JP2543038B2 - Remote meter reading device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote meter-reading device that is advantageously used for metering the integrated value of a flow rate meter such as gas or water from a distant position.

BACKGROUND ART For example, in reading a meter of a gas flow rate integrating meter,
A meter-reading operator performs the amount of gas displayed on the integrating portion of the gas flow integrator by visually observing the integrated gas flow rate. If the gas flow rate integrator is installed at a position away from the eyes of the meter-reading operator, for example, on the outer wall of a house or in a recessed position in a building, use a pair of binoculars to integrate. It is necessary to read the integrated value of the flow rate displayed on the part, and there is a risk of making a wrong reading. Also, because of the need for meter reading work, it is necessary to install a gas flow rate totalizer on the outer wall of the house facing the road, etc., and even the place where the gas flow rate totalizer is installed may be restricted.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems, and enables remote meter reading to be able to easily and accurately measure the flow integrated value of a flow meter even from a distant position. It is to provide a device.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to (a) a flow rate integrator 2 for detecting a gas flow rate and displaying an integrated flow rate value in a flow rate integrator 15, wherein the flow rate integrator 2 is located in front of a casing thereof. Flow rate integrating section located in
This flow rate integrating unit 15 has a plurality of display wheels M1 to M7 for each digit arranged in parallel with a horizontal common axis, and the total number of the display wheels M1 to M7 is 10 in total. Number "0"
Display portions P0 to P9, in which "~" 9 are described at intervals in the circumferential direction, are formed, and each display portion P0 to P9 has a mutual display for identifying each numerical value "0" to "9". A flow rate integrator 2 colored in different colors, and (b) a cover body 20 that houses the flow rate integrator 15 and covers the front part of the casing, and a cover body main body 21 fixed to the front part of the casing. In the central portion of the cover body 21, a protruding portion 22 that projects forward is provided with a single display portion P0 to P9 at the same position in the circumferential direction of the display wheels M1 to M7 at the front portion of the protruding portion 22. A window hole 23 for viewing from the front is formed, and a protruding portion 22 having a fitting hole 26 extending along the common axis of the display wheels M1 to M7 is formed in the lower portion of the protruding portion 22 and the window hole 23. And a cover body 20 having a transparent plate 24 for the flow rate calculation portion provided on the protruding portion 22, and (c) a storage for the flow rate integrating portion fitted in the fitting hole 26 of the protruding portion 22. The holding member 25 and (d) are individually provided corresponding to the respective display wheels M1 to M7, and one ends thereof are inserted into the holding member 25 so that they are located at the same position in the circumferential direction of the respective display wheels M1 to M7. Light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 fixed to the flow rate integrating section holding member 25 facing the one display section P0 to P9.
(E) The display wheels M1 to M7 are individually provided to correspond to the respective display wheels M1 by inserting the one end portion of the holding member 25 for the flow rate integrating portion.
~ Display part P0 facing the M7 light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7
Projected toward the same display unit as P9, the light is fixed to the flow accumulating unit holding member 25 at a position displaced in the circumferential direction of each of the display wheels M1 to M7 from the one end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7. The optical fibers F1 to F7 and (f) a meter reading plate 4 which is provided at a fixed position separated from the flow rate integrator 2 and has a meter reading window 50 formed in the front part of the meter reading plate 4.
And (g) a transparent plate 34 for the meter reading plate provided on the meter reading plate 4 facing the meter reading window 50, and (h) arranged inside the transparent plate 34 for the meter reading plate of the meter reading plate 4 for receiving light The other ends of the optical fibers G1 to G7 are fixed side by side side by side in the order of arrangement of the display wheels M1 to M7 facing the one end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 to the transparent plate 34 for the meter reading disk. A holding member 35 for the meter reading board, and (i) a light source that is arranged in the front part of the meter reading board 4 adjacent to the meter reading window 50 and is commonly connected to the other ends of the light projecting optical fibers F1 to F7. Remote connection terminal 9 and (j) a light source 8 which is attachable to and detachable from the light source connection terminal 9 and which is portable.

Operation According to the present invention, the gas flow rate is detected by the flow rate integrator 2, and the integrated value is located at the same position in the circumferential direction of the display wheels M1 to M7 of each of the plurality of digits of the flow rate integrator 15. One display P0-
The integrated value is displayed by the combination of P9, and the integrated value can be viewed through the window 23 formed in the protruding portion 22 of the cover body 20 through the transparent plate 24 for the flow rate integrating portion.

