JP2512671Y2 - LP gas residual gas detector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to an LP gas residual gas detection device, and more specifically, to a gas pressure regulator with an automatic switching function that connects a supply gas cylinder and a supplementary gas cylinder. The present invention relates to an LP gas residual gas detector for detecting the amount of residual gas in each LP gas cylinder in an LP gas supply system for supplying LP gas.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, the LP gas supply system has a structure as shown in FIG.

In the figure, two gas cylinders 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ are connected to a gas pressure regulator ₂ having an automatic switching function, and the gas is discharged from one of the gas cylinders 1 ₁ or 1 ₂ through the gas pressure regulator 2. The gas derived from the gas cylinder is supplied to the gas meter 4 through the gas pipe 3 on the primary side (upstream side),
From here, it is further led to the gas plug 6 at the end through the gas pipe 5 on the secondary side (downstream side). From the above, one gas cylinder 1 ₁ selected by the switching function of the gas pressure regulator 2
Or 1 ₂ gas derived from is supplied to the gas meter 4 through the gas pipe 3, gas valve 6 further through the gas pipe 5
The gas is consumed by a gas combustor (not shown) connected to the gas plug 6 and discharged to the.

One of the gas cylinders selected by the switching function of the gas pressure regulator 2 is, for example, ₁₁ (supply gas cylinder).
If the amount of remaining gas is reduced and the amount of remaining gas decreases, the internal pressure of the cylinder becomes low and it becomes impossible to supply the gas at the required pressure in the gas combustor. Therefore, the gas pressure regulator 2 with automatic switching function, aims to automatically open the gas introduction and the other of the gas cylinder 1 ₂ opening introduction (supply gas cylinder) is connected by its auto-switching capabilities, causing gas shortage Without fail, the gas of the required pressure can be reliably supplied.

Also, the automatic switching function with the gas pressure regulator 2, to perform a display indicating that it has started the supply in accordance with the automatic switching of the gas cylinder, the gas remaining in the supply gas cylinder 1 ₁ has almost disappeared Inform. Then, when the user seen such a display to contact such as by telephone to that effect to the delivery company, delivery company manually switch the gas cylinder 1 ₂ of the supply side of the supply side as well as replacing the gas cylinder 1 ₁ and the new gas cylinder, new Connect the gas cylinder 1 ₁ to the supply side.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, just because the supply of gas from the replenishment gas cylinder started by the automatic switching function does not mean that the supply gas cylinder was completely emptied, the replenishment gas cylinder replenished the gas at a pressure insufficient by the supply gas cylinder alone. It's just that. Therefore, when the gas cylinder is replaced by saying that the supply has started, a considerable amount of gas remains in the supply gas cylinder.

Assuming that the remaining amount at this time is about 10% when the tank is full, if such replacement is performed ten times, the amount of gas is equivalent to one gas cylinder. Therefore, if it is possible to detect that the supply gas cylinder is completely emptied, and if the gas cylinder is replaced when it is known that the supply gas cylinder has been emptied by this detection, it is possible to omit delivery of one gas cylinder. , The cylinder delivery cost can be reduced by 10%.

In addition, after starting gas replenishment from the supplementary gas cylinder by the automatic switching function, the ratio of the flow rate of the supply gas from the supply gas cylinder to the total gas flow rate supplied to the gas combustor side, and the supplementary gas cylinder from the total gas flow rate The ratio of the flow rate of the supply gas is not always constant due to the balance of the remaining gas amount of each supply and replenishment gas cylinder.

Therefore, by simply measuring the total gas flow rate supplied to the gas combustor side with the gas meter 4, the remaining amount of gas in each gas cylinder for supply and replenishment can be accurately grasped, and the residual gas amount in the gas cylinder at the time of gas cylinder replacement can be determined. It cannot be reduced to reduce gas cylinder delivery costs.

