JP3487529B2 - Automatic notification 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 notification device, and more particularly to an automatic notification device used in an automatic meter reading system for automatically reporting meter reading data of a gas meter to a center device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an automatic reporting device for reporting gas meter reading data or the like to an information center via a telephone line. More specifically, an information center is installed on the LPG dealer side, an automatic notification device as a terminal device is installed on the LPG user side, and a subscriber telephone of the LPG user is installed between the center device and the automatic notification device. It is known that a common telephone line is used to periodically notify the center device of the gas meter reading value from an automatic notification device or to notify that the remaining amount of the LPG container is low.

The conventional automatic notification system is roughly classified into
It is provided with a terminal system provided on the LPG user side and an information center provided on the LPG dealer side and collecting and processing meter reading data from the terminal system via a telephone line. The terminal system is connected to a gas meter that detects the amount of LPG used, calculates the remaining amount of the LPG container and outputs meter reading data, and the gas meter and the subscriber telephone, and the meter reading data output from the gas meter is used by the subscriber telephone. And an automatic notification device for making a notification to the information center via a telephone line shared with.

The general operation of the conventional automatic notification system will be described. The gas meter of the terminal system detects the amount of LPG used, outputs the data transmission request to the automatic notification device in order to calculate the remaining amount of the LPG container and output the meter reading data.

As a result, the automatic notification device determines whether or not the telephone line can be used, and if the telephone line can be used, the information of the telephone line is provided based on the telephone number of the center device stored in the nonvolatile RAM or the like. After connecting to the center and temporarily storing the meter reading data output from the gas meter or in the RAM in the RAM, the information is notified to the information center via the telephone line.

As a result, the information center collects and processes the meter reading data for each customer corresponding to the customer code data. Although the above explanation has been made in the case of reporting the meter reading data, the reporting is also carried out at the time of abnormality detection such as gas leakage, valve shutoff, abnormal flow rate detection, or the like.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

In the conventional automatic notification device, when the gas meter detects that the gas flows at a constant flow rate and for a predetermined time or longer, from the viewpoint of ensuring safety,
Prior to shutting off the gas shutoff valve, a warning about continuous use time was issued several minutes before shutting off the gas shutoff valve.

More specifically, the continuous use time advance warning is given more specifically by lighting a predetermined light emitting diode, a buzzer sound, or the like. It is not always near the automatic notification device, and at the timing when the user recognizes that the continuous use time advance warning is given, it is not possible to know how much more the gas cutoff valve will be cut off, There is a problem that it is not possible to take measures for avoiding the interruption with sufficient time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic notification device capable of displaying the time until the actual shut-off timing of the gas shut-off valve corresponding to the continuous use time advance warning.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a center device for transmitting and receiving various data and various controls is connected via a public communication line, and based on a preset condition or an instruction from the outside. A shutoff valve for shutting off the gas, measuring the volumetric flow rate of the gas and outputting measurement data, and the shutoff valve when the gas flows at a constant flow rate for a predetermined time or more based on the measurement data. In the automatic notification device, which is connected to a meter that outputs a continuation warning signal prior to the interruption of the above, automatically notifies various data to the center device through the public communication line based on the measurement data of the meter. and interruption time predictive display means the meter when the alarm signal is output to display the remaining time until blocking the shut-off valve, said splicing
Blocking reason display that displays the blocking reason corresponding to the continuous alarm signal
And means .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shutoff time notice display means displays the remaining time until the meter shuts off the shutoff valve when the continuation warning signal is output from the meter. Shut-off reason display means shut-off corresponding to continuous warning signal
Display the reason. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the shutoff time notice display means counts a shutoff remaining time until the shutoff valve is shut off and outputs a shutoff remaining time signal to output a shutoff remaining time count. Means, and a remaining interruption time display means for displaying the remaining interruption time based on the remaining interruption time signal.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the operation of the invention of claim 1, the cutoff remaining time counting means of the cutoff time notice display means counts the cutoff remaining time until the cutoff valve is cut off. Then, the remaining cutoff time signal is output to the remaining cutoff time display means. The remaining interruption time display means displays the remaining interruption time based on the input remaining interruption time signal.

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration block diagram of an automatic notification system used as a gas meter automatic meter reading system.

The automatic notification system 20 is roughly divided into L
The terminal system 21 provided on the PG user side and the LPG
An information center 23, which is provided on the dealer side and collects and processes meter reading data from the terminal system 21 via the telephone line 22, is configured.