Particularly according to the present invention, the flow integrating portion holding member 25 is fitted in the fitting hole 26 formed in the lower portion of the protruding portion 22. One end of each of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 is fixed to the flow rate integrating portion holding member 25 so as to face a single display portion P0 to P9 at the same position in the circumferential direction of each of the display wheels M1 to M7. . Further, the flow rate accumulating section holding member 25 faces the same display section as the display sections P0 to P9 facing the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 of the respective display wheels M1 to M7, and the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G9. One end of each of the projection light fibers F1 to F7 is fixed at a position displaced in the circumferential direction of each of the display wheels M1 to M7 from the one end of G7. A meter-reading board 4 is provided at a fixed position spaced apart from the flow rate integrator 2, and a meter-reading operator can attach and detach the carried light source 8 to a light-source connection terminal 9 provided at the front of the meter-reading board 4. Connect to. As a result, the light from the light source 8 is commonly guided from the other ends of the light projecting optical fibers F1 to F7, and the light from the display wheel M1 to
M7 is illuminated. Since the respective display wheels M1 to M7 are colored in mutually different colors for identifying the respective numbers "0" to "9" in the circumferential direction, the light from the light emitting fibers F1 to F7 is irradiated. The lights having the colors of the displayed display portions P0 to P9 are transmitted to the respective display wheels M1 to
Each M7 is guided to the other end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 fixed to the needle reading plate holding member 35 of the meter reading plate 4 through the individual light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7. The operator of the meter reading the color of the other end of each of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7,
It can be seen through the transparent plate 34 for the meter reading board. Thereby, the meter-reading operator can identify the color and remotely meter the flow-rate integrated value.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. One end of the optical transmission line 1 faces the gas flow rate integrating meter 2, and the other end faces the meter reading board 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical transmission line 1 is composed of a light projecting cable A, a light receiving cable B, and a coating layer 5 that covers these cables A and B. The meter reading board 4 is attached to the outer wall surface 6a of the house 6, for example. This meter-reading board 4 has a meter-reading window 50.
The light receiving cable B faces 50. In the meter reading board 4,
A connection terminal 9 to which the light source 8 is connected is provided.
A cable A for projecting light faces. Gas flow rate integrator 2
Is attached to the inner wall surface of the house 6 which is separated from the road 10, for example. The gas flow rate integrator 2 has an inlet 12 into which the gas supplied from the service pipe drawn into the house 6 is introduced,
An outlet 13 is provided through which gas is led out through the flow rate integrator 2. The gas from the outlet 13 is supplied to a gas combustion device such as a stove via a supply pipe 14.
The amount of gas supplied to the gas combustion device and used is integrated by an integrating unit 15 (see FIG. 3) provided in the flow rate integrator 2, and the integrated value is displayed on a display wheel M (see FIG. 3). Therefore, it is displayed as a digital value.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the flow rate integrator 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view near the display wheel M. The display wheel M is surrounded by a cover 20 having a short-angled tubular shape. The cover body 20 includes a main body 21 and a protrusion 22 that protrudes outward at the center of the main body 21. A window hole 23 is formed in the protruding portion 22, and a transparent plate 24 is provided so as to face the window light 23. A fitting hole 26 into which a holding member 25 for holding the light projecting cable A and the light receiving cable B is fitted is formed in the projecting portion 22.

At the corners of the main body 21 of the cover body 20, bolts 27 called so-called Torx screws are inserted.
Is screwed into the casing of the flow rate integrator 2, whereby the cover body 20 is fixed to the flow rate integrator 2. Flow rate accumulator body
Similarly, the cover body 28 that covers 11 is also fixed to the flow rate integrator 2 by bolts 27 called Torx screws.
Since such a bolt 27 has a specially shaped driver fitting groove on the head,
20 and 28 cannot be removed from the flow accumulator 2 and therefore safety is maintained.

The flow rate integrator 2 includes a flow rate detection unit 30 that detects a gas flow rate.
And a flow rate integrating unit 15. The flow rate integrating unit 15 includes a plurality of (in this embodiment, seven) display wheels M1, M2, which display the flow rate integrated value.
... M7 (generally indicated by reference numeral M) and the cover body 20
It is composed of These display wheels M1, M2, ... M7 are arranged side by side so as to have a common axis. Display wheel M
Number "0" showing the integrated value of flow rate on the outer peripheral surface of 1, M2, ... M7
“9” is printed in white, for example. Display wheel M1
A plurality of display parts P1, P2, ... P9, P0 (which are indicated by reference numeral P when collectively referred to) having different colors are provided on the outer peripheral surface of each of the numbers. The display portion P1 corresponding to the number "1" is painted black as shown in Table 1, and the display portion P2 corresponding to the number "2" is painted pink.

