JP2701934B2 - Liquid flow meter with communication function - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid flow meter having a communication function such as a water meter or a hot water meter for automatic meter reading.

(Prior art)

Send the measured value to the metering center via the public communication line, display the measured value on the display of the handy terminal by connecting to the handy terminal, or store it in the semiconductor memory of the handy terminal and collect the stored data at the calculation center The flow meter for liquids such as a hot water meter and a water meter with a communication function used to perform the function of sending the current measured value to the meter reading center or handy terminal at that time when there is a meter reading command from the meter reading center or handy terminal. But without a clock and calendar.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the meter value when receiving the meter reading command from the center or the handy terminal is transmitted from the flow meter, so that it is impossible to read a large number of flow meters (meters) on the same fixed day. There was a problem. In addition, recently, the Water Works Bureau has adopted a bi-monthly meter reading every 2 to 4 months instead of every month. In this case, it is not possible to measure the usage amount of each month, so the water service users are very careful. There was also a problem that service was not possible. Furthermore, since the meter itself does not have a water leak judgment function, there is a problem that it can only be detected when the amount of water used suddenly increases or after a remarkable accident phenomenon such as blowing of water or hot water has occurred. Was. Furthermore, in large cities, people move frequently due to relocation, etc., and there are houses where relocation is repeated every few months, so workers such as the Water Works Bureau each time go to the site to open and close. There was a problem that had to be done.

An object of the present invention is to propose a liquid flow meter such as a water meter or a hot water meter that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, in a liquid flow meter having a communication function according to the present invention, a clock and a calendar, a communication input / output circuit, a central processing unit, a pre-specified date and time of meter reading, a measured value, and water leakage. A memory for storing a condition for detection and a condition for an abnormal flow rate, wherein the central processing unit stores the weighing value in the memory when the clock and the calendar reach the meter reading date and time stored in the memory, and externally stores the weighing value. This is sent to the outside in response to the readout, and it is determined that the fluid flow rate has become the condition for detecting the water leakage and notified to the center. Is received, a program for sending a plugging signal to the fluid control valve is provided.

If the weighing value stored in the memory is the latest weighing value data for a plurality of months, it is convenient because the amount of calculation every month can be known by bi-monthly meter reading every several months.

[Action]

The designated meter reading date and time is set and stored in advance in a memory from the outside via the communication input / output circuit. Similarly, the water leak detection condition and the abnormal flow rate condition are set and stored in the memory.

In the flow meter, the central processing unit determines whether or not the number of days for meter reading has been designated, and reads the measured value, that is, the meter pointer value at the same date and time every month, and stores it at a predetermined address in the memory. In addition, the flow meter constantly monitors the flow rate, compares and compares it with the water leak detection condition or the abnormal flow rate condition stored in the memory, and when the slow water detection condition is reached, notifies the center from the communication input / output circuit, When the flow rate is abnormal and when a plugging signal is received from the center, a plugging signal is sent to the fluid control valve.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the latest measured values for a plurality of months are stored in a memory for each month, and when a meter reading command is received, all of the measured data for the plurality of months is transmitted.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of a water meter, 1 is a clock and a calendar, 2 is a communication input / output circuit,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a memory using a random access memory. Reference numeral 4 denotes a central processing unit, and reference numeral 5 denotes a flow signal waveform shaping circuit, which receives an electric signal (flow signal) from a magnetic sensor that detects rotation of an impeller (not shown) and converts it into an electric signal, and shapes it into a rectangular wave. I do. Reference numeral 6 denotes a battery that supplies power to these circuits and memories. A fluid control valve (not shown) is inserted into a water supply pipe connected to a water meter, and the fluid control valve is controlled to be closed, opened or semi-opened by a signal from the central processing unit 4. Has become.

The clock and calendar 1, the communication input / output circuit 2, the memory 3, the central processing unit 4, and the flow signal waveform shaping circuit 5 shown in FIG. 1 may all be configured as a one-chip integrated circuit.

The communication input / output circuit 2 can cope with center polling from the meter reading center in cooperation with the central processing unit 4 and also has a communication function of calling a terminal from the water meter itself.

The memory 3 stores not only the latest month data but also the data of a plurality of months before the meter reading date and time and the meter value measured every month for each meter reading date and time, that is, the meter pointer value.

In addition, the memory 3 can set and store the conditions for detecting late water in accordance with the water usage status of each consumer, and thereby accurately detect water leakage. That is, a time zone suitable for water leakage monitoring, a minimum flow rate for determining water leakage, continuity of a state designated as water leakage, and the like can also be set and stored.

