JP3140579B2 - Automatic measuring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic measuring device for automatically measuring a flow rate of a gas or the like at a predetermined time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a gas supply amount has a seasonal variation and a time variation. That is, the supply amount increases the most in the winter season, and decreases the most in the summer season.
In addition, the supply amount reaches a peak around 6:00 pm even in one day, and the supply amount is small at midnight or the like.

In the gas main pipe, the pressure loss increases as the gas flow rate increases. Therefore, when the gas supply amount fluctuates as described above, the gas at the end of the gas supply network at the peak of the gas supply amount. This causes a pressure drop. For this reason, it is necessary to grasp the state of the gas main line where the pressure is decreasing at the peak of the gas supply, and an operator goes to the customer's house and measures the pressure with a portable manometer.

[0004] It is desired that this pressure measurement be performed at the time when the maximum gas usage per hour in the year is recorded. Measurement requires a large amount of personnel at one time, which is not possible in reality,
The measurement was performed with the date and time shifted, and the correction calculation was performed based on the gas supply amount on the measurement day and the supply ratio by time zone.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional gas pressure measurement is performed manually, and the gas measurement date and measurement time are from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the midwinter, when the gas supply peaks. Therefore, there is a problem that the mental burden and labor cost of the worker are large. Furthermore, measurement cannot be performed at the same time when gas usage is the highest on the day when gas usage is the highest, and correction calculation is performed on the measured value, but the correction error is large and data reliability is low. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic measuring device capable of accurately and automatically measuring the pressure at the peak of the supply amount without manual operation. To provide.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a meter for measuring an integrated value of an object to be measured, and a method of measuring a measured value per time from the integrated value of the object to be measured by the meter. An automatic measuring device comprising: a measuring terminal device for calculating and storing; and a network control device connected to the telephone line and transmitting the measured value stored in the measuring terminal device to the center via the telephone line.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the measuring terminal device calculates and stores the measured value per time from the integrated value of the measurement object measured by the meter, and stores the measured value in the measuring terminal device via the network control device and the telephone line. The measured value is sent to the center.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system using an automatic measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a center, and the center 1 is provided with an automatic meter reading computer or a supply pressure management computer. The center 1 is connected to a security device 5 via a telephone line 3, and the security device 5 is connected to a network controller (T-NCU) 9 of a customer 7. The customer 7 is provided with a network control device 9, a telephone 13, a gas microcomputer meter 15, a measuring terminal device 17, a pressure sensor 19, and a gas appliance 21.

The network control device 9 has a switch 11 inside, and when the switch 11 is switched,
The center 1 is connected to one of the telephone 13, the gas microcomputer meter 15, and the measuring terminal device 17. The telephone 13
It is a normal telephone in the home. Normally, the telephone line 3 and the telephone 13 are connected, but when the center 1 makes a no-ringing call, the telephone line 3 is connected to one of the gas microcomputer meter 15 and the measurement terminal device 17. Here, the no-ringing call is telephone 1
This means that the telephone line 3 is connected to one of the gas microcomputer meter 15 and the measurement terminal device 17 without generating the ringing tone of 3. The network controller 9 will be described later in detail.

The gas microcomputer meter 15 measures the total flow rate of gas supplied from the main pipe 23 to the customer 7 via the pipe 26a. The measurement terminal device 17 measures and stores the gas flow rate at predetermined time intervals using the output value of the gas microcomputer meter 15. Further, it has a function of storing the gas flow rate at the time when the pressure is the lowest using the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 19. The pressure sensor 19 is
The pressure in the pipe 26b is detected and sent to the measuring terminal device 17. A plurality of customers 7 are connected to the center 1 via the telephone line 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the gas microcomputer meter 15 and the measuring terminal device 17 in FIG.

The gas microcomputer meter 15 includes a CPU 2
5, RAM 27, lithium battery 29, communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 31, mechanical gas meter 3
3. It has a shut-off valve 35.

