JP2020193947A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gas meter that can appropriately cut off the supply of gas while ensuring safety.SOLUTION: A gas meter 10 comprises: a measuring unit 20 that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in a channel 13; an operation determination unit 31 that determines the operation of a specific gas appliance of the gas appliances connected to the channel 13 based on the flow rate; a target determination unit 32 that regards the maximum flow rate of the flow rates used for the operating gas appliance as a target of monitoring, and determines if the maximum flow rate being the target of monitoring corresponds to the flow rate section of the specific gas appliance; and a setting unit 33 that, when the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate being the target of monitoring reaches a use restriction time set to the flow rate section corresponding to the maximum flow rate, sets a cut-off function to cut off the channel 13 for every flow rate section. When the specific gas appliance operates, and the maximum flow rate being the target of monitoring corresponds to the flow rate section of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit 33 sets the cut-off function for the flow rate section to be invalid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter.

Conventionally, as a gas meter, for example, the gas meter of Patent Document 1 is known. In this gas meter, the CPU sets the usage time cutoff function to be enabled or disabled for each flow path division.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-240764

For example, specific equipment such as fuel cells are required to continuously supply gas for stable power generation. Even if such a specific device is operating normally, if it is determined whether the use time cutoff function is valid or invalid for each flow path category as in the gas meter of Patent Document 1, the gas supply to the specific device is supplied to the user. It may be blocked against the intention of.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter capable of appropriately shutting off the gas supply while ensuring safety.

The gas meter according to an aspect of the present invention includes a measuring unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path, and an operation determination that determines the operation of a specific gas appliance among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate. A unit, a target determination unit that determines whether the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, assuming that the maximum flow rate of the operating flow rates of the gas appliance is the monitoring target. When the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target reaches the use time limit set for the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate, a shutoff function for shutting off the flow rate is provided for each flow rate category. The setting unit includes a setting unit to be set, and the setting unit is said to be said to be in the flow rate category when the specific gas appliance is operating and the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance. It is configured to disable the blocking function.

In this gas meter, the setting unit may be configured to effectively set the shutoff function of the flow rate division of the specific gas appliance when the specific gas appliance is not in operation.

In this gas meter, when the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target does not correspond to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit effectively sets the shutoff function of the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate. It may be configured.

In this gas meter, when the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance and the shutoff function of the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance is disabled, the monitoring target said. It may be provided with an output unit that outputs a warning to the gas control center when the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate reaches the use time limit set in the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate.

The present invention has the effect of being able to provide a gas meter having the above configuration and capable of appropriately shutting off the gas supply while ensuring safety.

The above objectives, other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the gas meter which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time-dependent change of the flow rate of the gas measured by the measuring part of FIG. It is an instrument table stored in the storage unit of FIG. It is a flow rate classification table stored in the storage unit of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation method of the gas meter of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation method of the gas meter of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation method of the gas meter which concerns on the modification 3 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
<Gas meter configuration>
The gas meter 10 is provided in, for example, the gas meter system 11. In addition to the gas meter 10, the gas meter system 11 has a gas management center 17 capable of communicating with the gas meter 10.

As for the gas meter 10, the gas meter system 11 is provided in the gas flow path 13. The gas flow path 13 is a pipeline that connects a gas supply source (not shown) and a consumer consumer, and supplies gas from the gas supply source to a gas appliance provided in the consumer. The gas appliance is, for example, a gas consuming device such as a gas stove 14, a gas water heater 15, and a fuel cell 16, and is connected to a gas flow path 13.

Among these gas appliances, the specific gas appliance is a gas appliance that satisfies predetermined conditions such as, for example, a shutoff time different from that of other general gas appliances due to continuous operation for a long time, and is predetermined. Hereinafter, the fuel cell 16 will be described as a specific gas appliance.

The gas meter 10 includes a measuring unit 20, an arithmetic processing unit 30, a storage unit 40, and a blocking unit 12. The cutoff portion 12 is provided in the flow path 13, has a shutoff valve capable of opening and closing the flow path 13, and can shut off the flow path 13.