The terminal system 21 performs operation monitoring during normal operation such as detection of volumetric flow rate of gas supplied from the gas container 24 and abnormality monitoring such as gas leakage, and outputs meter reading data or abnormality detection notification data. At the same time, a gas meter 25 for shutting off a gas shut-off valve (not shown) at the time of abnormality
And, in the normal state, the output is in the open state (infinite output impedance), and in the abnormal state, the output is in the closed state (output impedance is zero).
6 and a predetermined normal voltage (for example, 6 [V]) during normal operation
Is output, a predetermined abnormality detection voltage (for example, 12 [V]) is output when an abnormality is detected, and a self-destruction detection voltage (for example, 0
[V]) for outputting a voltage gas alarm 27, a notification controller 28 for controlling the entire terminal system 21, a telephone 29 connected to the telephone line 22 via the notification controller 28, and the notification controller 28 safely. And a protector 30 for connecting to a telephone line.

As for the telephone line 22, the general exchange 35, which performs a relay operation when a normal telephone line is used, and the information center 23 for the terminal system 21 by utilizing the NTT's No-Ringing communication service. And a non-ringing repeater (NRT) 36 that performs a relay operation when a no-ringing incoming call is made.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the notification controller 28. The notification controller 28 includes a controller 40 that controls the entire notification controller 28, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 41 that stores a control program for the controller 40, control data, and the like, a RAM 42 that temporarily stores various data, and a customer. EEPROM 43 for renewably storing code data and various customer management data
And a data transmission / reception unit 4 that demodulates / modulates data exchanged between the controller 40 and the center device 23.
4, a switching unit 46 for connecting either the telephone 29 or the data transmission / reception unit 44 to the telephone line 22 based on the switching control signal SW1, a first spare terminal T1 capable of connecting a gas alarm device, and a controller. First interface (IF) for interfacing with 40
Second spare terminal T2 capable of connecting the portion 48 and the gas alarm device, etc.
Interface 40 between the controller 40 and the controller 40, a third spare terminal T3 to which a gas alarm device or the like can be connected, and the controller 40
A third interface (IF) unit 50 that performs an interface operation between the voltage-controlled gas alarm device 51 and the controller 40, and a gas meter 25.
A fifth interface (IF) unit 52 for performing an interface operation between the controller 40 and the controller 40, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 53 for displaying various data under the control of the controller 40, and various manual operations for the controller 40. An operation input section 54 provided with a setting switch (not shown) for inputting data and a buzzer 55 for outputting an alarm sound are provided.

The display section of the liquid crystal display 53 (corresponding to the full lighting state) is shown in FIG. The display unit 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 is configured to include a pattern display unit 53B that displays information of a predetermined pattern and a segment display unit 53C that displays information by a segment pattern.

Next, the operation will be described. 1) Time adjustment operation between the information center and the notification controller First, the internal clock 23 of the information center 23 necessary for centralized management
Time adjustment of the internal clock 40A built in the controller 40 of A and the notification controller will be described.

The reporting controller 28 reports the meter reading value data of the gas meter 25 to the information center 23 at least once a month. More specifically, as shown in the processing flowchart of FIG. 3, the controller 40 determines whether or not the telephone line 22 is in use, and when the telephone line is not in use, the switching unit is switched by the switching control signal SW1. 46 is switched to the data transmitting / receiving unit 44 side. And the controller 44
Connects the line to the information center 23 using a predetermined protocol (step S1).

When the line is connected, the controller 44
The meter reading value data directly output from the gas meter 25 or the meter reading value data stored in the RAM 42 is used as the data transmitting / receiving unit 44, the switching unit 46, the protector 30, and the telephone line 22.
The information center 23 is notified via (step S2).

As a result, the information center 23 collects the reported meter reading value data and, after the completion of the meter reading value data collection, transmits the current time data corresponding to the current time of the internal clock 23A to the notification controller 28. As a result, the controller 40 of the notification controller 28 causes the internal clock 40
A is set to the time corresponding to the transmitted current time data (step S3).

As a result, the internal clock 23 of the information center 23
The time of A and the time of the internal clock 40A of the notification controller 28 can be made equal. As a result, the time displayed on the information center 23 and the liquid crystal display 53 of the notification controller are always the same without the user having the notification controller 28 adjusting the time, and the user and the staff of the information center can call each other. Even when information is exchanged via the network, troubles such as trouble due to time inconsistency will not occur. 2) Operation during continuous use time excess alarm Next, the operation during continuous use time excess alarm will be described with reference to the processing flowchart of FIG.

In this case, when the gas meter 25 continues to supply the gas at a constant flow rate for a predetermined time or more,
For safety reasons, the gas shut-off valve (not shown) is opened for a predetermined time after the continuous use time is exceeded (after 5 minutes in this embodiment).
It is assumed that the continuous-use-time advance warning data for notifying that the power is cut off is output to the notification controller 28 via the fifth interface unit 52.