The CPU 25 processes the measured values measured by the mechanical gas meter 33 and
For example, processing such as transmission to the center 1 via the server 1 is performed. The lithium battery 29 supplies power to each part except the mechanical gas meter 33. The communication interface unit 31 interfaces with the network control device 9 and the measurement terminal device 17. The mechanical gas meter 33 includes a pipe 26a and a pipe 26b.
The integrated flow rate of the gas passing through is measured mechanically. The shutoff valve 35 closes the valve at the time of abnormality or the like to stop gas supply.

The measuring terminal device 17 comprises a CPU 37, an RA
M39, a lithium battery 41, a communication interface (communication I / F) 43, and an analog input interface (analog input I / F) 45.

The CPU section 37 includes a communication interface section 4
Based on the integrated flow rate of the gas sent from the gas microcomputer meter 15 through 3, the instantaneous flow rate of the gas is calculated at regular intervals and stored in the RAM 39. Also, based on the pressure value sent from the pressure sensor 19 via the analog input interface unit 45, the instantaneous gas flow rate at the time when the pressure value is the smallest is stored in the RAM 39. Then, processing such as sending data stored in the RAM 39 to the center 1 in response to a command from the center 1 is performed. The lithium battery 41 supplies power to each unit.

Here, the measuring terminal device 17 will be described in more detail. The measurement terminal device 17 has functions such as (1) communication function with center, (2) communication function with microcomputer meter, (3) pressure measurement function, (4) periodic measurement function, and (5) minimum pressure value storage function. Have.

The center communication function is a function for responding to a time setting, a request for transmitting measured data, and the like by polling from the center 1. For example, the clock of the measurement terminal device 17 is compensated from the center 1, and a period (month and day), a time zone, and a measurement interval for performing the measurement from the center 1 are set. In addition, all data (measurement time, pressure, flow rate) measured by the measurement terminal device 17 is returned to the center 1, and among the measured data (measurement time, pressure, flow rate), the due date, time, or minimum pressure is designated. Then, only the data is returned to the center, or various parameters such as a customer ID set in the measuring terminal device 17 are returned to the center 1.

Next, the microcomputer meter communication function will be described. The measuring terminal device 17 is a gas microcomputer meter 1
The meter reading value (integrated flow rate) of No. 5 is read, and the gas use state detected by the gas microcomputer meter 15 is read. Further, when the pressure sensor 19 breaks down, a command to shut off the shutoff valve 35 is issued.

The pressure measuring function is such that the measuring terminal device 17 reads the output signal of the pressure sensor 19 and stores it in the RAM 39.

The periodic measurement function is performed by the gas microcomputer meter 1 according to the date, time zone, and measurement interval set from the center 1.
5 is used to calculate the instantaneous flow rate, and the pressure sensor 19
Is stored in the RAM 39. A specific method of calculating the instantaneous flow rate will be described later.

The minimum pressure value storage function calculates the pressure flow rate at intervals smaller than the measurement interval of the periodic measurement in the date and time set in the periodic measurement, and stores the lowest pressure and the flow rate data at that time in the RAM 39. Is what you do.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the network control device 9. This network control device 9 includes a lightning surge protection circuit 5
1, terminal line control circuit 53, no ringing call detection circuit 55, line switch 57, timer circuit 59, half loop switch 61, loop switch 63, FSK modem 6
5, DTMF dialer 67, DTMF receiver 69, transmission control circuit 71, terminal interface unit (terminal I / F
Parts) 73 and 75, and a stabilized power supply circuit 77.