Therefore, in view of the conventional situation described above, the present invention provides an LP gas residual gas detection device capable of accurately detecting the gas remaining amount of each gas cylinder even when gas is simultaneously supplied from a plurality of gas cylinders. The challenge is to provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the LP gas residual gas detection device according to the present invention has a plurality of LP gas connected to a gas pressure regulator 11 with an automatic switching function, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG.
In the LP gas supply system, wherein the gas cylinders 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ are used by switching to a supply gas cylinder and a supplementary gas cylinder, and a shortage of gas is supplied from the supplementary gas cylinder when the gas at a predetermined pressure cannot be supplied by the supply gas cylinder. Replenishment start detection means SW III for detecting the start of replenishment from the replenishment gas cylinder, a flow rate sensor 12a for generating a flow rate signal according to a predetermined flow rate of the supply gas, and a residual gas of the supply gas cylinder provided corresponding to the supply gas cylinder. A first counting means 13A for holding information, a second counting means 13B provided corresponding to the replenishing gas cylinder for holding the residual gas information of the replenishing gas cylinder, and a first counting means 13A for holding Of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder for the predetermined flow rate after the start of supplementation, which is predetermined corresponding to the remaining gas information. Based on the coefficient storage means 13a that stores the coefficient indicating the proportion of the gas flow rate and the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder held by the first counting means 13A, the replacement time notification information of the supply gas cylinder is output. The flow rate sensor when the supply start is not detected by the supply start detection means SW3.
In response to the generation of the flow rate signal by 12a, the first counting means 13A is caused to count a predetermined value for generating the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder, and the supply start detection means SW3. Detects the supply start. The flow sensor 12a
In accordance with the generation of the flow rate signal by, the value read by multiplying the predetermined value by the coefficient read from the coefficient storage means 13a for generating the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder, Two counting means 13A and 13B
It is characterized in that each is counted.

[Action]

In the above configuration, when the replenishment start detection means SW3. Does not detect the start of replenishment from the replenishment gas cylinder, the first counting means 13A responds to the generation of the flow rate signal by the flow rate sensor 12a.
When the replenishment start detection means SW3. Detects the start of replenishment from the replenishment gas cylinder, based on this, the remaining gas information of the supply gas cylinder is generated and held, and based on this,
In response to the generation of the flow rate signal by the flow rate sensor 12a, read from the coefficient storage means 13a, after the start of replenishment, the gas flow rate of each of the supply gas cylinder and the replenishment gas cylinder with respect to the predetermined flow rate at which the flow rate sensor generates the flow rate signal. Multiplying the predetermined value by a coefficient indicating the proportion,
First and second counting means for calculating the gas flow rate values of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder with respect to the predetermined flow rate.
13A and 13B are respectively counted, and based on this, the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder is calculated as the first and second residual gas information.
The counting means 13A and 13B are respectively generated and held.

For this reason, the balance of the remaining gas amount of both the supply and replenishment gas cylinders changes momentarily while the replenishment from the replenishment gas cylinders has started, and the ratio of the supply gas flow rates from the respective gas cylinders changes with time. Even if it changes, the first and second counting means 13A and 13B
It becomes possible to accurately know the residual gas of both the supply and replenishment gas cylinders by the content held in.

Moreover, since the notification means 14 outputs the replacement time notification information of the supply gas cylinder based on the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder held by the first counting means 13A, the replacement time of the supply gas cylinder is surely notified. Will be able to.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the LP gas residual gas detection device according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, 11 is a gas pressure regulator with an automatic switching function to which a supply gas cylinder and a supplementary gas cylinder (not shown) are connected. In addition, it has switches SW I and SW II indicating the supply gas cylinder and the replenishment gas cylinder separately by turning on and off alternately, that is, a switch SW III indicating the replenishment state when off.

A gas meter 12 measures the flow rate of gas supplied to a gas combustor (not shown) whose pressure is adjusted by the gas pressure adjuster 11, and includes a flow rate sensor 12a that generates one pulse as a flow rate signal in response to the supply of a predetermined flow rate. Have.

