff valve; an external communication means for communicating with an external device; and a control section for controlling each of the above-mentioned parts, wherein the external gas is provided when a predetermined condition is satisfied. It is provided with a connected device search instruction means for carrying out a search for the external device connected to the communication means.

As a result, it is possible to specify the time when the search for the device connected to the external communication means by the gas meter is performed, and it is possible to search for the external device for a long time (for example, once a day when searching for the external device like the conventional gas meter). There is no need to wait for up to 1 day.

Further, the gas meter of the present invention comprises search result display means for displaying that the search for the equipment connected to the external communication means has been carried out.

As a result, it is possible to confirm on the display that the search for the external device connected to the external communication unit by the gas meter has been performed.

Since the gas meter of the present invention specifies that the search for the connected device of the external communication terminal (for example, the U-bus device search) performed by the gas meter should be performed when a predetermined execution condition is satisfied, the gas meter is transmitted from the wireless device. Since the time when the ID of the wide area terminal device is acquired can be specified, it becomes possible to efficiently perform the work of installing or replacing the gas meter or the wireless device.

In addition, by displaying that the search for the device connected to the external communication terminal (for example, the U-bus device search) performed by the gas meter is displayed, it is possible to easily confirm that the search has been performed. It becomes possible to more efficiently carry out the installation and replacement work of the machine.

Block diagram of a gas meter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Connection diagram between a gas meter and a wireless device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic flowchart of the gas meter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic flowchart of the gas meter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic flowchart of the gas meter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Block diagram of a gas meter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic flowchart of a gas meter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional wide area information communication system Conventional gas meter radio connection diagram

A first invention is a shutoff unit for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring unit for measuring the flow rate of gas, a returning unit for opening the shutoff valve, and a forced shutoff unit for forcibly shutting off the shutoff valve. A gas meter having an external communication unit that communicates with an external device and a control unit that controls each unit, and searches for the external device connected to the external communication unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied. By providing a connected device search instruction means that implements the above, by specifying the execution conditions for the search for external devices, the search execution time is clarified, and the work of installing and replacing gas meters and radios can be performed efficiently. It becomes possible to do.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined condition is that the opening of the shutoff valve is completed, and the search for the external device can be performed when the opening of the shutoff valve is completed.

In a third aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined condition is that a predetermined time elapses after completion of the opening of the shutoff valve, so that the external device is searched for a predetermined time after completion of the opening of the shutoff valve. It can be a point in time.

In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the predetermined condition is execution of a predetermined operation.

According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, further comprising search result display means for displaying a search result of the external device connected to the external communication means when the predetermined condition is satisfied. It is possible to easily confirm the search result such as whether or not the search for the external device is performed, and it is possible to more efficiently perform the work of installing or replacing the gas meter or the wireless device.

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the search result display means displays the number of the external devices that can be searched by the connected device search instruction means.

(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 1 includes a shutoff valve 2, a return unit 3 for opening the shutoff valve 2, a display unit 4, a flow rate measurement unit 5 for measuring a gas flow rate, and a shutoff valve 2 forcibly shut off. Forcibly shutting off means 6, external communication means 9 by, for example, U-bus communication, control means 7 for controlling each means, and whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied is determined, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, external communication is performed. The connected device search instructing means 8 for instructing the device 9 to search for the connected device. The gas meter 1 is connected to the external device A11 (for example, radio device) and the external device B12 (for example, alarm device) via the terminal block 10.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram of the gas meter 1 and the wireless device 13, which is the external device A11. The gas meter 1 is connected to a wireless device 13 via a terminal block 10 and a dedicated line 14.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a connected device search operation performed by the gas meter 1 to search for connected devices in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a case will be described as a connected device searching operation, in which the connected device searching operation is performed when it is determined that opening of the shutoff valve 2 of the gas meter 1 is completed.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, when the shutoff valve 2 is in the shutoff state, the control means 7 determines the start of opening by operating the restoration means 3 which is constituted by a restoration switch, for example (step S1). Next, the control unit 7 performs a return operation to perform a predetermined leak confirmation and confirm that there is no gas leakage (not shown). Then, the control means 7 determines that the return operation is completed and the opening of the shutoff valve 2 is completed (step S2). Then, the connected device search instruction means 8 determines the completion of the opening of the shutoff valve 2 and outputs a connected device search instruction (not shown) to the control means 7.

The control means 7 receives the connection device search instruction, and executes the connection device search operation via the external communication means 9 (step S3). Then, the connected device search instruction means 8 restarts the predetermined time 1 for executing the connected device search operation at predetermined time intervals (step S4). After that, it waits for the lapse of the predetermined time 1 (step S5). Then, when the predetermined time 1 has elapsed, the connected device search operation is performed again (step S3).

