JP3603380B2

JP3603380B2 - Weighing meter

Info

Publication number: JP3603380B2
Application number: JP10550795A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 行夫長岡; 謙三黄地; 基之名和
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp; Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1995-04-28
Filing date: 1995-04-28
Publication date: 2004-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-22
Also published as: JPH08304141A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明は、ガスや水道の流量を計測するメータに関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来のこの種の流量計測装置として特開昭６０−１３５８２２号公報が知られている。すなわち図８に示すように、流体管路１の流量を羽根車２の回転数によって検出する流体検出手段３と、流体検出手段３の信号から流量計測手段４によって流量を算出するするもので、この流量計測手段４によって流体の使用量を計測し、通信手段５によってコンピュータなどの外部機器６へ伝送し、そのデータに基づき料金を計算することが行われていた。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上記従来の計量メータでは通信手段５の作動中にも流体検出手段３での計測が行われており、その通信時に発生するノイズで計測値や通信のデータに誤差が生じることがあった。
【０００４】
本発明は上記課題を解決するもので、正確な流体の計量をすることを目的としている。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために本発明の流量計測装置は、以下の構成とした。
【０００６】
すなわち、流体管路の流量を検出する流体検出手段の信号に基づいて流量値を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段の測定の開始または停止を制御する計測発停手段と、流量計測手段の値に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、流量計測手段の計測停止時に通信手段を作動させる通信制御手段とを備えたものである。
【０００７】
また、計測発停手段の計測停止時に通信制御手段に信号を送出する計測報知手段を備えたものである。
【０００８】
また、通信制御手段の通信終了時に計測発停手段に信号を送出する通信報知手段を備えたものである。
【０００９】
また、流体管路の流量を検出する流体検出手段の信号に基づいて流量値を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段の値に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、通信手段の作動時に前記流量計測手段の計測を停止する計測発停手段とを備えたものである。
【００１０】
また、通信手段は、無線送信手段を備えたものである。
また、通信手段の作動によって停止した流量計測手段の値を破棄し、前回の値を代入して流量値を算出するものである。
【００１１】
また、流体管路に設けられた振動子と、振動子から発信された超音波信号を受信する振動子と、振動子間の信号伝搬時間に基づいて流量を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、通信手段の作動時に前記トリガ手段を停止する計測制御手段とを備えたものである。
【００１２】
また、送信手段は通信用振動子により超音波で流体管路内を伝送するものである。
【００１３】
【作用】
本発明は上記構成によって、流体計測手段による流量計測が行われていないときに通信手段によって外部機器との通信を行い、また逆に通信手段によって通信が行われているときには流量計測を中断するものである。
【００１４】
【実施例】
以下、本発明の第１の実施例を図面にもとづいて説明する。図１において、流体管路７の上流側にに超音波振動子８、下流側に超音波振動子９が設けられ、この超音波の信号は流体検出手段１０に送られ、超音波間の超音波の伝搬時間を算出し流量計測手段１１によって管の大きさや流量係数の補正を行い流量を算出する。１２は超音波を発信して計測を開始するまたは停止する計測発停手段で、計測が行われていないときには通信制御手段１３に通信開始の信号を送出し、通信手段１４でデータ収録装置などの外部機器１５にデータを送る。
【００１５】
次に動作について説明する。計測発停手段１２により計測が開始されると、流体検出手段１０から信号が送られ、超音波振動子８から９に超音波が発信され、その超音波を超音波振動子９で受信し、その後今度は逆に超音波振動子９から８に送信される。このときのそれぞれの超音波の伝搬時間を算出し、その時間差に応じて流量計測手段１１で流量を求める。この流量に基づく流量積算値はある時間間隔を置いて通信手段１４で外部機器１５へ送信されるが、この時間間隔は計測発停手段１２において適宜決められている。計測発停手段１２はこの通信の時間を見計らい、流体検出手段１０の計測動作を停止し、通信制御手段１３へ信号を送出し、通信手段１４は電話線を介して外部機器１５へデータを転送する。
【００１６】
図２は第２の実施例であり、流体検出手段１０により流量計測が完了したことを計測報知手段１６に報知し、この信号と計測発停手段１２からの通信開始の信号との両方の信号が共に発せられたとき通信制御手段１３により、通信を開始するもので、流体検出手段１０の作動が膜式メータやタービンメータの様に流体の力で計測が行われ、電気的なコントロールができないときに適する。
【００１７】
図３は第３の実施例であり、計測発停手段１２で計測と停止し、通信制御手段１３を介して通信手段１４から外部機器１５への計量データの送信完了したときに、通信報知手段１７で計測を再開する信号を与えるものである。
【００１８】
図４は第４の実施例であり、外部機器１５から通信手段１４へ計量データの通信要求を行う場合で、この通信要求信号は通信手段１４から計測発停手段１２に送られる。計測発停手段１２は直ちに流量計測を中断するとともに、通信制御手段１３を介して計量データを通信手段１４より外部機器１５へ送信する。このとき計測を中断された流量値は不正確なものであり破棄され、その代わりに前回に計測された流量値もしくは次回に計測される計測値が代入される。
【００１９】
図５は第５の実施例であり、通信手段１４の信号が無線送信手段１８によって外部機器１５と送受信を行うもので、この場合にはノイズが空中を伝わるので、流体検出手段１０にも誤差が生じやすく、計測を停止する効果が大きい。
【００２０】
図６は第６の実施例であり、流量の計測として超音波を用いたものを更に詳細に示したものである。トリガ手段１９から発信回路２０よりバースト信号を送出され切換手段２１を介して、振動子８で発信された超音波信号は、流れの中を伝搬し振動子９で受信され増幅回路２２と比較回路２３で信号処理され、発信から受信までの時間を計時手段２４で測定する。計時が終わると切換手段２１を切り換えて振動子９から振動子８へ向けて超音波を発信するように結線し、再びトリガ手段１９で発信を開始し、前述と同様にして伝搬時間を計時手段２４で計測し、このふたつの伝搬時間から流量計測手段１１で流量を算出する。流量計測手段１１で演算が行われると、次の計測を行うためにトリガ手段１９を再びトリガするが、このとき計量データの通信が要求されておれば、通信制御手段１３を介して通信手段で送信を行い、送信終了時には通信報知手段１７でトリガ手段１９を再びトリガして計測を再開する。
【００２１】
図７は第７の実施例であり、振動子８と９とは別の通信用振動子２５と２６を流体管路７に設けたもので、流体管路７内を超音波によって通信させるものである。このとき流量計測のために用いられる超音波と混同される可能性が大きいので、超音波による計測を中断させる必要性は極めて高い。計量データの通信が要求されるときはトリガ手段１９による振動子８および９の発信を中断し、その後通信用振動子２５から計量データを送信し通信用振動子２６で受信し、電話回線を通じて外部に伝送される。
【００２２】
【発明の効果】
以上の説明から明らかなように本発明の流量計測装置によれば次の効果が得られる。
【００２３】
（１）流体管路の流量を検出する流体検出手段の信号に基づいて流量値を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段の測定の開始または停止を制御する計測発停手段と、流量計測手段の値に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、流量計測手段の計測停止時に通信手段を作動させる通信制御手段とを備えたので、通信信号によって発生するノイズによって流量計測値に誤差が発生することがなく、正確な計量値が得られる。
【００２４】
（２）計測発停手段の計測停止時に通信制御手段に信号を送出する計測報知手段を備えので、測定完了と共に直ちに通信を始めることができ待ち時間を少なくできる。
【００２５】
（３）通信制御手段の通信終了時に計測発停手段に信号を送出する通信報知手段を備えたので、通信終了後直ちに流量計測を行うことができ、流量計測の時間を速めることができる。
【００２６】
（４）流体管路の流量を検出する流体検出手段の信号に基づいて流量値を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段の値に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、通信手段の作動時に前記流量計測手段の計測を停止する計測発停手段とを備えたので、通信開始と同時に流量計測を停止させることができ、流量計測によって発生するノイズによって通信データに誤りが生じることがなく、正確なデータ送信ができる。
【００２７】
（５）通信手段の作動によって停止した流量計測手段の値を破棄し、前回の値を代入して流量値を算出するので、誤った流量値を計測することがない。
【００２８】
（６）流体管路に設けられた第１振動子と、第１振動子から発信された超音波信号を受信する第２振動子と、振動子間の信号伝搬時間に基づいて流量を算出する流量計測手段と、流量計測手段に基づいた信号を外部に送出する通信手段と、通信手段の作動時に前記トリガ手段を停止する計測制御手段とを備えので、流量計測時に発生する超音波信号によって通信データに誤りを発生させることがなく、また通信によって発生するノイズによって流量値に誤差を生じることがない。