The lightning surge protection circuit 51 includes a telephone line L1,
When an abnormal high voltage (lightning surge) due to lightning occurs in L2, the telephone lines L1 and L2 are short-circuited to prevent the lightning surge from entering the device. The terminal line control circuit 53 has terminals T1, T
2 detects the use state of the telephone 13 connected to
When the measurement terminal device 17 and the gas microcomputer meter 15 communicate with the center 1, T1 and T2 are cut off. The no-ringing call detecting circuit 55, when a no-ringing communication signal is issued from the center 1, transmits the signal to the telephone line L1,
Detected by L2. The line switch 57 switches the line when the no ringing call is detected by the no ringing call detection circuit 55 and when making a call from the measuring terminal device 17, and connects the telephone lines L1 and L2 to the half loop switch 61 and the like. When a no-ringing call is made, the timer circuit 59 manages the time required for making the connection. Half loop switch 61
Terminates the circuit at a higher impedance than normal telephony during a no-ringing call. Loop switch 6
When the communication is performed from the measuring terminal device 17, the circuit 3 terminates the circuit with the same impedance as that of ordinary telephone communication. F
The SK modem 65 performs modulation and demodulation in communication between the measurement terminal device 17, the gas microcomputer meter 15, and the center 1. The DTMF dialer 67 transmits a dial tone signal for dialing to the center 1 when making a call from the measuring terminal device 17. DTMF receiver 69
Receives and decodes the dial tone signal transmitted from the center 1 when accepting a no ringing call.
The transmission control circuit 71 performs transmission control such as connecting one of the measurement terminal device 17 and the gas microcomputer meter 15 to the center 1.

In FIG. 3, a line switch 59 and a transmission control circuit 71 function as the switch 11 shown in FIG. In other words, the telephone line L
1 and L2 are connected to the telephone 13 via the terminal line control circuit 53.
The state where the switch 11 is connected corresponds to the state where the switch 11 is connected to the telephone 12. Further, in a state where the telephone lines L1 and L2 and the half-loop switch 61 are connected by the line switch 57, the transmission control circuit 71 selects one of the measuring terminal device 17 and the gas microcomputer meter 15 for connection. Do.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Normally, the switch 11 of the network controller 9 is connected to the telephone 13, and the telephone 13 is connected to the telephone line 3.

In the automatic meter reading, when a signal indicating that the automatic meter reading is performed is sent from the center 1 to the network controller 9, the switch 11 of the network controller 9 is connected to the gas microcomputer meter 15 (no ringing call). And the RAM 27
Is sent to the center 1 to perform automatic meter reading.

Next, the main operation of the present embodiment for automatically measuring the flow rate and the pressure at a predetermined time will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. First, in this embodiment,
A method for calculating the instantaneous flow rate and the pressure will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the change over time in the gas pressure and the integrated flow rate of the gas. In this embodiment, the integrated flow rate output from the gas microcomputer meter 15 and the gas pressure output from the pressure sensor 19 are read at the measurement interval t.

FIG. 5 shows the integrated flow rate from time T ₁ to time T ₂ in FIG. For example, to measure the instantaneous flow rate Q ₁ at time t ₁ is the time t ₁ -d and time t ₁
+ Accumulated in d flow A _a, a A _b read from the gas microcomputer meter _{15, Q 1 = (A b} -A a) / 2d / 60 (m 3 / h) [d: min] Instantaneous flow at time t ₁ by Q Calculate ₁ . Similarly, at times t ₂ , t _3, ..., Instantaneous flow rates Q ₂ , Q ₃
…… is calculated. Then, the instantaneous flow rate Q (T
₁ ), Q (T ₂ )... Are finally stored.

On the other hand, for the gas pressure measured at the measurement interval t, the minimum pressure is detected, and only the minimum pressure and the instantaneous flow rate when the minimum pressure is recorded are finally stored.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts showing processing for automatically measuring the flow rate and pressure.