Table 1 Display color Display color P1 Black P6 Yellow green P2 Pink P7 Green P3 Red P8 Blue P4 Orange P9 Indigo P5 Yellow P0 Purple The color coding status of the display parts P0 to P9 corresponding to such numbers is The same applies to the display wheels M2 to M7. Therefore,
It is possible to know the integrated value of the flow rate by performing color identification using the number-color comparison table shown in Table 1.

A holding member 25 is arranged inside the casing of the flow rate integrator 2 and below the display wheel M. The holding member 25 has a rectangular shape and is made of acrylic resin or the like. This holding member
Reference numeral 25 denotes seven cells S1, S2, ... Corresponding to the display wheels M1, M2 ,.
Composed of S7.

The light projecting cable A is composed of seven light projecting optical fibers F1, F2, ... F7 individually corresponding to each digit, and the light receiving cable B is individually corresponding to each digit. Fiber
It consists of G1, G2, ... G7. One end of the light emitting fiber F1 is inserted into the cell S1 of the holding member 25 so that the display wheel M1
The light receiving optical fiber G1 is fixed so as to face the display wheel M1. Also,
Similarly, in the cell S2, one ends of the light projecting optical fiber F2 and the light receiving optical fiber G2 are inserted and fixed so as to face the display wheel M2. Similarly, in the remaining cells S3 to S7, one light-transmitting optical fiber F and one light-receiving optical fiber G corresponding to each display wheel are inserted, and the display wheels corresponding to the fibers F and G are inserted. It is fixed facing M.

The other ends of the light projecting optical fibers F1 to F7 are arranged facing the light source connection terminal 9 of the meter reading board 4 and commonly connected, as shown in FIG. The transparent plate 34 is fixed to the meter reading window 50 adjacent to the light source connection terminal 9 of the meter reading board 4. A holding member 35 is fixed to the inside of the meter reading board 4 so as to face the transparent plate 34.
The holding member 35 is made of acrylic resin or the like and has cells H1, H2, ... H7 for each digit. The light receiving optical fibers G1, G
The other end portions of 2, ..., G7 are fixed by facing the transparent plate 34 through the cells H1, H2 ,.

The main body 21 of the cover body 20 includes a front portion (third part) of the casing.
It is fixed on the left side of the figure as described above. The light-receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 face the respective display wheels M1 to M7 and are fixed to the holding member 25 as described above, and the light-emitting optical fibers F1 to F7 face the respective display wheels M1 to M7 and receive light. The display wheels M1 to M7 are fixed to the holding member 25 at positions displaced in the circumferential direction from the ends of the optical fibers G1 to G7 (that is, on the front side in FIG. 4 in this embodiment). A protruding portion that protrudes forward in the central portion of the main body 21
In the window hole 23 formed in the front portion of 22, the single display portions P0 to P9 at the same position in the circumferential direction of the display wheels M1 to M7 can be seen from the front. Light receiving fiber Fiber indicator G1 to G7 M1
The end portions on the to M7 side face the single display portions P0 to P9 at the same positions in the circumferential direction of the respective display wheels M1 to M7. Light fiber for projection
The end portions of F1 to F7 on the side of the display wheels M1 to M7 face the same display portions as the display portions P0 to P9 facing the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 of the respective display wheels M1 to M7.

In the meter reading board 4, the end portions of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 are transparent side by side in the arrangement order of the display wheels M1 to M7 facing the end portions of the main body 21 of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7. Board
It is fixed to the holding member 35 facing the 34. Light source connection terminal 9
Is arranged in front of the meter reading board 4 and adjacent to the meter reading window 50,
The ends of the light emitting fibers F1 to F7 are commonly connected. The light source 8 can be attached to and detached from the light source connection terminal 9.

The meter-reading operator connects the portable light source 8 to the connection terminal 9 as will be described later, in response to the meter-reading. Thereby, the light from the light source 8 is applied to the display wheels M1 to M7 via the light emitting fibers F1 to F7. The meter-reading operator senses the meter-reading window 50 of the meter-reading board 4, detects the color of the display portion P of the display wheels M1 to M7,
This allows remote meter reading of the integrated value of the flow rate of the flow rate meter.