First, the controller 40 of the notification controller 28 includes the gas meter 25 to the fifth interface unit 5
It is determined whether or not the data input via 2 is continuous use time alarm data (step S10). When the input data is data other than the continuous use time alarm data (step S10; No), the process shifts to another corresponding process and is performed (step S18).

When the input data is continuous use time alarm data (step S10; Yes), as shown in FIG. 6, "warning" and "warning" on the pattern display portion 53B of the display portion 53A of the liquid crystal display 53. Overtime "
The two patterns are turned on (step S1)
1).

Next, the internal timer 40 in the controller 40
A countdown of 5 minutes is started using B (step S12). The controller 40 uses the count value of the internal timer 40B on the segment display section 53C of the display section 53A in parallel with the countdown of the internal timer 40B,
As shown in FIG. 6, the remaining time until the shutoff by the gas shutoff valve (remaining time of 4 minutes and 38 seconds in FIG. 6) is displayed (step S13). If necessary, it is possible not to display the seconds, or to display the fixed display of "00 seconds" in units of minutes.

Next, the controller 40 uses the internal timer 4
It is determined whether or not the unit of seconds of the count value of 0B is "00" (step S14). When the unit of the second of the count value of the internal timer 40B is “00” (step S14; Yes), the controller 40 has 4 minutes, 3 minutes, and 2 minutes remaining until the shutoff by the gas shutoff valve. If it is 1 minute, the buzzer 55 is sounded to call the user's attention (step S19).

When the unit of the second of the count value of the internal timer 40B is not "00" (step S14; No), the controller 40 determines whether or not the gas shutoff valve is shut off (step S15). When the gas shutoff valve is shut off (step S15; Yes), the controller 40 proceeds to shutoff processing described later (step S2).
2).

If the gas shutoff valve is not shut off,
It is determined whether or not the gas cutoff valve has returned (step S1).
6). When the gas cutoff valve is returned (step S1
6; Yes), the controller 40 uses the internal timer 40B.
The countdown is stopped and the two patterns of "warning" and "time exceeded" on the pattern display portion 53B of the display portion 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 are turned off (step S20).

Further, the controller 40 displays the time on the segment display section 53C of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 (see FIG. 7; step S21), and ends the processing. If it is determined in step S16 that the gas cutoff valve has not been restored (step S1).
6; No), the count value of the internal timer 40B is “0 minutes 0
It is determined whether or not it is "0 second" (step S1).
7).

When the count value of the internal timer 40B is "0 minutes 0"
If it is "0 seconds" (step S17; Ye
s), the controller 40 stops the countdown of the internal timer 40B, and the display unit 53 of the liquid crystal display 53.
Two patterns of "warning" and "time over" on the pattern display portion 53B of A are turned off (step S).
20).

Further, the controller 40 displays the time on the segment display portion 53C of the display portion 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 (step S21), and ends the processing. When the count value of the internal timer 40B is not "0 minute 00 second", the process proceeds to step S, and the same process is repeated thereafter.

As described above, the user can recognize at a glance that it is in the continuous use time excess alarm state, and the user can easily make the remaining time until the gas cutoff valve shuts off. It is possible to take measures for avoiding shutoff with sufficient margin (measures that change the gas flow rate such as suspending the use of gas appliances and changing the heating power of gas), and prevent accidental shutoff of gas. be able to.

In the above description, the remaining time until the gas cutoff valve is shut off is displayed by a 7-segment liquid crystal display. However, as shown in FIG. 8A, a bar graph is displayed in units of 1 minute. 8B to decrease the number of times the bar is lit, or as shown in FIG. 8B, by lighting the arrow for 1 minute in response to the display of "blocking", it notifies that the blocking time is approaching. It is also possible to do so. 3) Operation during shut-off valve return safety confirmation processing Next, the shut-off processing will be described focusing on the shut-off valve return safety confirmation processing.

First, when the gas meter 25 notifies the controller 40 that the gas has been shut off by the gas shutoff valve, as shown in FIG. 9, the "meter" in the pattern display section 53B of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 is displayed.
The pattern is turned on.

Next, the controller 40 determines the reason for stopping the gas, that is, the reason for shutting off, and displays the reason for shutting off corresponding to the reason for shutting off on the segment display section 53C of the display section 53A. More specifically, from the correspondence shown in FIG. 10, the controller displays “A1 12”, which means a cutoff reason (usage time) corresponding to continuous use time excess.

Next, the controller 40 determines whether or not a valve open switch (not shown) of the operation input section 54 is pressed,
It is in a standby state until the valve open switch is pressed. When the valve open switch is pressed, the controller 40 causes the pattern display section 53B of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 to be displayed.
In FIG. 11, the two patterns of “gas stop” and “meter” are turned off, and the two patterns of “gas stop” and “valve open” on the pattern display section 53B of the display section 53A are turned on as shown in FIG. To do.