Reference numeral 13 is a microcomputer (CPU) to which the switches SW I to SW III of the gas pressure regulator 11 are connected and which is supplied with a flow rate signal from the flow rate sensor 12a, and the CPU 13 is a ROM 13a which stores a control program. It has a RAM 13b for storing data such as the result of processing according to the control program, performs predetermined processing based on the flow rate signal from the flow rate sensor 12a to detect the residual gas in the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder, and supplies the result to the supply gas cylinder. The remaining amount indicator 14a and the supplementary gas cylinder remaining amount indicator 14b are respectively displayed.

A configuration example of the gas pressure regulator 11 having the automatic switching function will be described below with reference to the sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 4, only the housing is hatched, and the hatching of other portions is omitted for simplicity. In the figure, a gas pressure regulator 11 with an automatic switching function includes a housing 113 in which a pair of gas inlet ports 111 is formed at both ends of one side and an outlet port 112 is formed at the other side, and an upper surface one side of the housing 113. And a regulating valve unit 115 arranged in parallel with the switching valve unit 114 above the housing 113.
It consists of

Inside the housing 113, the high pressure gas primary pressure reducing chamber 116 connected to the switching valve unit 114 and the regulating valve unit 1 are provided.
Gas secondary side decompression chamber 117 connected to 15, both decompression chambers 116 and
The gas flow path 118 communicates between 117.

The switching valve unit 114 and the adjusting valve unit 115 are housed in the recess 119a on one side and the recess 119b on the other side of the common cover 119.

The switching valve unit 114 is located inside each inlet port 111, and opens and closes the supply end of each inlet port 111.
A switching shaft 124 that integrates a spring 121 that normally urges the valve body 120 to the closed side, a changer 122 that integrally projects above the valve body 120, and a cam 123 that slides into contact with each plunger 122.
A diaphragm 125, which has a switching shaft 124 integrally projecting at the center, and whose peripheral edge is sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the opening of the housing 113 and the peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the recess 119a to hermetically seal the inside of the primary pressure reducing chamber 116, and the diaphragm 125. A spring 126 that is interposed between the upper part of the cover and the cover 119, presses the diaphragm 125 toward the decompression chamber 116 side, and balances the atmospheric pressure and the gas pressure;
The knob 127 for switching operation is provided on the upper end of the protruding portion of the switching shaft 124 from the cover 119.

An intermediate sleeve 128 is interposed between the switching shaft 124 and the knob 127. The intermediate sleeve 128 is rotatably supported in the upper center of the recess 119a and is coupled to the knob 127. The switching shaft 124 is slidably held in the center of the intermediate sleeve 128 in the vertical direction. A display body 129 is rotatably supported on the upper part of the intermediate sleeve 128, and the display body 129 is a switching shaft.
The operation state of the switching shaft 124 is displayed through the display window 130 fitted in the central portion of the upper surface of the knob 127, while rotating in association with the lowering operation of the knob 124.

The spring 126 is set to have a spring strength higher than that of each spring 121, and in a normal state, each valve body 120 can be alternately opened and closed by switching operation of the knob 127. And
When the primary pressure of the decompression chamber 116 becomes low, the diaphragm 125 bulges to the lower side, the switching shaft 124 descends, and the display body 129 rotates, so that the color and other mechanical displays are changed through the display window 130. The decompression state can be judged immediately.

The cam 123 is in the shape of a disc, and has a large diameter at about half its circumference and extends to the lower side, and a cam lead is formed on the lower surface side of the cam 123 for sliding contact with each plunger 122. In the figure, the cam lead surface presses one plunger 122,
As a result, one valve body 120 is open and the other is closed.