The holding member 25 is arranged below the display wheels M1 to M7. Therefore, the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 detect the display portion P which is displaced by 90 ° with respect to the actual integrated value of the flow rate. Therefore, in consideration of this point, the meter-reading operator needs to reconvert the numerical value based on the color of the display P detected by the meter-reading board 4 to calculate the integrated flow rate.

In this way, the integrated value of the flow rate of the flow rate integrator 2 is detected by identifying the color of the display portion applied to the outer periphery of the display wheel M. Therefore, the light emitting fiber F and the light receiving portion F are received. It is sufficient to provide one optical fiber G for each digit. In fact, the indicator wheels M1, M2, M3 are the indicator wheels for the flow meter test, and the remaining indicator wheels M4, M5, M6, M7 are the indicator wheels necessary for the meter reading, and therefore at least the indicator wheels. It suffices to provide only one light emitting optical fiber F4 to F7 and one light receiving optical fiber G4 to G7 facing M4, M5, M6 and M7.

If it is necessary to add the optical fibers F and G, attach connectors to the light emitting fiber F and the light receiving optical fiber G in advance, and add the optical fibers of the required length to this connector. do it. In the present invention, when adding such optical fibers, the number of optical fibers is 1 for each digit in the present invention.
It is sufficient to provide only a book, and thus it is possible to easily add the pieces according to the length. When reading the number on the display wheel with an optical fiber, about 6000 optical fibers are required, and in this case, therefore, it is practically impossible to add them.

Incidentally, for reference, in performing the meter reading work at a position apart from the flow rate integrator by a method other than the above embodiments, for example, a signal pulse is taken out from the integration section of the flow rate integrator and It is conceivable to input the signal pulse to a separate integrating indicator to perform meter reading, but in this case, one integrating indicator is required for one flow integrating meter, which is costly. Not only that, but it is difficult to say that this is a simple method because noise enters the pulse connecting portion between the flow rate integrating meter and the integrating indicator or the integrating indicator needs to be maintained.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, remote meter reading is performed by providing a plurality of display portions P having mutually different colors on the outer periphery of the display wheel M of the existing integrating portion 15, which allows high cost. It can be prevented as far as possible. Further, the meter-reading operator simply connects the light source 8 to the light-source terminal 9 of the meter-reading board 4, and the light from the light source 8 is applied to the display wheel via the light-projecting fiber.
Remote meter reading can be performed simply by identifying the color of the display wheel via the light receiving optical fiber. Therefore, there is no noise problem or need for maintenance. Further, the installation location of the gas flow rate integrator 2 can be selected on either the inner wall surface or the outer wall surface of a building or a house, which is extremely practical. Furthermore, the meter-reading operator only needs to carry the light source 8,
Therefore, the burden on the worker can be reduced.

The remote meter reading method according to the present invention is not limited to the remote meter reading of the integrating part of the gas flow rate integrating meter, but also the remote meter reading of the integrating part of the flow rate integrating meter such as water and electricity, or the remote meter reading of various measuring equipment and the chemical plant. It can also be suitably used for detection of reaction normal state and the like.

Effect As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately read the integrated value of the flow rate at a position apart from the flow rate integrating meter. Particularly according to the invention, a plurality of display wheels M1 for each digit
On the outer peripheral surface of ~ M7, a total of 10 numbers "0" to "9" are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction, and display parts P0 to P9 are formed on the respective display parts P0 to P9. , Each of which is colored in a different color from each other, and from the front window hole 23 of the projecting portion 22 projecting forward of the cover body 20, the transparent plate for the flow rate integrating portion.
It is possible to read the numerical value via 24 and know the integrated value of the flow rate, and there is no hindrance to the operation of reading the numerical value from the transparent plate 24 for the flow rate integrating section, and the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 are used to display the digits M1 for each digit. It is possible to transmit the colors of the display parts P0 to P9 of ~ M7, thus enabling remote meter reading.

Further according to the present invention, the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 are
As described above, only the colors of the display parts P0 to P9 of the display wheels M1 to M7 need to be transmitted, and the numbers "0" to "9" described therein are transmitted.
It is not necessary to transmit the image of the
The light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 for each M7 can be easily realized by, for example, a single optical fiber, and therefore it is easy to extend the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 by adding them. Therefore, the excellent effect that the present invention can be easily implemented is achieved even in a place where the distance between the flow rate integrator 2 and the meter reading board 4 is various.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the light-emitting optical fibers F1 to F7 illuminate the display portions P0 to P9 of the display wheels M1 to M7 facing the one end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7, and thus the daytime and the nighttime. Also, the meter reading work can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the meter-reading operator carries the portable light source 8, attaches the light source 8 to the light source connection terminal 9, and displays the light by the light projection optical fibers F1 to F7. Can be led to the display portions P0 to P9, and the configuration is simple, and the meter-reading operator only needs to carry the light source 8 as described above, and the workability is improved. Moreover, a person who does not carry the light source 8 cannot read the gas flow rate from the meter reading board 4, and therefore cannot know the usage state of the gas flow rate, which is convenient from the viewpoint of crime prevention.