Next, the internal timer 40 in the controller 40
Start a 1 minute countdown with B. The controller 40 uses the count value of the internal timer 40B on the segment display section 53C of the display section 53A in parallel with the countdown of the internal timer 40B, and as shown in FIG. In 11, the remaining time of 45 seconds is displayed.

Next, the controller 40 uses the internal timer 4
It is determined whether the unit of seconds of the count value of 0B is "00", and the unit of seconds of the count value of the internal timer 40B is "0".
In the case of "0", after the countdown of the internal timer 40B is stopped and the display of "0 minute 00 second" is held in the segment display section 53B of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). , The "valve open" pattern in the pattern display section 53B of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53 is turned off, and the time is displayed (see FIG. 7) on the segment display section 53C of the display section 53A of the liquid crystal display 53, and the processing is performed. To finish.

As a result, the user can wait with peace of mind until the gas cutoff valve is restored without being frustrated that the user will not know when the gas cutoff valve will be restored. It can be immediately and easily recognized that gas can be used in the street.

As described above, during the shutoff valve return safety confirmation process, the convenience of gas utilization for the user is improved by displaying the remaining time until the end of the shutoff valve return safety confirmation process to the user. be able to.

[0054]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shutoff time notice display means displays the remaining time until the meter shuts off the shutoff valve when the continuation warning signal is output from the meter. Can easily know the remaining time until the gas cutoff valve shuts off, and take measures to avoid the cutoff with a margin (measures that change the gas flow rate, such as suspending the use of gas appliances or changing the gas firepower). ) Can be performed, the gas can be prevented from being inadvertently blocked, and convenience is improved.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the operation of the invention of claim 1, the cutoff remaining time counting means of the cutoff time notice display means counts the cutoff remaining time until the cutoff valve is cut off. Then, the remaining cutoff time signal is output to the remaining cutoff time display means, and the remaining cutoff time display means displays the remaining cutoff time based on the input remaining cutoff time signal. Therefore, the remaining cutoff time can be easily configured with a simple configuration. Can be displayed.

[0056]

[0057]

[0058]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an automatic notification device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a notification controller.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a display unit.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of time adjustment.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart when a continuous use time excess alarm is issued.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a display form when a continuous use time excess alarm is issued.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a display form at the time of time display.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another display form when a continuous use time excess alarm is issued.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a display form when a reason for shutting down is displayed after a continuous use time excess alarm.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a correspondence relationship between a blocking reason and a display form.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display form during shutoff valve return processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Automatic reporting system 21 terminal system 22 telephone lines 23 Information Center 23A Internal clock (information center side) 24 gas containers 25 gas meters 26 Non-voltage gas alarm 27 Voltage gas alarm 28 Report controller 29 telephones 30 protector 35 General exchange 36 No Ringing Repeater (NRT) 40 controller 40A internal clock (report controller side) 40B internal timer 41 ROM 42 RAM 43 EEPROM 44 Data transmitter / receiver 46 Switching unit 48 First Interface (IF) Unit 49 Second Interface (IF) Unit 50 Third Interface (IF) Unit 51 Fourth Interface (IF) Unit 52 Fifth Interface (IF) Unit 53 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 53A display 53B pattern display section 53C segment display 54 Operation input section 55 buzzer T1 1st spare terminal T2 Second spare terminal T3 Third spare terminal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-168178 (JP, A) JP-A-5-334584 (JP, A) JP-A-58-72011 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-61- 65595 (JP, U) Actual development 7-20527 (JP, U) Actual development 5-6329 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00-9 / 16 H03J 9/00-9/06 G01F 1/00-1/30 G01F 1/34-1/54 G01F 3/00-9/02 G01F 15/00-15/18 G08B 19/00-21/24 G08B 23/00-31/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shutoff valve for shutting off the gas based on a preset condition or an instruction from the outside, which is connected to a center device for transmitting and receiving various data and various controls through a public communication line. Then, the volumetric flow rate of the gas is measured and the measurement data is output, and when the gas flows at a constant flow rate for a predetermined time or more based on the measurement data, a continuous alarm signal is output prior to the shutoff of the shutoff valve. In an automatic reporting device, to which a meter is connected and which automatically reports various data to the center device via the public communication line based on the measurement data of the meter, when the continuation warning signal is output, the meter is blocking sense of displaying the interruption time predictive display means for displaying the remaining time to shut off the shut-off valve, the shut-off reason corresponding to the continuation alarm signal
An automatic notification device characterized by comprising a means for displaying a reason . 2. The automatic notification device according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff time notice display means counts a cutoff remaining time until the cutoff valve is cut off and outputs a cutoff remaining time signal. And an interruption remaining time display means for displaying the interruption remaining time based on the interruption remaining time signal.