On the upper surface of the cover 119, as shown in FIG.
The reed switches SW I and SW II corresponding to the two switching positions of the knob 127 are attached to the flange 128a of the intermediate sleeve 128 which is turned together with the knob 127, when the knob 127 is turned. Alternatively, magnets 131 are respectively provided at positions facing SW II, and the switching state of the knob 127 can be known by the on / off states of the reed switches SW I and SW II.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the reed switch SW III is provided in the recess 119a of the cover 119, and the magnet 132 is provided on the upper surface portion of the diaphragm 125 facing the reed switch SW III.
It is possible to detect that the diaphragm 125 has descended due to the OFF state of the reed switch SW III.By this detection, the valve body 120 on the gas inlet port 111 side to which the supply gas cylinder is connected is opened, and supply is started. I can know that.

In order to switch the gas cylinder that was a replenishment gas cylinder to the supply gas cylinder, it is sufficient to rotate the knob 127 by 180 degrees, and the cam lead surface of the cam 123 comes off from one plunger 122 and slides against the other plunger 122. Push down. This switching action closes one side and opens the other side.

The regulating valve unit 115 is sandwiched by the peripheral portion of the other recess 119b of the cover 119 and vertically and airtightly divides the secondary pressure reducing chamber 117 and the atmospheric pressure chamber into a pressure regulating diaphragm 135 and a diaphragm 1.
A spring 136 that presses and urges 35 toward the decompression chamber 117 side, and a pressure adjusting actuating rod 137 that is integrally projectingly provided at the center of the diaphragm 135.
And lever 138 connected to the bottom of actuating rod 137, and lever 13
The valve body 139 is slidably connected to the lower end of the valve 8, and the valve body 139 faces the nozzle 140 provided at the end of the gas flow path 118.

Therefore, the gas pressure in the secondary pressure reducing chamber 117 is
When the strength is higher than that of 36, that is, when the pressure is higher than a predetermined pressure, the diaphragm 135 bulges upward, and as a result, the actuating rod 137 is pulled up and the valve body 139 is moved to the closing side via the lever 138. Let When it becomes low, the reverse operation is performed. As a result, the secondary side decompression chamber 117
Is always kept at a predetermined gas pressure.

In the above structure, when the residual gas in the supply gas cylinder is reduced and the gas is out of gas in a normal use state, the switching rod 124 is lowered and the other plunger 122 is also pushed down, and accordingly, the rotation is performed. The display of the display body 129 informs that the supply gas cylinder is supplying gas. Then, corresponding to this display, turn knob 127 from the current position to 1
When it is rotated by 80 degrees, the other gas inlet port 111 is opened, the supplementary gas cylinder is switched to the supply gas cylinder, and the newly connected gas cylinder is used as the supplementary gas cylinder.

An outline of the operation of the above-described LP gas residual gas detection device will be described below.

Now, a third view and Figure 4 gas cylinder 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ as shown in FIG. 5 (a) to a gas pressure regulator 11 configured as described above for connecting, when both the gas cylinder is full CPU13
Power to full on by insertion counter corresponding to each gas cylinder, i.e. sets a predetermined value corresponding to the remaining amount of 100%, the gas cylinder 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ for supply and supply respectively by switching the knob 127 Suppose you have selected.

When gas is consumed by the combustor in such a state, gas is first supplied only from the supply gas cylinder ₁₁ side,
The remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is to decrease sequentially. Then, the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is reduced, the supply gas cylinder
If only 1 ₁ can not be supplied to the gas pressure required in the combustor, the switching shaft 12 with the diaphragm 125 the primary pressure decompression chamber 116 in the gas pressure regulator 11 is lowered
4 is lowered, the valve body 120 is opened for replenishing the gas cylinder 1 ₂ gas is connected an inlet port 111, supply gas bomb
Gas will be supplied from 1 _{2 as} well. At this time, since the magnet 132 separates from the reed switch SW III,
The reed switch SW III is switched from on to off, and the rotation of the display body 129 indicates that replenishment has started.