Further, according to the present invention, for remote meter reading, the meter reading operator only needs to be equipped with the light source 8, and no other power source or the like is required, which simplifies the configuration of the present invention and allows for a long period of time. A remote meter-reading device with improved reliability can be realized without causing a failure over the entire length. This is particularly important in view of the fact that a large number of flow rate integrators 2 are provided for each home, for example.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an optical transmission line 1, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flow rate integrator 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view near a display wheel M. 5 and 5 are sectional views taken along the section line V-V in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Optical transmission line, 2 ... Gas flow rate integrating meter, 4 ... Meter reading panel, 8 ... Light source, 9 ... Light source terminal, 15 ... Flow rate integrating section, 25, 35 ... Holding member, A ... … Lighting cable, B…
… Light receiving cable, M1 to M7 …… Display wheel, P0 to P9 …… Display, F1 to F7 …… Light emitting optical fiber, G1 to G7 …… Light receiving optical fiber, S1 to S7, H1 to H7… …cell

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (A) A flow rate integrator 2 for detecting a gas flow rate and displaying an integrated flow rate value in a flow rate integrator 15, wherein the flow rate integrator 2 is arranged in front of a casing thereof.
This flow rate integrating unit 15 has a plurality of display wheels M1 to M7 for each digit arranged in parallel with a horizontal common axis, and the total number of the display wheels M1 to M7 is 10 in total. Number "0" ~
Display portions P0 to P9 in which "9" are described at intervals in the circumferential direction are formed, and the display portions P0 to P9 are different from each other for identifying the respective numerical values "0" to "9". A flow rate integrator 2 which is colored in each color; (b) a cover body 20 that houses the flow rate integrator 15 and covers the front part of the casing, and a cover body main body 21 fixed to the front part of the casing; A projecting portion 22 projecting forward in the central portion of the cover body 21 is provided with a single display portion P0 to P9 at the same position in the circumferential direction of the display wheels M1 to M7 at the front portion of the projecting portion 22. A window hole 23 to be viewed from above is formed, and a protrusion portion 22 is provided with a fitting hole 26 at a lower portion thereof which extends along the common axis of the display wheels M1 to M7.
22 and a cover body 20 having a transparent plate 24 for the flow rate calculating portion provided on the protruding portion 22 facing the window hole 23, and (c) for the flow rate integrating portion fitted in the fitting hole 26 of the protruding portion 22. The holding member 25 and (d) are provided individually corresponding to the respective display wheels M1 to M7, one end of each of which is inserted into the holding member 25 and is located at the same position in the circumferential direction of each of the display wheels M1 to M7. Light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 fixed to the flow rate integrating section holding member 25 facing the one display section P0 to P9.
(E) The display wheels M1 to M7 are individually provided to correspond to the respective display wheels M1 by inserting the one end portion of the holding member 25 for the flow rate integrating portion.
~ Display part P0 facing the M7 light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7
Projection facing the same display unit as P9 and fixed to the flow rate integrating unit holding member 25 at a position displaced in the circumferential direction of each of the display wheels M1 to M7 from the one end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7. The optical fibers F1 to F7 and (f) a meter reading plate 4 which is provided at a fixed position separated from the flow rate integrator 2 and has a meter reading window 50 formed in the front part of the meter reading plate 4.
And (g) a transparent plate 34 for the meter reading plate provided on the meter reading plate 4 facing the meter reading window 50, and (h) arranged inside the transparent plate 34 for the meter reading plate of the meter reading plate 4 for receiving light The other ends of the optical fibers G1 to G7 are fixed side by side side by side in the order of arrangement of the display wheels M1 to M7 facing the one end of the light receiving optical fibers G1 to G7 to the transparent plate 34 for the meter reading disk. (I) a light source that is arranged in the front part of the meter reading plate 4 adjacent to the meter reading window 50, and the other ends of the light projecting optical fibers F1 to F7 are commonly connected. Remote sensing device, comprising: a connection terminal 9 for a light source, and (j) a light source 8 that is removable from the connection terminal 9 for a light source and is portable.