【００２９】
（７）送信手段は通信用振動子により流体管路内を伝送する際にも、流量計測と通信のそれぞれの超音波が混信することがなく、正確な計測とデータの通信を行うことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施例の計量メータの構成および制御ブロック図
【図２】本発明の第２の実施例の計量メータの制御ブロック図
【図３】本発明の第３の実施例の計量メータの制御ブロック図
【図４】本発明の第４の実施例の計量メータの制御ブロック図
【図５】本発明の第５の実施例の計量メータの制御ブロック図
【図６】本発明の第６の実施例の計量メータの構成および制御ブロック図
【図７】本発明の第７の実施例の計量メータの構成および制御ブロック図
【図８】従来の計量メータの制御ブロック図
【符号の説明】
７流体管路
８振動子
９振動子
１０流体検出手段
１１流量計測手段
１３通信制御手段
１４通信手段
１５外部機器
１６計測報知手段
１７通信報知手段
１８無線送信手段
１９トリガ手段
２５通信用振動子
２６通信用振動子[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a meter for measuring a flow rate of gas or water.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-135822 is known as this type of conventional flow rate measuring device. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a flow rate is calculated by a flow rate measuring means 4 from a signal of the fluid detecting means 3 and a signal of the fluid detecting means 3 for detecting a flow rate of the fluid pipeline 1 by a rotation speed of the impeller 2, The used amount of the fluid is measured by the flow rate measuring means 4 and transmitted to the external device 6 such as a computer by the communication means 5 to calculate the fee based on the data.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional weighing meter, the measurement by the fluid detecting means 3 is performed even during the operation of the communication means 5, and errors may occur in the measured values and communication data due to noise generated during the communication. .
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to accurately measure a fluid.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a flow measuring device of the present invention has the following configuration.
[0006]
That is, a flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate value based on a signal of a fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate of a fluid pipe, a measuring start / stop means for controlling start or stop of measurement of the flow rate measuring means, and a flow rate measuring means. The communication device includes a communication unit that sends a signal based on the value to the outside, and a communication control unit that operates the communication unit when measurement of the flow rate measurement unit is stopped.
[0007]
Further, it is provided with measurement notifying means for sending a signal to the communication control means when the measurement is stopped by the measurement start / stop means.
[0008]
The communication control means further includes a communication notification means for sending a signal to the measurement start / stop means at the end of the communication.
[0009]
Further, a flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate value based on a signal of the fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate of the fluid pipeline, a communication means for sending out a signal based on the value of the flow rate measuring means to the outside, and an operation of the communication means And a measurement start / stop means for stopping the measurement of the flow rate measurement means at times.
[0010]
The communication means includes a wireless transmission means.
Further, the value of the flow rate measuring means stopped by the operation of the communication means is discarded, and the previous value is substituted to calculate the flow rate value.
[0011]
A vibrator provided in the fluid conduit; a vibrator for receiving an ultrasonic signal transmitted from the vibrator; a flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate based on a signal propagation time between the vibrators; Communication means for transmitting a signal based on the means to the outside, and measurement control means for stopping the trigger means when the communication means is activated.
[0012]
The transmission means transmits the inside of the fluid conduit by ultrasonic waves using the communication vibrator.
[0013]
[Action]
According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, communication with an external device is performed by the communication unit when the flow rate measurement by the fluid measurement unit is not performed, and the flow rate measurement is interrupted when communication is performed by the communication unit. It is.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic vibrator 8 is provided on the upstream side of the fluid conduit 7 and an ultrasonic vibrator 9 is provided on the downstream side. A signal of this ultrasonic wave is sent to the fluid detecting means 10 and the ultrasonic wave between the ultrasonic waves is transmitted. The propagation time of the sound wave is calculated, and the flow rate is calculated by correcting the size of the pipe and the flow coefficient by the flow rate measuring means 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a measurement start / stop unit that starts or stops measurement by transmitting an ultrasonic wave. When measurement is not being performed, a communication start signal is transmitted to the communication control unit 13, and a communication unit 14 controls a data recording device or the like. The data is sent to the external device 15.