Therefore, thereafter, the supply gas cylinder ₁₁ and the supplementary gas cylinder 1 ₂
Gas is simultaneously supplied from both of the two gas cylinders ₁₁ and
1 The remaining amount of 1 ₂ will gradually decrease, and
The display of know that supplementation has started, and replacement supply gas cylinder of the supply gas cylinder 1 ₁ can know that it is necessary to switch on the supply side.

The ratio of the gas flow rate supplied from the supply gas cylinder 11 and the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied from the supplementary gas cylinder 12 to the total gas flow rate supplied from both gas cylinders are as shown in FIG. The linear characteristic is not a linear characteristic but a non-linear characteristic that differs depending on the balance of the remaining gas amount in each of the gas cylinders 11 and 12. This ratio can be known empirically in advance.

Gas supply proceeds from both the gas cylinder 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ as described above, when the remaining amount of the feed gas cylinder 1 ₁ 0, that is, the remaining amount can not be gas supply from the supply gas cylinder 1 _1, thereafter the supply all gas is to be supplied from the supply gas cylinder 1 _2.

When switching the knob 127 of FIG. 5 (b) it is shown as the gas pressure regulator 11 and replace the supply gas cylinder with a new gas cylinder, the gas cylinder 1 ₂ for supplying gas cylinder 1 ₁ is a replenishment, 5 ( The same operation as described above for a) is performed.

Details of the operation outlined above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 showing the work performed by the CPU 13 in FIG.

CPU13 reed switch SW with knob 127 of pressure regulator 11
Connect the gas cylinder 1 ₁ to the gas inlet port 111 the valve body 120 opens the switches to I side, to connect the gas cylinder 1 ₂ the knob 127 to the lead switch SW II when switched to side gas inlet port 111 the valve body 120 is opened, Also, set knob 127 to reed switch SW I.
The gas cylinder 1 ₁ is switched to the side in a state where the supply gas cylinder, to start the operation by the power-on.

Then, in the first step S1, initialization is performed.

 In this initialization, the following three processes are performed.

First, the knob 127 is switched to the reed switch SW I side, and the flag I indicating that the gas cylinder ₁₁ is the supply gas cylinder is turned on.

Second, the knob 127 is unable to flag II, the gas cylinder 1 ₁ and the gas cylinder 1 ₂ gas supply alone respectively indicating that the gas cylinder 1 ₂ have switched to the reed switch SW II side is a supply gas cylinder Flag I ′ and
Turn off II 'and.

Third, the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is installed in a predetermined area of the RAM 13b in the CPU 13.
And sets a predetermined value C _0, corresponding to 100% gas level to 1, respectively ₂ to counter configured to correspond I and II. After that, the process proceeds to step S2, where it is determined whether or not the reed switch SW I is switched from ON to OFF.
To determine whether the gas cylinder 1 ₂ is switched for supplying, when the judgment at step S2 of NO, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, by determining whether the reed switch SW II has been switched from on to off,
To determine whether the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is switched for supplying, when the judgment at step S3 of NO, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the flow sensor 12 of the gas meter 12
It is determined whether or not a flow rate pulse as a flow rate signal is input from a, and when this determination is NO, the process waits until the flow rate pulse is input. When a flow rate pulse is input from the flow rate sensor 12a and the determination in step S4 is YES, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether the flag I'is turned on. When the determination in step S5 is NO, that is, when the flag I'is not turned on, the process proceeds to step 6, where the flag I '
Determine if I'is on. When the determination in step S6 is NO, that is, when the flag II 'is off, the step
In step S7, it is determined which of the flags I and II is on.

Immediately after the initialization in step S1 described above, the flag I is on, so the process proceeds to step S8,
Here, after subtracting a predetermined value from the counter I, step S9
Proceed to. In step S9, the value of the counter I is equal to or zero, a step S1 when the judgment at step S9 NO, i.e. there is a gas remaining amount in the gas cylinder 1 ₁
Go to 0. In step S10, the reed switch SW I
It is judged whether the II is switched from ON to OFF, that is, whether the supply from the gas cylinder on the supply side has started, and the judgment is
NO, that is, step S2 when replenishment has not started
Then, the above operation is repeated.