The measuring unit 20 is a flow meter that measures the volume or mass ((instantaneous) flow rate: L / h) of gas passing through the flow path 13 per unit time. For example, an ultrasonic method is adopted as the measuring method. To. The measuring unit 20 measures the flow rate of the gas at regular time intervals such as 0.5 seconds, and outputs the measured flow rate to the arithmetic processing unit 30 and the storage unit 40.

The storage unit 40 is accessible from the arithmetic processing unit 30, and is composed of a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM. The storage unit 40 stores the flow rate measured by the measurement unit 20. Further, the storage unit 40 stores information such as a basic program as the gas meter 10 and various fixed data. The operation of each unit of the gas meter 10 is controlled by the arithmetic processing unit 30 reading and executing software such as a basic program stored in the storage unit 40.

The arithmetic processing unit 30 is composed of an arithmetic processing unit such as a processor, and has an operation determination unit 31, a target determination unit 32, a setting unit 33, a timekeeping unit 34, and an output unit 35. The arithmetic processing unit 30 may be configured by a single arithmetic processing unit that centrally controls, or may be configured by a plurality of arithmetic processing units that cooperate with each other to perform distributed control.

The operation determination unit 31 determines the operation of the specific gas appliance among the gas appliances connected to the flow path 13 based on the flow rate. The flow rate of this gas may be a value based on the flow rate measured by the measuring unit 20, the (instantaneous) flow rate of the gas, the average value (average flow rate) of the flow rate for a predetermined number of times, and the flow rate or / and average. Includes at least one of the changes in flow rate.

As the gas flow rate, the flow rate output from the measuring unit 20 or the latest gas flow rate stored in the storage unit 40 is used. As the average flow rate, the average value of the flow rate of the measuring unit 20 and the flow rate of the storage unit 40 for a predetermined number of times, or the average value of the flow rate of the storage unit 40 for a predetermined number of times is used. The average flow rate may be a moving average of the gas flow rate. The amount of change in the flow rate includes, for example, the difference in the flow rate and the rate of change over time.

Here, the time-dependent change in the gas usage flow rate (consumption amount) at the start of operation and the time-dependent change in the gas usage flow rate due to control during operation such as thermal power adjustment differ depending on the type and model of the gas appliance. Therefore, for example, the operation determination unit 31 calculates the flow rate change amount from the flow rates of the storage unit 40 and the measurement unit 20, and specifies when the flow rate change amount corresponds to the gas usage flow rate due to the operation of the specific gas appliance. Determine that the gas appliance is in operation. The gas appliance and the flow rate used thereof are stored in the storage unit 40 in association with each other.

For example, the fuel cell 16 temporarily fluctuates the gas usage flow rate in a predetermined fluctuation pattern every certain time (for example, 10 hours). As a result, the flow rate of the gas supplied from the flow path 13 to the gas appliance fluctuates in a predetermined fluctuation pattern. When the calculated flow rate change amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the operation determination unit 31 determines that the specific gas appliance is operating, assuming that the flow rate change of the fluctuation pattern is detected.

The target determination unit 32 determines that the maximum flow rate of the operating flow rate of the operating gas appliance is the monitoring target. For example, when the amount of change in flow rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the target determination unit 32 determines that the change in flow rate has occurred, and updates the instrument table in FIG. The instrument table is stored in the storage unit 40. Further, this appliance table is for when the flow rate changes as shown in FIG.

Here, when the flow rate change amount is increasing, it is determined that the gas appliance has been operated, and the flow rate change amount is registered as the used flow rate of the gas appliance in the appliance table. On the other hand, when the amount of change in flow rate is decreasing, it is determined that the gas appliance has stopped, and the used flow rate corresponding to the amount of change in flow rate is deleted from the appliance table.

In such an appliance table, the gas appliances in operation are stored from Q0 in descending order of the flow rate used. The target determination unit 32 sets the maximum flow rate Q0 of the flow rates used in the appliance table as the monitoring target of the continuous use time.