Further, the memory 3 can set and store a flow rate value that can be determined to be an abnormal flow rate in consideration of water flow due to a rupture of the water supply pipe. When the flow rate measured by the water meter exceeds the flow rate of the abnormal flow rate, the central processing unit 4 makes a self-determination and sends a plugging signal to the flow control valve to prevent a flood accident. Further, when receiving a control signal from the outside, the control valve of closing, opening or half-opening to the flow control valve is sent,
It has a program that enables remote control.

A control signal is received from the meter reading center or the handy terminal through the communication input / output circuit 2, and a control signal for closing or opening is sent to the flow control valve to open and close the control valve. Next, the closed state or the opened state of the control valve is detected, and an answer back signal indicating that the valve is in the closed state or the open state is sent to the meter reading center or the handy terminal. You can also check.

Next, the flow of meter reading, road survey, and water leak monitoring will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the pointer value of the water meter at 00:00 on the 10th of every month, that is, the weighing value, is stored in the memory for six months in the order of each month, the values of the clock and the calendar are read at short intervals at regular time intervals (step 10). The data is compared with the designated meter reading date and time stored in the memory (step 11). If the meter reading date and time match, the meter reading value six months ago is discarded (step 12), and the meter reading value from the current month to five months ago (step 11). The meter value is moved to the meter reading area of the previous month to six months before in the memory 3 (step 13), and then the current meter value of the meter is stored in the corresponding area of the memory 3 as the meter reading value of the current month (step 14). ).

That is, as shown in Table 1, each data A to F from the data A of the current month to the data F of six months ago was stored in the corresponding area. At any time, the weighing values for six months can be read individually for one month or for six months at a time.

Next, the flow of water leakage monitoring will be described. The following items (a) to (c) are set in advance for water leakage monitoring.

(A) The minimum flow rate determined to be water leakage, for example, 10 / hr.

(B) The time period for monitoring the flow rate in the above item (a), for example, from midnight to 4:00.

(C) If the flow rate is equal to or more than the minimum flow rate of the item (a) during the entire time period of the item (b), the number of days that this state should be continued, for example, 7 days.

It is determined in steps 17 to 19 whether or not each of the conditions (a), (b) and (c) is satisfied, and (a), (b) and (c)
When the conditions of all items are satisfied, it is determined that there is a water leak and the center is notified (step 20).

If any of the above conditions (a), (b), and (c) is missing, water leak monitoring is started again from the initial state.

When determining the conditions for water leakage, a road survey (step 15) is performed in advance, and the conditions are determined based on the situation of water usage by consumers.

〔The invention's effect〕

In the present invention, the flowmeter is provided with a timepiece and a calendar by providing the timepiece with a time management function, so that a metered value at the same date and time determined in advance can be read and read at any time every month. This effect does not change even if the number of flow meters read at the meter reading center or the handy terminal increases.

In addition, since water leak detection conditions can be set under conditions that match the actual conditions of water and hot water usage by individual customers, accurate leak information without false alarms can be provided, and water leaks can be detected early and accurately, resulting in a large flood accident. Can be prevented beforehand. In addition, since a control signal for closing is automatically sent to the flow control valve when the flow rate is abnormal, this point can cope with a flood accident. Furthermore, the flow control valve can be opened and closed by remote control.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, each month's usage (weighing value) in a plurality of months
Since the meter reading can be performed at a time, it is possible to know the usage amount every month even with a bimonthly meter reading every several months.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the water meter of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a part of the operation. 1 ... clock and calendar, 2 ... communication input / output circuit,
3 Memory 4 Central processing unit

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A clock and calendar, a communication input / output circuit, a central processing unit, and a memory for storing pre-specified date and time of meter reading, a measured value, a condition for detecting water leakage, and a condition for abnormal flow rate, The central processing unit stores the weighing value in the memory when the clock and the calendar reach the meter reading date and time stored in the memory, sends the weighing value to the outside in response to reading from the outside, and adjusts the fluid flow rate to the outside. A program that determines that the condition of water leak detection has been reached and notifies the center, and furthermore, sends a plugging signal to the fluid control valve when the fluid flow rate becomes the abnormal flow rate and when a plugging command is received from the center. A liquid meter having a communication function, comprising: 2. The liquid meter according to claim 1, wherein the measured value stored in the memory is the latest measured value data for a plurality of months. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow meter is a water meter.
A flow meter for a liquid having the communication function described in the above. 4. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the flow meter is a hot water meter.
A flow meter for a liquid having the communication function described in the above.