Gradually decreases the gas level in the gas cylinder 1 ₁ by the above-mentioned operation, when only the gas cylinder 1 ₁ can not gas supply the necessary pressure, step SW III is turned on. Therefore, when the determination in step S10 is YES, that is, when the switch SW III is switched from on to off, the process proceeds to step S11 where the flag I'is turned on and then the process returns to step S2 to repeat the above operation. When the flag I'is turned on in step S11, the determination in step S5 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the value of Cx ₁ is subtracted from the counter I and the value of Cx ₂ is subtracted from the counter II, respectively (FIG. 8A).
Subroutine I is executed. In the subroutine I, in the first step 121, the coefficient created in accordance with the graph of FIG. 6 based on the current value of the counter I and stored in the ROM 13a in advance is read, and in the subsequent step S122, the coefficient read out is set to the predetermined value. Multiply by the above values
After obtaining Cx ₁ and Cx ₂ , respectively, proceed to step S123,
Here, the values Cx ₁ and Cx ₂ obtained in step S122 are subtracted from the counters I and II, respectively.

After executing the subroutine in step S12, step S
Proceeds to 13 and determines where whether the value of the counter I is 0, i.e. whether the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is 0. When the determination in step S13 is NO, that is, when there is a remaining amount, the process returns to step S2 and the above operation is repeated.

On While repeating the above operation, becomes the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ 0, the process proceeds to step S14 if the decision of step S13 is to YES, wherein the flag II turns off the flag I and I ' Then, the process returns to step S2 and the above-described operation is repeated. However, in this case, since the flags I and I'are turned off and the flag II is turned on in step S14, the determination in step S5 becomes NO and the process proceeds to step S7 through step S6. Is turned off and the flag II is turned on, and as a result of this determination, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, the predetermined value is subtracted from the counter II, and then the process proceeds to step S16. Whether the value of counter II is zero in step S16, i.e., determines whether the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₂ is 0. Gas cylinder
Proceeds to step S17 when 1 ₂ remaining amount determination in step S16 not 0 NO, the judged here whether reed switch SW III is off. The determination of the step S17 is NO, that is, when the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₂ is not fewer than can be gas supply in the gas cylinder itself and repeats the above operation returns to step S2.

The value of the counter I and II are respectively outputted from the CPU 13, so that so as to be respectively displayed on the remaining amount indicator 14a and 14b, the gas cylinder 1 ₁ by the display of the remaining amount indicator 14a is the remaining amount is very It becomes known that there are few or it is empty. Therefore, this remaining amount indicator 14a
Knows that it is necessary to replace the gas cylinder 1 ₁ by the display of, the gas cylinder is exchanged by shipper, exchange of the supply gas cylinder by the operation of the knob 127 when the gas cylinder is exchanged, the gas cylinder was replenishment until it It will be used for supply, and the new gas cylinder that has been replaced will be used for supply.

When the knob 127 is switched as described above, the reed switch SW I that has been on until now is turned off, the determination at step S2 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S18, and the counter I remains at step S18. The predetermined value C ₀ corresponding to the amount of 100% is set and the flag II is turned on, and then the process proceeds to step S4. It should be noted that the turning on of the flag II in step S18 is duplicated when the flag II is already turned on in step S14, but there is no problem.

Gas cylinder 1 ₂ gas consumption progresses, only the gas cylinder 1 ₂ will not be required gas supply, replenishment starts from the newly replaced supply gas cylinder 1 _1, or reed switch SW III in the step S17 is turned off from on whether, i.e. whether the determination is YES the gas supply is started from the gas cylinder 1 _1, the flow proceeds to the switch S18 by the determination, returning now to step S2 after turning on the flag II '. By turning on the flag II 'in step S18, the determination in step S6 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to the subroutine of step S19.

