JP2022012713A - Regulator integrated type gas meter and pressure regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a regulator integrated type gas meter and a pressure regulator capable of suppressing a situation in which a total length is extended and increasing a low pressure unit up to a test pressure.SOLUTION: In a regulator integrated type gas meter, a pressure regulator includes: a diaphragm 21; a pressure reducing valve 26 for controlling an amount of fuel gas introduced into a pressure reducing chamber D; a safety valve blowing-out mechanism 28 for connecting an inside of the pressure reducing chamber D and an atmospheric chamber A in a case where pressure in the pressure reducing chamber D exceeds a predetermined pressure to release pressure in the pressure reducing chamber D to an air chamber A side; and a valve mechanism 30 that is provided in a through hole H for connecting the atmospheric chamber A and an outside of the pressure regulator, opens the through hole H in a state where no external force is applied, and closes the through hole H in a state where external force is applied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter with an integrated regulator and a pressure regulator.

Conventionally, an airtight test is carried out as a completion inspection of a gas supply system that supplies fuel gas from a high-pressure gas cylinder to the consumer side (see Patent Document 1). In the airtightness test, a pressure of 8.4 kPa or more is applied to the low pressure portion on the downstream side of the pressure regulator. On the other hand, the safety valve blowing pressure of the regulator is 5.6 kPa or more and 8.4 kPa or less, and the pressure for the airtightness test cannot be applied to the low pressure portion. Therefore, in the conventional gas supply system, by closing the gas plug provided between the gas meter and the pressure regulator, the airtightness test of the part downstream of the gas plug in the low pressure part is performed and the test pressure is adjusted. I try not to get it in the bowl.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-174916

Here, the regulator-integrated gas meter in which the pressure regulator and the gas meter are placed close to each other is configured not to have a gas plug between the pressure regulator and the gas meter. Therefore, since the gas plug cannot be closed as in the conventional case, it is conceivable to newly provide a gas plug for the airtightness test.

However, from the viewpoint of maintaining the close relationship between the pressure regulator and the gas meter, for example, if a gas plug is provided on the outlet side of the gas meter instead of between the pressure regulator and the gas meter, the safety valve of the pressure regulator will be installed during the airtightness test. It will not be able to operate and raise the low pressure part (excluding the downstream side of the gas plug on the outlet side of the gas meter) to the test pressure. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a gas plug between the pressure regulator and the gas meter, but in this case, even though the angle pressure regulator and the gas meter are close to each other, they are separated from each other. As a result, the total length of the integrated gas meter is extended.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is a regulator capable of suppressing a situation where the total length is extended and increasing the low pressure portion to a test pressure. The purpose is to provide an integrated gas meter and a pressure regulator.

The regulator-integrated gas meter according to the present invention is a regulator-integrated gas meter including a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of high-pressure gas from a gas container and a gas meter connected to the outlet flow path of the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator responds to the diaphragm whose other surface receives the pressure from the atmosphere chamber and the pressure from the gas chamber whose one surface is the fuel gas side, and the displacement of the diaphragm to one surface side and the other surface side. A pressure reducing valve that controls the amount of fuel gas introduced into the gas chamber, and when the pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure, the gas chamber and the atmosphere chamber are communicated with each other to reduce the pressure in the gas chamber to the atmosphere. A safety valve blow-out mechanism for releasing to the chamber side and a through hole connecting the atmosphere chamber and the outside of the pressure regulator are provided, and the through hole is opened in a state where no external force is applied, and the external force is applied. A valve mechanism for closing the through hole in the state is provided.

The pressure regulator according to the present invention is a pressure regulator in which the high pressure gas from the gas container is depressurized and the outlet flow path is connected to the gas meter. The other side receives the pressure from the atmosphere chamber, and one side is the fuel gas. A diaphragm that receives pressure from the gas chamber on the side, a pressure reducing valve that controls the amount of fuel gas introduced into the gas chamber according to the displacement of the diaphragm to one side and the other side, and the pressure of the gas chamber. Connects the air chamber and the outside of the pressure regulator to a safety valve blowing mechanism that communicates the gas chamber and the air chamber to release the pressure of the gas chamber to the air chamber side when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. It is provided with a valve mechanism provided in the through hole, which opens the through hole when no external force is applied and closes the through hole when the external force is applied.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gas meter with an integrated regulator and a pressure regulator that can suppress a situation in which the overall length is extended and increase the low pressure portion to a test pressure.