Then, the target determination unit 32 determines whether or not the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. This flow rate classification is a type divided for each predetermined flow rate range, and is set in association with the flow rate range as shown in the flow rate classification table of FIG. 4, for example.

The flow rate used for gas appliances and the flow rate classification are associated in advance. For example, the flow rate of the fuel cell 16 is 70 L / h, and the flow rate of the gas stove 14 is 100 L / h. Therefore, according to the flow rate classification table, the flow rate classification of both the fuel cell 16 and the gas stove 14 is 2-2. Further, since the flow rate of the gas water heater 15 is 230 L / h, this flow rate category corresponds to 3.

Therefore, in the example of FIG. 2, since the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the operating flow rate 70 L / h of the fuel cell 16 at the time tn + 1 to tun + 2, it is determined that the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. Further, at time tn + 2 to, the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the used flow rate of 100 L / h of the gas appliance 14, but since this flow rate classification is the same as that of the specific gas appliance, the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. It is judged. On the other hand, in the time tun to tun + 1, since the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the working flow rate 230 L / h of the gas water heater 15, it is determined that the maximum flow rate Q0 does not correspond to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance.

The setting unit 33 sets the cutoff function for each flow rate category. This shutoff function is a function of shutting off the flow path 13 when the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate to be monitored reaches the use time limit set in the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate.

Specifically, when the target determination unit 32 updates the maximum flow rate Q0 of the monitoring target in the instrument table, the setting unit 33 has a blocking function based on the determination result of the operation determination unit 31 and the determination result of the target determination unit 32. Set enabled or disabled.

That is, when the specific gas appliance is in operation and the maximum flow rate Q0 to be monitored corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, the shutoff function of this flow rate classification is set to invalid. For example, as in the example of FIG. 2, the fuel cell 16 is operating at time tun + 1 to tun + 2, and the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate category 2-2 of the specific gas appliance. Therefore, the cutoff function of the flow rate category 2-2 is set to be invalid. Therefore, the supply of gas to the fuel cell 16 is not cut off against the intention of the user.

In addition, when the specific gas appliance is not in operation, the shutoff function of the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance is effectively set. For example, as in the example of FIG. 2, it is determined that the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate category 2-2 of the specific gas appliance at the time tn + 2 to 2, even though the maximum flow rate Q0 is the flow rate used by the gas stove 14. ing. However, since the specific gas appliance is not in operation, the shutoff function of the flow rate category 2-2 is effectively set. Therefore, even when the gas stove 14 has the same flow rate classification as the specific gas appliance, the shutoff function is effectively applied to the gas stove 14 and safety is ensured.

Further, when the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target does not correspond to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit 33 effectively sets the shutoff function of the flow rate classification corresponding to the maximum flow rate. For example, as in the example of FIG. 2 above, the fuel cell 16 is operating at time tun to tun + 1, but the maximum flow rate Q0 is the flow rate used by the gas water heater 15, which corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. do not do. As a result, the shutoff function is effectively set in the flow rate category 3 corresponding to the maximum flow rate Q0, so that safety is ensured.

The timing unit 34 determines whether or not the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate Q0 to be monitored has reached the use time limit set in the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate Q0. For example, as shown in the flow rate classification table of FIG. 4, the flow rate classification and the usage time limit are associated with each other. For example, when the maximum flow rate Q0 is updated in the instrument table, the timekeeping unit 34 sets the usage time limit of the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate Q0.

In the example of FIG. 4, the usage time limit is set within a time range based on the upper limit value and the lower limit value. In such a case, the usage time limit is determined from this time range by predetermined or learning. Normally, the gas meter 10 stores the usage flow rate, usage time, and the like of the gas appliance, and determines the usage time limit from a predetermined time range according to the usage status of the gas appliance.

Further, when the maximum flow rate Q0 is updated due to the flow rate change, the timekeeping unit 34 resets the count time of the continuous use time and then starts counting, and counts the elapsed time from the update as the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate Q0. .. When the continuous use time reaches the use time limit, the timekeeping unit 34 generates an output request.