When the center 1 sends a signal to the effect that the center 1 is connected to the measuring terminal device 17 by a no-ringing call, the network control device 9
Is connected to the measuring terminal device 17. The date, time zone, and measurement interval T to be measured are sent from the center 1 and stored in the RAM 39 of the measurement terminal device 17 (step 401). Next, parameters n and N are cleared (steps 402 and 403). When the process ends (step 404), the process ends (step 405). If the processing is not completed, n is increased by 1 (step 40).
6). The measurement terminal device 17 measures the measurement time t _n -d, t _n + d
The output value of the gas microcomputer meter 15 calculates the instantaneous flow rate of the read time t _n in (step 407). That is, as described above, the measurement terminal device 17 outputs the time t _n −
d and the integrated flow rate A (t _n -d), A at time t _n + d
(T _n + d) is read from the gas microcomputer meter 15, and the instantaneous flow rate Q at the time t _n is obtained by Q = (A (t _n + d) −A (t _n −d)) / 2d / 60 (m ³ / h) Measure.

The measuring terminal device 17 reads the output value of the time t _n pressure sensor 19 (step 408). If the output value of the pressure sensor 19 is the lowest pressure (step 409), the gas pressure and the instantaneous flow at this time are stored in the RAM 3
9 (step 410). And the measurement time T
_{When N} is reached (step 411), the instantaneous flow rate and time at this time are stored in the RAM 39 (step 412). That is, the instantaneous flow rate data measured at times other than the measurement time T _N is deleted. Then, N is increased by 1 (step 40).
Return to 4).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart when data is returned from the measuring terminal device 17 to the center 1.

The center 1 issues a data return request to each measurement terminal device 17. That is, the supply amount per hour on the day on which the maximum supply amount is recorded becomes the maximum, data of the time zone is designated, and a reply request is made from the center 1 to each measurement terminal device 17 (step 801). Network control device 9
Is connected to the measuring terminal device 17 when this reply request is made, and among the data stored in the RAM 39 of the measuring terminal device 17, the flow rate and pressure data in the time zone in which the reply request is made are stored in the center 1. (Step 8
02). As described above, the flow rate data and the pressure data at the same time are sent to the center 1 from many measurement terminal devices 17, and the data is analyzed (step 803).

As described above, in this embodiment, the pressure at the peak of the supply amount can be measured accurately and automatically without manual intervention.

In this embodiment, the measurement of the flow rate and the pressure of the gas has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to water supply and electricity.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pressure at the peak of the supply amount can be accurately and automatically measured without manual operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system including an automatic measurement device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a gas microcomputer meter 15 and a measurement terminal device 17;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network control device 9;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes over time in the integrated flow rate and gas pressure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in the relationship between the integrated flow rate and time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Center 3 ... Telephone line 9 ... Network control device 13 ... Telephone 15 ... Gas microcomputer meter 17 ... Measurement terminal device 19 ... Pressure sensor 21 ... Gas appliance 23 ............ main

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI H04Q 9/00 311 G06F 15/74 320G (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08C 19/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A meter for measuring an integrated value of a measuring object, a measuring terminal device for calculating and storing a measured value per time from the integrated value of the measuring object measured by the meter, and connected to a telephone line, A network control device for sending the measured values stored in the measuring terminal device to a center via the telephone line. 2. The network control device switches a mode, a first mode connects the telephone line to a home telephone, a second mode connects the telephone line and a meter,
The measured value measured by the meter is sent to a center connected to the telephone line. In a third mode, the telephone line and the measuring terminal device are connected, and the measured value stored in the measuring terminal device is The automatic measuring device according to claim 1, which is sent to a center connected to a telephone line. 3. The automatic measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement terminal device stores the measurement value at a predetermined time interval in a predetermined time zone on a predetermined month and day. 4. An automatic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure measuring means for measuring the pressure of the object to be measured, wherein the measuring terminal device stores a measured value when the pressure is measured to be the lowest by the pressure measuring means. measuring device. 5. The automatic measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring object is a gas, the meter is a meter for measuring a gas flow integrated value, and the measuring terminal device stores an instantaneous gas flow rate. 6. The automatic measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring object is water, the meter is a meter for measuring an integrated value of flow of water, and the measuring terminal device stores the flow of water.