It is a perspective view which shows the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the main part structure of the secondary regulator of the pressure regulator shown in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged view of the valve mechanism shown in FIG. 2, (a) shows a valve open state, and (b) shows a valve closed state. It is a 1st process diagram which shows the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on this embodiment. It is a 2nd process diagram which shows the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on this embodiment. It is a 3rd process diagram which shows the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on this embodiment. It is a 4th process diagram which shows the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on this embodiment. It is a 5th process diagram which shows the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, in the embodiments shown below, there are some parts where the illustration and explanation of the configuration are omitted, but the details of the omitted technology are within the range where there is no contradiction with the contents described below. Needless to say, publicly known or well-known techniques are applied as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a regulator-integrated gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 includes a pressure regulator 2 and a gas meter 3. The pressure regulator 2 includes a primary regulator 10 and a secondary regulator 20.

The primary regulator 10 is a former regulator with a so-called switching function, and introduces fuel gas from either of the LP gas cylinders (not shown: gas container) connected to the left and right (from which inlet 10a). A switching lever 10b for selecting the gas is provided on the front side. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the switching lever 10b faces to the right side, and fuel gas is introduced from the inlet portion 10a on the right side.

Further, the primary regulator 10 is provided with a diaphragm or the like inside, and is configured to perform a primary depressurization with a high pressure fuel gas as a medium pressure by opening and closing an internal valve body according to the operation of the diaphragm. There is. The primary depressurized fuel gas is supplied to the secondary regulator 20.

The secondary regulator 20 performs secondary depressurization in which the fuel gas having a medium pressure that has been primary depressurized is used as a low pressure. Like the primary regulator 10, the secondary regulator 20 also has a diaphragm (reference numeral 21 described later) inside, and the internal pressure reducing valve (reference numeral 26 described later) is opened and closed according to the operation of the diaphragm. By doing so, the secondary depressurization is performed. The secondary depressurized fuel gas is supplied to the gas meter 3 through the outlet portion (outlet flow path) 20a.

The gas meter 3 has a substantially square columnar outer shape, and has a straight tube shape that is longitudinal in the height direction of the square column. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the gas meter 3 is installed so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the vertical direction, and the vertically lower side, which is one end side in the longitudinal direction, is connected to the outlet portion 20a of the secondary regulator 20. , The vertical upper side, which is the other end side in the longitudinal direction, is connected to the consumer side.

The gas meter 3 has a flow path extending in the height direction inside, and is provided with a flow velocity sensor (not shown) for measuring the flow velocity of the fuel gas flowing through the flow path. The flow velocity sensor is composed of, for example, an ultrasonic sensor whose propagation time of an ultrasonic signal changes according to the flow velocity. Such a gas meter 3 has a microcomputer (not shown), and measures the flow rate of fuel gas passing through the gas meter 3 from the relationship between the flow velocity obtained by the flow velocity sensor and the flow path diameter.

Further, the gas meter 3 is provided with a display panel 3a on the upper portion on the front side. The display panel 3a is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display panel 3a is controlled by a microcomputer and displays information processed by the microcomputer. Typical information displayed on the display panel 3a is an integrated value (integrated flow rate) of the flow rate of the fuel gas.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of the secondary regulator 20 of the pressure regulator 2 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the secondary regulator 20 includes a decompression chamber (gas chamber) D, an atmosphere chamber A, a diaphragm 21, a coil spring 22, a shaft member 23, a lever member 24, and a pin 25. , A pressure reducing valve 26 and a valve seat 27 are provided.

The decompression chamber D is a portion that temporarily holds the fuel gas supplied to the consumer. Atmospheric chamber A is a portion where the inside becomes atmospheric pressure by communicating with the outside. The diaphragm 21 is a substantially circular thin film whose peripheral edge is fixed to the housing B, and airtightly separates the decompression chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A. Further, the diaphragm 21 is urged to the pressure reducing chamber D side (one side) by the coil spring 22.