[0015]
Next, the operation will be described. When measurement is started by the measurement start / stop unit 12, a signal is sent from the fluid detection unit 10, ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the ultrasonic vibrators 8 to 9, and the ultrasonic waves are received by the ultrasonic vibrator 9, Thereafter, the signals are transmitted to the ultrasonic vibrators 9 to 8 in reverse. The propagation time of each ultrasonic wave at this time is calculated, and the flow rate is obtained by the flow rate measuring means 11 according to the time difference. The flow rate integrated value based on the flow rate is transmitted to the external device 15 by the communication means 14 at certain time intervals, and the time interval is appropriately determined by the measurement start / stop means 12. The measurement start / stop unit 12 measures the communication time, stops the measurement operation of the fluid detection unit 10, sends a signal to the communication control unit 13, and the communication unit 14 transfers data to the external device 15 via the telephone line. I do.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the completion of the flow rate measurement by the fluid detecting means 10 is notified to the measurement notifying means 16, and both the signal and the communication start signal from the measurement start / stop means 12 are transmitted. When both are issued, communication is started by the communication control means 13, and the operation of the fluid detection means 10 is measured by the force of the fluid like a membrane meter or a turbine meter, and electrical control cannot be performed. Sometimes suitable.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment. When the measurement is stopped by the measurement start / stop unit 12 and the transmission of the weighing data from the communication unit 14 to the external device 15 via the communication control unit 13 is completed, the communication notification unit At 17, a signal for restarting the measurement is given.
[0018]
FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment in which a request for communication of measurement data is made from the external device 15 to the communication means 14, and this communication request signal is sent from the communication means 14 to the measurement start / stop means 12. The measurement start / stop unit 12 immediately interrupts the flow measurement, and transmits the weighing data from the communication unit 14 to the external device 15 via the communication control unit 13. At this time, the flow value whose measurement has been interrupted is inaccurate and is discarded. Instead, the previously measured flow value or the next measured value is substituted.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment in which the signal of the communication means 14 transmits and receives to and from the external device 15 by the wireless transmission means 18. In this case, since the noise propagates in the air, the fluid detection means 10 also has an error. Is likely to occur, and the effect of stopping the measurement is great.
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment, in which an ultrasonic wave is used for measuring the flow rate in more detail. An ultrasonic signal transmitted from the vibrator 8 through the switching means 21 and transmitted from the trigger means 19 through the transmission circuit 20 through the switching means 21 and received by the vibrator 9 is received by the vibrator 9 and the amplification circuit 22 and the comparison circuit Signal processing is performed at 23, and the time from transmission to reception is measured by the timer 24. When the time measurement is completed, the switching means 21 is switched to connect the ultrasonic wave from the vibrator 9 to the vibrator 8 so that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted, and the transmission is started again by the trigger means 19, and the propagation time is measured in the same manner as described above. 24, and the flow rate is calculated by the flow rate measuring means 11 from the two propagation times. When the calculation is performed by the flow rate measuring means 11, the trigger means 19 is again triggered to perform the next measurement. At this time, if the communication of the weighing data is requested, the communication means via the communication control means 13 causes the trigger means 19 to be triggered. Transmission is performed, and at the end of transmission, the communication notifying unit 17 triggers the trigger unit 19 again to restart the measurement.