Here, the gas meter 1 acquires the wide area terminal ID from the wireless device 13 by the connected device searching operation, and stores the wide area terminal ID in the ID storage unit (not shown) of the gas meter 1. As a result of this operation, the gas meter 1 can transmit and receive the meter reading value, which is the amount of gas used, and abnormality information to and from the monitoring center via the external communication unit 9 and the wireless device 13.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to limit the execution timing of the connected device search operation by performing the connected device search operation after determining that the shutoff valve 2 of the gas meter 1 has been opened. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently carry out the work of installing and replacing the gas meter and the external device.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a connected device search operation performed by the gas meter 1 to search for connected devices in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, as a connected device searching operation, a case where the connected device searching operation is performed when it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed after the opening of the shutoff valve 2 of the gas meter 1 is completed explain.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, when the shutoff valve 2 is shut off, the control means 7 determines the start of opening by operating the restoration means 3 which is constituted by a restoration switch, for example (step S1). Next, the connected device search instruction means 8 starts counting for a predetermined time 2 (step S6). Then, the control unit 7 performs a return operation to perform a predetermined leak confirmation and confirm that there is no gas leakage (not shown). Then, the control means 7 determines that the return operation is completed and the opening of the shutoff valve 2 is completed (step S2). Then, the process waits for the elapse of the predetermined time 2 which started counting in step S6 (step S7).

Next, the connected device search instruction means 8 determines the elapse of the predetermined time 2 and outputs a connected device search instruction (not shown) to the control means 7. The control means 7 receives the connection device search instruction, and executes the connection device search operation via the external communication means 9 (step S3). The subsequent steps are the same as those in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the connected device search operation is performed by performing the connected device search operation by determining that a predetermined time has elapsed after the opening of the shutoff valve 2 of the gas meter 1 was completed. Since the implementation time can be limited, it becomes possible to more efficiently perform the work of installing and replacing the gas meter and the external device.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of the connected device search operation performed by the gas meter 1 to search for connected devices in the third embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, as the connected device searching operation, a case will be described in which the connected device searching operation is carried out when it is determined that a predetermined operation is performed in the gas meter 1.

1 and 5, only the differences from the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3 will be described. For example, when the connected device search instruction unit 8 determines that a predetermined operation has been performed by combining the return unit 3 (for example, a return switch) and the forced cutoff unit 6 (for example, a reed switch) (step S8), the connected device A search instruction (not shown) is output to the control means 7. The control means 7 receives the connection device search instruction, and executes the connection device search operation via the external communication means 9 (step S3). The subsequent steps are the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, after the opening of the shutoff valve 2 of the gas meter 1 is completed, it is determined that a predetermined operation has been performed, and the connected device search operation is performed, thereby performing the connected device search operation. It can be carried out at an arbitrary timing, and it becomes possible to more efficiently carry out the work of installing and replacing the gas meter and the external equipment.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a gas meter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
The difference from FIG. 1 used in the description of the first embodiment is that the gas meter 1 has a search result display unit 15 that displays the operation result of the connected device search operation by the connected device search instruction unit 8.

Next, the display of the operation result of the connected device search operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

For example, the display means 4 is switched to a special display state (not shown) by pressing the return means 3 (for example, a return switch) for a long time. Further, when a predetermined operation such as a combination of the returning means 3 or the forced shutoff means (for example, a reed switch) is performed, it is determined that the display is started (step S9). Then, the operation result of the connected device search operation (whether or not it is performed or the number of connected devices) is displayed on the search result display means 15 (step S10). Then, it is determined whether or not the display is ended by the predetermined operation and the predetermined time (step S11). Then, when the display end is determined, the display is returned to the normal display (step S12).

The display of the search result display unit 15 does not have to be limited to when the predetermined operation is performed, and only the determination result such as whether or not the connected device search is performed or the presence or absence of the connected device may be always displayed on the display unit 4. ..

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to easily confirm the information on the connected devices such as whether or not the connected device is searched by the gas meter 1 and the number of connected devices, and to install or replace the gas meter or the wireless device. It becomes possible to carry out work and the like more efficiently.

As described above, in the gas meter according to the present invention, the search for the connected equipment of the terminal block can be specified so as to be carried out when the predetermined execution condition is satisfied, so that the work of installing or replacing the gas meter or the external equipment can be performed. Since it can be carried out efficiently, it can be applied to applications such as electric meters and water meters.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas meter 2 Shut-off valve 3 Returning means 4 Display means 5 Flow rate measuring means 6 Forced shut-off means 7 Control means 8 Connected equipment search instruction means 9 External communication means 10 Terminal block 11 External equipment A
12 External device B
15 Search result display means

Claims (6)

A shutoff valve for shutting off gas, a flow rate measuring unit for measuring the flow rate of gas, a return means for opening the shutoff valve, a forced shutoff means for forcibly shutting off the shutoff valve, and an external device. A gas meter having external communication means for communication, and control means for controlling each of the means,
A gas meter comprising a connected device search instruction means for instructing a search for the external device connected to the external communication means when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is completion of opening of the shutoff valve. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed after completion of opening of the shutoff valve. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that a predetermined operation is performed. The gas meter according to claim 1, further comprising a search result display unit that displays a search result of the external device connected to the external communication unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied. The gas meter according to claim 5, wherein the search result display unit displays the number of the external devices that can be searched by the connected device search instruction unit.

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