The shaft member 23 is a member provided so as to penetrate the center of the diaphragm 21 in the axial direction, and one end side of the lever member 24 is attached to the tip end on the decompression chamber D side. The lever member 24 is a member having a substantially L-shape, and a pin 25 is provided in the vicinity of the bent portion of the L-shape. The lever member 24 is rotatable around the pin 25. A pressure reducing valve 26 is connected to the other end of the lever member 24. The pressure reducing valve 26 is a valve for supplying or shutting off fuel gas to the gas meter 3 side.

As shown in FIG. 2, such a secondary regulator 20 brings the pressure reducing valve 26 into contact with the valve seat 27 to close the valve seat 27 when the diaphragm 21 is in a predetermined position, and shuts off the introduction of fuel gas. ing. When the fuel gas is used from such a state, the pressure in the decompression chamber D decreases. When the pressure in the decompression chamber D decreases, the diaphragm 21 is displaced to one side by the urging force of the coil spring 22. At this time, the shaft member 23 is also displaced to one side, and the lever member 24 attached to the tip of the shaft member 23 rotates about the pin 25. By this rotation, the pressure reducing valve 26 is separated from the valve seat 27 and is in a valve open state, and the fuel gas is introduced into the pressure reducing chamber D.

After that, when the fuel gas is introduced into the decompression chamber D, the pressure in the decompression chamber D rises. As a result, the diaphragm 21 is displaced to the other side against the urging force of the coil spring 22. At this time, the shaft member 23 is also displaced to the other surface side, and the lever member 24 rotates about the pin 25 in the opposite direction to the above. By this rotation, the pressure reducing valve 26 presses against the valve seat 27 to shut off the introduction of fuel gas. After that, the secondary regulator 20 decompresses the fuel gas while repeating the above operation.

Further, such a secondary regulator 20 includes a safety valve blowout mechanism 28. The safety valve blowout mechanism 28 has a spring receiving washer 28a, a safety valve adjusting spring 28b, a valve body 28c, and a valve body receiving 28d.

The spring receiving washer 28a is provided at the tip of the shaft member 23 on the atmosphere chamber A side. A safety valve adjusting spring 28b is interposed between the spring receiving washer 28a and the diaphragm 21. The safety valve adjusting spring 28b is always attached in the direction in which the valve body 28c of the safety valve integrally formed with the shaft member 23 on the pressure reducing chamber D side of the shaft member 23 is in contact with the valve body receiver 28d arranged on one surface side of the diaphragm 21. It is gaining momentum.

Due to such a configuration, for example, when an abnormal pressure is applied to the decompression chamber D of the secondary regulator 20 (when the pressure of the decompression chamber D exceeds a predetermined pressure), the shaft member 23 does not move to the other surface side. The diaphragm 21 is displaced to the other side. That is, the diaphragm 21 is displaced to the other side against the urging force of the safety valve adjusting spring 28b, and the valve body 28c is separated from the valve body receiving 28d. As a result, the decompression chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A are communicated with each other, and the pressure of the decompression chamber D is released to the atmosphere chamber A side. Since the through hole H connecting the atmosphere chamber A and the outside of the secondary regulator 20 is formed in the housing B, the pressure released to the atmosphere chamber A, that is, the gas in the atmosphere chamber A penetrates. It passes through the hole H and is released into the atmosphere.

Here, an airtight test is carried out as a completion inspection for the gas supply system including such a gas meter 1 integrated with a regulator. In the conventional airtightness test, a test pressure of 8.4 kPa or more is applied to a part of the low pressure part (downstream side of the gas plug) through which the low pressure fuel gas flows. On the other hand, the blowing pressure of the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 is 5.6 kPa or more and 8.4 kPa or less. Therefore, when the pressure regulator 2 and the gas meter 3 do not have a gas plug as in the regulator integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment, even if a test pressure is applied to the low pressure portion, the safety valve blowing mechanism The pressure of the low pressure portion is released to the atmosphere chamber A side by 28, and the test pressure cannot be increased.