[0021]
FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment in which communication vibrators 25 and 26, which are different from the vibrators 8 and 9, are provided in the fluid conduit 7, and the inside of the fluid conduit 7 is communicated by ultrasonic waves. It is. At this time, the possibility of being confused with the ultrasonic wave used for the flow rate measurement is large, and thus the necessity of interrupting the measurement by the ultrasonic wave is extremely high. When the communication of the weighing data is requested, the transmission of the vibrators 8 and 9 by the trigger means 19 is interrupted, then the weighing data is transmitted from the communication vibrator 25 and received by the communication vibrator 26, and the external data is transmitted through the telephone line. Transmitted to
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained according to the flow rate measuring device of the present invention.
[0023]
(1) Flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate value based on a signal of a fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate of a fluid pipeline, measuring start / stop means for controlling start or stop of measurement by the flow rate measuring means, and flow rate measuring means Communication means for sending out a signal based on the value of the signal to the outside, and communication control means for activating the communication means when the measurement of the flow measurement means is stopped, an error occurs in the flow measurement value due to noise generated by the communication signal. Accurate measurement values can be obtained.
[0024]
(2) Since the measurement notifying means for transmitting a signal to the communication control means when the measurement is stopped by the measurement start / stop means is provided, communication can be started immediately upon completion of the measurement, and the waiting time can be reduced.
[0025]
(3) Since the communication control means is provided with the communication notifying means for sending a signal to the measurement start / stop means at the end of the communication, the flow rate can be measured immediately after the end of the communication, and the time of the flow rate measurement can be shortened.
[0026]
(4) Flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate value based on a signal of a fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate of a fluid pipeline, communication means for sending a signal based on the value of the flow rate measuring means to the outside, and communication means. With the measurement start / stop means for stopping the measurement of the flow rate measurement means at the time of operation, the flow rate measurement can be stopped at the same time as the start of communication, and no error occurs in the communication data due to noise generated by the flow rate measurement. , Accurate data transmission.
[0027]
(5) Since the value of the flow rate measuring means stopped by the operation of the communication means is discarded and the previous value is substituted to calculate the flow rate value, an erroneous flow rate value is not measured.
[0028]
(6) A flow rate is calculated based on a first vibrator provided in the fluid conduit, a second vibrator for receiving an ultrasonic signal transmitted from the first vibrator, and a signal propagation time between the vibrators. A flow rate measuring means, a communication means for sending a signal based on the flow rate measuring means to the outside, and a measurement control means for stopping the trigger means when the communication means is operated, so that communication is performed by an ultrasonic signal generated at the time of flow rate measurement. No error occurs in the data, and no error occurs in the flow rate value due to noise generated by communication.
[0029]
(7) Even when the transmitting means transmits the inside of the fluid pipeline by the communication vibrator, the ultrasonic waves for the flow rate measurement and the communication do not interfere with each other, and accurate measurement and data communication can be performed. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration and control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration and control block diagram of a weighing meter according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Figure [Explanation of symbols]
7 Fluid line 8 Vibrator 9 Vibrator 10 Fluid detecting means 11 Flow rate measuring means 13 Communication control means 14 Communication means 15 External equipment 16 Measurement notifying means 17 Communication notifying means 18 Wireless transmitting means 19 Trigger means 25 Communication vibrator 26 Communication Vibrator