In step S19, the value of Cx ₁ is subtracted from the counter II and the value of Cx ₂ is subtracted from the counter I, respectively (FIG. 8B)
Subroutine II is executed. In the subroutine II, in the first step 191, the coefficient created by the graph of FIG. 6 based on the current value of the counter II and prestored in the ROM 13a is read, and in the subsequent step S192, the read coefficient is set to the predetermined value. Multiply by the above values
After obtaining Cx ₁ and Cx ₂ , respectively, proceed to step S193,
Here, the values Cx ₁ and Cx ₂ obtained in step S192 are subtracted from the counters II and I, respectively.

After executing the subroutine of step S19, step S
Advances to 20, where whether the value of counter II is zero, that is, whether the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₂ is 0. When the determination in step S20 is NO, that is, when there is a remaining amount, the process returns to step S2 and the above operation is repeated.

On While repeating the above operation, the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₂ becomes 0, the process proceeds to step S21 if the determination in step S20 is to YES, Now turning off the flag II and II 'co flag I Then, the process returns to step S2 and the above-described operation is repeated. However, in this case, by turning off the flags II and II ′ and turning on the flag I in step S21,
If the judgment in step S6 is NO, the routine proceeds to step S7, and in this step S7 the flag I turns on and the flag
It is determined that the II is off, and as a result of this determination, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the predetermined value is subtracted from the counter I, and then the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter I is 0, that is, the gas cylinder ₁₁
It is determined whether the remaining amount of 0 is 0. Proceeds to step S10 when the determination of step S9 instead of remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ 0 is NO, determines where or reed switch SW III is turned from on to off. The determination of the step S10 is NO, that is, when the remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ has not become less than can be gas supply in the gas cylinder itself and repeats the above operation returns to step S2.

The remaining amount of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ within which is repeated the above operation becomes 0, when the switching knob 127 is performed with the exchange of the gas cylinder 1 ₁ is performed accordingly, off reed switch SW II is from on Then, the determination in step S3 becomes YES and the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the counter II is set to C ₀ and the flag I is turned on, and then the process proceeds to step S4, where the flow sensor
Wait for flow pulse from 12a.

By the operation described above, it is possible to continue detecting the remaining amount of each of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder until the remaining amount becomes 0, and further, in the state where the gas supplementation from the supplementary gas cylinder is started, Since the remaining gas amount of the supplementary gas cylinder is counted by using the coefficient indicating the ratio of each gas flow rate from the supply gas cylinder to the total gas flow rate determined by each residual gas amount and from each supply gas cylinder, the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder It is possible to detect the correct amount of gas remaining in each of them and inform them of the appropriate time to replace the gas cylinder, so that the gas cylinder delivery work can be performed efficiently, and the delivery cost can be greatly reduced. .

It should be noted that in the above-described embodiment, the RAM 13b is responsive to the flow pulse
Information indicating the amount of residual gas is retained by subtracting from the counters I and II configured in the above. However, addition is performed according to the flow rate pulse, and when the added value reaches a predetermined value, the remaining amount 0 May be detected.

Further, although the above-mentioned indicators 14a and 14b are shown as an example configured as a level indicator, this may be replaced with an indicator showing only the remaining amount 0.

Further, a coefficient showing the ratio of the supply gas flow rate from each supply and replenishment gas cylinder to the total gas flow rate after the start of replenishment, which changes according to the remaining gas amount of each supply and replenishment gas cylinder described in FIG. In addition, a plurality of coefficient groups for each temperature range, in which the fluctuation of the flow rate due to the influence of the outside air temperature is added, are stored, and accordingly, the temperature detecting means is provided and the temperature detecting means is provided to detect the temperature. If a corresponding coefficient group is selected from the coefficient group and a coefficient corresponding to the remaining gas amount of each gas cylinder for supply and replenishment is selected from the coefficient group, the flow rate of the supply gas from each gas cylinder can be obtained. It becomes possible to detect the remaining amount more accurately after the start of replenishment.