Therefore, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a valve mechanism 30 in the through hole H. 3A and 3B are enlarged views of the valve mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 2, where FIG. 3A shows a valve open state and FIG. 3B shows a valve closed state.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the valve mechanism 30 opens the through hole H in a state where no external force is applied (a state in which the housing B is not pulled outward). The through hole H is closed in a state where an external force is applied (a state in which the housing B is pulled toward the outside). The valve mechanism 30 includes a valve body 31, a valve seat 32, a spring 33, and an operation unit 34.

The valve body 31 is a member having a substantially T-shape when viewed in cross section. The valve body 31 is provided with a protrusion 31a protruding toward the valve seat 32 side. The valve seat 32 has a rubber packing or the like, and the valve body 31 is provided so that it can be pressed and contacted and separated. When the valve body 31 presses against the valve seat 32, the through hole H is closed, and when the valve body 31 is separated from the valve seat 32, the through hole H is opened.

The spring 33 urges the valve body 31 away from the valve seat 32. The operation unit 34 is a member having a substantially T-shape in cross-sectional view, is exposed to the outside of the housing B, and can be pulled by a test worker so as to compress the spring 33. .. With such a configuration, when the operation unit 34 is pulled toward the outside of the housing B, the spring 33 can be compressed and the valve body 31 can be brought into close contact with the valve seat 32. As a result, the through hole H can be closed. On the other hand, when the operating portion 34 is not pulled toward the outside of the housing B and no external force is applied, the valve body 31 can be separated from the valve seat 32 by the urging force of the spring 33. As a result, the through hole H can be opened.

In particular, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment can close the through hole H, so that the air chamber A can be shut off from the outside during the airtightness test. As a result, even if the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 operates and the pressure in the decompression chamber D is released to the atmosphere chamber A, the pressure in the atmosphere chamber A increases, and the test pressure can be increased.

Next, the airtightness test method of the regulator integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. 4 to 8 are process diagrams showing an airtightness test method for the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the test worker pulls the operation portion 34 of the valve mechanism 30 to press and contact the valve body 31 with the valve seat 32. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the low pressure portion is pressurized to the test pressure. In this pressurizing process, the pressure in the decompression chamber D first increases, and then the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 operates to allow the decompression chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A to communicate with each other. Since the through hole H is closed in the atmosphere chamber A, the pressure also increases in the atmosphere chamber A.

After that, as shown in FIG. 6, when the pressure in the atmosphere chamber A becomes equal to or higher than the specified pressure (at least the pressure exceeding the atmospheric pressure), the state in which the valve body 31 is pressed against the valve seat 32 by the pressure in the atmosphere chamber A is maintained. That is, the closed state of the through hole H is maintained, and the test worker does not need to pull the operation unit 34.

After that, the low pressure portion reaches the test pressure and the airtightness test is carried out. Here, in the state shown in FIG. 7, since the pressure difference between the decompression chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A becomes small, the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 is inoperable, and the communication state between the decompression chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A is released. Will be done.

After that, when the airtightness test is completed, the pressure in the low pressure portion is released. Here, since the atmospheric chamber A is in a state of high pressure, the diaphragm 21 is displaced to one side. Due to this displacement, the pressure in the atmosphere chamber A decreases, and the valve body 31 separates from the valve seat 32 due to the urging force of the spring 33. That is, with respect to the valve mechanism 30, after an external force is applied to block the through hole H at the start of the airtightness test and the pressure in the air chamber A rises to a pressure for maintaining the closed state, the test is completed without requiring any operation. Occasionally, it will shift to the open state without requiring any operation.

In this way, according to the regulator integrated gas meter 1 according to the present embodiment, it is provided in the through hole H connecting the atmosphere chamber A and the outside of the pressure regulator 2, and penetrates in a state where no external force is applied. A valve mechanism 30 is provided which opens the hole H and closes the through hole H in a state where an external force is applied. Therefore, for example, the test worker can close the through hole H by operating the valve mechanism 30. Since the air chamber A and the outside do not communicate with each other in this closed state, the gas in the pressure reducing chamber D is not discharged to the outside of the pressure regulator 2 even if the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 is activated, and the pressure is not provided without providing a gas plug. The low pressure portion including the inside of the regulator 2 can be increased to the test pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the situation where the total length is extended and to increase the low pressure portion to the test pressure.