Claims

A flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow value based on a signal of a fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate of a fluid pipe, a measuring start / stop means for controlling start or stop of measurement of the flow rate measuring means, and A weighing meter comprising: communication means for transmitting a signal based on a value to the outside; and communication control means for activating the communication means when the measurement of the flow measurement means is stopped.

2. The weighing meter according to claim 1, further comprising: a measurement notification unit that sends a signal to the communication control unit when the measurement by the measurement start / stop unit is stopped.

2. The weighing meter according to claim 1, further comprising communication notification means for sending a signal to the measurement start / stop means when communication of the communication control means ends.

Flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate value based on a signal from a fluid detecting means for detecting a flow rate in a fluid conduit, communication means for sending out a signal based on the value of the flow rate measuring means to the outside, and operation of the communication means A metering and / or measuring means for stopping the measurement of the flow rate measuring means at times.

The weighing meter according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit includes a wireless transmission unit.

5. The weighing meter according to claim 4, wherein the value of the flow rate measuring means stopped by the operation of the communication means is discarded, and the previous value is substituted to calculate the flow rate value.

A vibrator provided in the fluid conduit, a vibrator for receiving an ultrasonic signal transmitted from the vibrator, a trigger for transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the vibrator, and a signal propagation time between the vibrators. A weighing meter comprising: a flow rate measuring means for calculating a flow rate based on the flow rate; a communication means for transmitting a signal based on the flow rate measuring means to the outside; and a measurement control means for stopping the trigger means when the communication means operates.

7. The weighing meter according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting means transmits the inside of the fluid pipeline by ultrasonic waves using a communication vibrator.