However, also in this case, there is no change in obtaining the flow rate of the supply gas from each of the supply and replenishment gas cylinders according to the remaining gas amount of each gas cylinder.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the gas pressure regulator 11 and the gas meter 12 are shown as separate bodies, but as shown in FIG. 9, they are integrated and the flow rate sensor 12a or switch S is connected.
The signal lines between the WI and SW III and the CPU 13 may not be routed, and the indicators 14a and 14b may be provided as illustrated.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when the replenishment gas cylinder is being replenished, according to the flow rate signal from the flow rate sensor, each of the supply gas cylinder and the replenishment gas cylinder for a predetermined flow rate corresponding to the flow rate signal. The value of the gas flow rate is read from the coefficient storage means, and a coefficient indicating a ratio of each gas flow rate of the supply gas cylinder and the supply gas cylinder to the predetermined flow rate at which the flow rate sensor generates a flow rate signal after the start of replenishment is predetermined. The values are multiplied to cause the first and second counting means to count respectively, and based on this, the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder and the supplementary gas cylinder is generated and held by the first and second counting means, respectively. .

For this reason, the balance of the remaining gas amount of both the supply and replenishment gas cylinders changes momentarily while the replenishment from the replenishment gas cylinders has started, and the ratio of the supply gas flow rates from the respective gas cylinders changes with time. Even in the case of changing, it becomes possible to accurately know the residual gas in both the supply and replenishment gas cylinders by the contents held in the first and second counting means.

Further, since the notification means outputs the replacement time notification information of the supply gas cylinder based on the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder held by the first counting means, it is possible to reliably notify the replacement time of the supply gas cylinder. become able to.

Therefore, it is possible to appropriately replace the supply gas cylinder, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the efficiency of gas cylinder delivery work is improved and the delivery cost is significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an LP gas residual gas detecting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an LP gas residual gas detecting device according to the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a gas pressure regulator used in the LP gas residual gas detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for explaining the operation of the LP gas residual gas detection device according to the present invention, and FIG. Is a graph for explaining the coefficients used in the present invention, FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the work executed by the CPU in FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the subroutine in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration example of a gas meter with a gas pressure regulator to which the device according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional general gas supply system. 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ …… Gas cylinder, 11 …… Gas pressure regulator, 12a ……
Flow rate sensor, 13a ... ROM (coefficient storage means), 13A ... first counting means, 13B ... second coefficient means, 14 ... informing means, SW III ... reed switch (replenishment starting means).

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. When a plurality of LP gas cylinders connected to a gas pressure regulator with an automatic switching function are used by switching to a supply gas cylinder and a supplementary gas cylinder, the supply gas cylinder cannot supply gas at a predetermined pressure. In the LP gas supply system configured to supply the gas to be supplied, a replenishment start detecting means for detecting replenishment start from the replenishment gas cylinder, a flow rate sensor for generating a flow rate signal according to a predetermined flow rate of the supply gas, and the supply gas cylinder A first counting means for holding the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder, and a second counting means for the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder, The above-mentioned predetermined flow rate after the start of replenishment, which is predetermined corresponding to the residual gas information held in the first counting means, The supply gas cylinder is stored based on coefficient storage means that stores a coefficient indicating a ratio of each gas flow rate of the supply gas cylinder and the supply gas cylinder, and the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder that is held by the first counting means. And a notification unit that outputs replacement time notification information, and when the replenishment start detection unit has not detected the replenishment start, the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder is generated in response to the generation of the flow rate signal by the flow rate sensor. A first counting means for counting a predetermined value for performing replenishment, and when replenishment start is detected by the replenishment start detecting means, in response to generation of a flow rate signal by the flow rate sensor,
Causing the first and second counting means to respectively count the values obtained by multiplying the predetermined value by the coefficient read from the coefficient storage means for generating the residual gas information of the supply gas cylinder and the replenishment gas cylinder. LP gas residual gas detection device characterized by.