Further, in the valve mechanism 30, the pressure of the atmosphere chamber A acts as an external force in a state where the pressure reducing chamber D and the atmosphere chamber A are communicated with each other by the safety valve blowing mechanism 28 and the atmosphere chamber A exceeds the atmospheric pressure at a specified pressure or higher. The state in which the through hole H is closed is maintained. Therefore, by optimizing the specified pressure by using an appropriate spring 33, the valve mechanism 30 can maintain the through hole H in a closed state by utilizing the test pressure of the airtightness test. As a result, even if the test worker initially needs to operate the valve mechanism 30 in order to maintain the closed state of the through hole H, it is not necessary to operate the valve mechanism 30 from the middle of the airtightness test. , Can contribute to the simplification of the airtightness test.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and other examples may be made as appropriate. Techniques may be combined.

For example, in the present embodiment, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is, for example, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 separated from the gas meter 3 and later integrated with the gas meter 3. It may be applied to the pressure regulator 2 for the purpose.

Further, the regulator-integrated gas meter 1 may be provided with a short pipe between the pressure regulator 2 and the gas meter 3, or may be directly connected.

1: Regulator integrated gas meter 2: Pressure regulator 3: Gas meter 3a: Display panel 10: Primary regulator 10a: Inlet 10b: Switching lever 20: Secondary regulator 20a: Outlet (outlet flow path)
21: Diaphragm 22: Coil spring 23: Shaft member 24: Lever member 25: Pin 26: Pressure reducing valve 27: Valve seat 28: Safety valve blowout mechanism 28a: Spring receiving washer 28b: Safety valve adjusting spring 28c: Valve body 28d: Valve body receiving 30: Valve mechanism 31: Valve body 31a: Protrusion 32: Valve seat 33: Spring 34: Operation unit A: Atmospheric chamber B: Housing D: Decompression chamber (gas chamber)
H: Through hole

Claims (3)

A regulator-integrated gas meter including a pressure regulator for reducing the pressure of high-pressure gas from a gas container and a gas meter connected to the outlet flow path of the pressure regulator.
The pressure regulator is
A diaphragm that receives pressure from the air chamber on the other side and pressure from the gas chamber on the fuel gas side on one side.
A pressure reducing valve that controls the amount of fuel gas introduced into the gas chamber according to the displacement of the diaphragm to one side and the other side.
When the pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure, the gas chamber and the atmosphere chamber are communicated with each other, and the pressure in the gas chamber is released to the atmosphere chamber side.
A valve provided in a through hole connecting the atmosphere chamber and the outside of the pressure regulator, which opens the through hole when no external force is applied and closes the through hole when the external force is applied. A regulator-integrated gas meter characterized by a mechanism and. In the valve mechanism, the pressure of the atmosphere chamber acts as the external force in a state where the gas chamber and the atmosphere chamber communicate with each other by the safety valve blowing mechanism and the pressure of the atmosphere chamber exceeds the atmospheric pressure. The regulator-integrated gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is maintained in a closed state. A pressure regulator that reduces the pressure of high-pressure gas from a gas container and connects the outlet flow path to a gas meter.
A diaphragm that receives pressure from the air chamber on the other side and pressure from the gas chamber on the fuel gas side on one side.
A pressure reducing valve that controls the amount of fuel gas introduced into the gas chamber according to the displacement of the diaphragm to one side and the other side.
When the pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure, the gas chamber and the atmosphere chamber are communicated with each other, and the pressure in the gas chamber is released to the atmosphere chamber side.
A valve provided in a through hole connecting the atmosphere chamber and the outside of the pressure regulator to open the through hole when no external force is applied and to close the through hole when the external force is applied. Mechanism and
A pressure regulator characterized by being equipped with.

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