Even if the flow rate change is detected, the maximum flow rate Q0 is not updated unless the flow rate change amount is the maximum value among the used flow rates of the appliance table. In this case, the count time is not reset and the elapsed time being counted continues. Then, when the continuous use time reaches the use time limit, the timekeeping unit 34 generates an output request.

The output unit 35 receives an output request and outputs a cutoff signal or a warning according to whether the cutoff function is enabled / disabled.

For example, when the shutoff function of the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance is disabled, the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate Q0 to be monitored has reached the usage time limit set for the flow rate classification corresponding to the maximum flow rate Q0. At that time, the output unit 35 outputs a warning to the gas control center 17.

In the example of FIG. 2 above, the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate category 2-2 of the specific gas appliance. Therefore, the time measuring unit 34 counts the continuous use time of the specific gas appliance, and determines whether or not this reaches the use time limit of the flow rate category 2-2.

Here, even if it is determined that the continuous use time reaches the usage time limit, if the shutoff function of the flow rate category 2-2 is disabled, the supply to the specific gas appliance is continued. Therefore, stable operation of the specific gas appliance becomes possible.

On the other hand, a warning that the continuous use time reaches the usage time limit is output to the gas management center 17. The gas management center 17 is capable of wireless communication with the gas meter 10, collects information from a plurality of gas meters 10, and manages the gas meter 10 based on the information. Therefore, safety is ensured.

Further, when the cutoff function of the flow rate category 2-2 is effectively set, the cutoff signal is output to the cutoff unit 12 when the continuous use time reaches the use time limit. As a result, the cutoff unit 12 receives the cutoff signal and shuts off the flow path 13 by the cutoff valve. As a result, the gas supply is stopped and safety is ensured.

Further, in the flow rate categories other than the flow rate category 2-2 of the specific gas appliance, the shutoff function is effectively set. Therefore, when the continuous use time reaches the usage time limit, a cutoff signal is output to the cutoff unit 12. The flow path 13 is blocked by the blocking unit 12 that receives the blocking signal, and safety is ensured.

<How to operate the gas meter>
The operation method of the gas meter 10 is executed by the arithmetic processing unit 30 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, a method of setting the blocking function shown in FIG. 5 will be described. Here, the measuring unit 20 measures the gas flow rate, outputs the flow rate to the operation determination unit 31 and the target determination unit 32, and stores the gas flow rate in the storage unit 40 (step S1). The storage unit 40 stores the flow rate sequentially in the order of measurement or in association with information in the measurement order such as measurement time. As a result, the operation determination unit 31 and the target determination unit 32 can acquire the flow rate according to the measurement order.

The operation determination unit 31 determines the operation of the specific gas appliance based on the flow rate measured by the measurement unit 20 (step S2). For example, the operation determination unit 31 detects a change in the flow rate, and determines that the specific gas appliance is operating if the change in the flow rate corresponds to a predetermined fluctuation pattern accompanying the change over time in the flow rate used by the gas appliance. (Step S2: YES), and the process proceeds to step S3 in order to determine the effectiveness of the blocking function.

On the other hand, the operation determination unit 31 determines that the specific gas appliance is not operating if the flow rate change does not correspond to a predetermined fluctuation pattern (step S2: YES). Therefore, the process proceeds to step S5. Here, the setting unit 33 enables the shutoff function of the flow rate division of the specific gas appliance. As a result, when another gas appliance belonging to the same flow rate category as the specific gas appliance is operating, the shutoff function is applied to this operation. Therefore, safety is ensured.

In the process of step S3, the target determination unit 32 determines whether or not the maximum flow rate Q0 of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. Here, if the maximum flow rate Q0 corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance (step S3: YES), the process proceeds to step S4.

In the process of step S4, the setting unit 33 disables the shutoff function of the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. As a result, the gas supply to the specific gas appliance is prevented from being unnecessarily cut off, and the stable operation of the special gas appliance is maintained.

On the other hand, if the maximum flow rate Q0 does not correspond to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance (step S3: NO), the maximum flow rate Q0 of the flow rate category other than this flow rate category is the monitoring target. Therefore, the setting unit 33 effectively sets the cutoff function of the flow rate division corresponding to the maximum flow rate (step S6). As a result, the shutoff function is applied in the flow rate classification other than the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, so that safety is ensured.

Next, the blocking function shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Here, the measuring unit 20 measures the gas flow rate, outputs this flow rate to the operation determination unit 31 and the target determination unit 32, and stores the gas flow rate in the storage unit 40 (step S10). The process of step S10 may correspond to the process of step 1 of FIG.

The target determination unit 32 calculates the amount of change in the flow rate of the gas, and if the amount of change in the flow rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, determines that the amount of change in the flow rate has occurred (step S11: YES). Here, if the amount of change in the flow rate is less than a predetermined threshold value, it is assumed that there is no change in the flow rate (step S11: NO), and the process ends.

The target determination unit 32 registers or deletes the amount of change in the flow rate as the used flow rate of the gas appliance in the appliance table, and updates the appliance table (step S12). As a result, if the maximum flow rate Q0 in the appliance table is not changed (step S13: NO), the continuous use time of the counting maximum flow rate Q0 is continued.

On the other hand, when the maximum flow rate Q0 in the appliance table is changed (step S13: YES), it is necessary to count the continuous use time of this new maximum flow rate Q0. Therefore, the count of the continuous use time with respect to the previous maximum flow rate Q0 is reset, and the count of the continuous use time of the new maximum flow rate Q0 is started (step S14).

When the counted continuous use time reaches the usage time limit of the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate Q0 (step S15: YES), the effectiveness of the shutoff function of the flow rate category is determined (step S16). If the cutoff function is enabled (step S16: YES), the output unit 35 outputs a cutoff signal (step S17). As a result, the gas supply is cut off, which improves safety.

On the other hand, if the shutoff function is invalid (step S16: NO), the output unit 35 outputs a warning to the gas management center 17 (step S17). This ensures safety.

<Modification example 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas meter 10 according to the first modification may further include a learning unit 36 that learns about a gas usage state. The learning unit 36 is provided in the arithmetic processing unit 30.

For example, the gas flow rate is measured by the measuring unit 20 and stored in the storage unit 40. The learning unit 36 monitors this flow rate, acquires the flow rate change amount, and determines the gas appliance of the gas usage amount corresponding to the flow rate change amount. For example, in the storage unit 40, the amount of gas used and the gas appliance are stored in association with each other in advance.

If the determined gas appliance is the specific gas appliance, the learning unit 36 determines that the specific gas appliance is installed in the consumer and outputs the specific gas appliance to the output unit 35. The learning unit 36 may store the specific gas appliance in the information (installation information) of the gas appliance installed in the customer. Further, the learning unit 36 may determine that the specific gas appliance is set when the flow rate change amount corresponding to the gas usage amount of the same specific gas appliance is determined a plurality of times. This improves the reliability of the determination.

The output unit 35 transmits the determined information on the installation of the specific gas appliance to the gas management center 17 together with the installation location identification number of the consumer, the gas meter 10, and the like. As a result, the gas management center 17 improves the safety by acquiring the installation information of the specific gas appliance. The gas management center 17 may store the installation location identification information and the installation presence information of the specific gas appliance in association with each other as the installation information.

If the learning unit 36 does not detect the amount of change in the flow rate corresponding to the amount of gas used by the specific gas appliance for a predetermined period, it may determine that the specific gas appliance is not installed. In this case, the learning unit 36 may transmit the non-installation information of the specific gas appliance to the gas management center 17 together with the installation location identification information. The gas management center 17 may delete the information with installation of the specific gas appliance from the installation information, or may associate the installation location identification information with the information without installation of the specific gas appliance and store it in the installation information.

<Modification 2>
The gas meter 10 according to the second modification has an acquisition unit 37 that acquires installation information of the specific gas appliance from the gas management center 17.

For example, a contractor who installs and removes a gas appliance outputs the installation information of the specific gas appliance to the gas management center 17 when the specific gas appliance is installed or removed by a customer.

Information with installation for the installation of the specific gas appliance and information without installation for the removal of the specific gas appliance are output to the gas management center 17 as installation information together with the installation location identification information. At this time, the installation information is output by a wireless communication mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.

The gas management center 17 stores the installation information of the specific gas appliance from the wireless communication mobile terminal, and outputs the installation information to the gas meter 10 based on the installation location identification information. As a result, the acquisition unit 37 of the gas meter 10 receives the installation information of the specific gas and updates the installation information of the storage unit 40.

For example, if the installation information is information on the installation of the specific gas appliance, the acquisition unit 37 remembers that the specific gas appliance is installed. If the installation information is information that the specific gas appliance is not installed, the acquisition unit 37 stores that the specific gas appliance is not installed.

Then, if the installation information is the information on the installation of the specific gas appliance, the operation of the specific gas appliance may be monitored.

<Modification example 3>
In the gas meter 10 according to the third modification, when the specific gas appliance is installed, the specific gas appliance is operating, and the maximum flow rate to be monitored corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit 33 corresponds to the case. Disable the flow rate classification cutoff function. For example, the installation information of the specific gas appliance is stored in the consumer, the gas meter 10, or the gas management center 17.

Such a gas meter 10 is operated according to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 7, the process of step S7 is executed between the processes of steps S1 and S2, and if NO is determined in step S7, the process of step S8 is executed. Since the processing of steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 7 is the same as that in FIG. 5, the description thereof will be omitted.

The setting unit 33 determines whether or not the specific gas appliance is installed based on the installation information (step S7). If the specific gas appliance is not installed (step S7: NO), it is not necessary to disable the shutoff function in the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance. Therefore, the setting unit 33 effectively sets the cutoff function of the flow rate division corresponding to the maximum flow rate (step S8). As a result, the shutoff function is applied in the flow rate classification other than the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance, so that safety is ensured.

On the other hand, if the specific gas appliance is installed (step S7: YES), the determination by the processing of steps S2 and S3 is performed. As a result, if the specific gas appliance operates (step S2: YES) and the maximum flow rate Q0 to be monitored corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance (step S3: YES), the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance is cut off. The function is disabled (step S4). In this way, by using the installation information of the specific gas appliance, the gas supply can be cut off more appropriately.

In addition, all the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other as long as the other party is not excluded from each other. From the above description, many improvements and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed only as an example and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best aspects of carrying out the present invention. The details of its structure and / or function can be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The gas meter of the present invention is useful as a gas meter or the like that can appropriately shut off the gas supply while ensuring safety and ensuring safety.

10: Gas meter 13: Flow path 14: Gas stove (gas appliance)
15: Gas water heater (gas appliance)
16: Fuel cell (gas appliance, specific gas appliance)
17: Gas control center 20: Measurement unit 31: Operation determination unit 32: Target determination unit 33: Setting unit 35: Output unit

Claims (4)

A measuring unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing through the flow path,
An operation determination unit that determines the operation of a specific gas appliance among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate,
Assuming that the maximum flow rate of the operating flow rate of the gas appliance is the monitoring target, the target determination unit for determining whether the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate classification of the specific gas appliance,
When the continuous use time of the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target reaches the use time limit set for the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate, a shutoff function for shutting off the flow rate is provided for each flow rate category. Equipped with a setting unit to set
When the specific gas appliance is in operation and the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit disables the shutoff function of the flow rate category. It is composed of a gas meter. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to effectively set the shutoff function of the flow rate division of the specific gas appliance when the specific gas appliance is not in operation. When the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target does not correspond to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance, the setting unit is configured to effectively set the shutoff function of the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate. , The gas meter according to claim 1 or 2. When the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target corresponds to the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance and the shutoff function of the flow rate category of the specific gas appliance is disabled, the continuation of the maximum flow rate of the monitoring target. The item according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an output unit that outputs a warning to the gas control center when the usage time reaches the usage time limit set in the flow rate category corresponding to the maximum flow rate. The described gas meter.

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