JP4014265B2 - Gas supply control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas supply control device that enables gas to be used based on data stored in a prepaid card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gas supply control device has been considered in which a fuel gas such as propane gas can be supplied by inserting a card in which a usable amount of gas is stored in advance. In such a gas supply control device, a card device for reading and writing data from a predetermined card is communicably connected to a gas meter for gas metering installed in each home for conventional gas meter reading, The usable amount of gas is read from the inserted card, and the usable amount is subtracted based on a pulse signal output from the gas meter based on the amount of gas used. Thereafter, when the usable amount is exhausted, the card device transmits a shut-off command to the gas meter, thereby closing the shut-off valve for shutting off the abnormality provided in the gas meter so that the gas cannot be used. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably collect gas charges in advance.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configuration as described above, if the conventional gas meter is used as it is, it is necessary to control the shut-off valve of the gas meter by a shut-off command from the card device, and if the communication between the card device and the gas meter is shut off, the gas meter In this case, it is not possible to transmit a shutoff command signal, and the use of gas cannot be prohibited. However, if a dedicated device for restricting gas supply is separately manufactured, the manufacturing cost will be significantly increased.
In addition, the gas meter needs to be reset to return to the open state after closing the shut-off valve. If a gas flow is detected within a predetermined time after the reset operation, it is determined that there is a gas leak. Since a return safety function of closing the shut-off valve again is provided, there is a problem that gas cannot be used for a while after the valve is opened.
An object of the gas supply control device of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to realize a system that reliably restricts the supply of gas at a low cost.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The gas supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is provided.
A gas meter equipped with a metering means for constantly metering the amount of gas used provided at the gas supply port of each household and a shutoff means for shutting off the gas supply path when an abnormality is detected;
The gas meter is communicably connected, reads balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas from the inserted card, and subtracts the usable amount of gas based on the used amount of gas measured by the measuring means. A card rewriting device for rewriting balance data,
A gas supply control device that shuts off the gas supply path and prohibits the use of gas when there is no more gas available based on the balance data;
The card rewriting device is removable from the gas meter, and the gas meter
The shut-off means limits the amount of gas used so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data based on a predetermined signal received from the card rewriting device. Limiting means to
Storage means for storing whether the card rewriting device has been connected at least once;
The gist of the invention is that it includes a restriction invalidation means for preventing the restriction by the restriction means when the storage means stores that the card rewriting device has never been connected.
[0005]
The gas supply control device according to claim 2 of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is provided.
A measuring means which is provided at the gas supply port of each household and constantly measures the amount of gas used;
A shut-off means for shutting off the gas supply path when an abnormality is detected;
A return means for opening the gas supply path by performing a predetermined operation in a state in which the gas supply path is blocked by the blocking means;
A return safety means for shutting off the gas supply path again by the shut-off means when a gas flow is detected by the measuring means within a predetermined time after the gas feed path is opened by the return means;
Card rewriting means for reading the balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas from the inserted card and rewriting the balance data so as to subtract the usable amount of gas based on the amount of gas used to be measured by the measuring means;
Limiting means for limiting the amount of gas used by the shut-off means so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data;
If the gas flow is not detected by the metering means while the gas supply path is open, the restricting means does not determine that there is a usable amount of gas. The gist of the invention is that the gas supply path is not shut off until the detection is detected.
[0006]
The gas supply control device according to claim 3 of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is the gas supply control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The gist is to provide a display device for displaying the balance data or a value corresponding to the balance data, and to display an abnormal code corresponding to the content of the abnormality on the display device when an abnormality is detected.
[0007]
The gas supply control device according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above-described configuration is connected to a gas meter provided at a gas supply port of each household so that a card rewriting device that reads and rewrites a card can communicate. The card rewriting device reads the balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas from the inserted card, and rewrites the balance data so as to subtract the usable amount of gas based on the amount of gas used measured by the gas meter. When the usable amount of gas based on the balance data is exhausted, the gas charge can be collected in advance by blocking the gas supply path and prohibiting the use of gas. In addition, the gas meter limits the amount of gas used so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data based on a predetermined signal received from the card rewriting device. The card rewriting device can be removed to prevent unauthorized use of gas. Further, the gas meter stores whether or not the card rewriting device has been connected even once, so that the amount of gas used is not limited when the card rewriting device has never been connected. Therefore, it can be used as a metering gas meter that does not limit the gas usage unless the card rewriting device is connected once, and it can be used as a dedicated gas meter that limits the gas usage once the card rewriting device is connected. be able to. Therefore, the gas meter can be shared between the usage pattern in which the gas fee is collected in advance and the usage pattern other than that.
[0008]
The gas supply control device according to claim 2 of the present invention having the above configuration prevents danger by blocking the gas supply path when an abnormality is detected. Then, the gas supply path is opened by performing a predetermined operation in a state where the gas supply path is shut off, and when the gas flow is detected within a predetermined time after the gas supply path is opened, the gas supply path is shut off again. By doing so, it prevents the outflow of raw gas due to forgetting to close the gas plugs and appliance plugs. Further, the balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas is read from the inserted card, and the balance data is rewritten so as to subtract the usable amount of gas based on the used amount of gas. Then, the amount of gas used is limited so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data. If the gas flow is not detected with the gas supply path open, the gas supply path is not blocked until the gas flow is detected even if the gas cannot be used. For example, in a state where no gas is used, it is possible to reduce the effort required for restoration by preventing the gas supply path from being interrupted even if the card is removed and by preventing the gas supply path from being interrupted as much as possible.
[0009]
Furthermore, the gas supply control device according to claim 3 of the present invention having the above-described configuration is provided with a display for displaying balance data or a value corresponding to the balance data, and when an abnormality is detected, an abnormal code corresponding to the content of the abnormality is displayed on the display. To do. Therefore, the user can be immediately notified of the cause of the gas being cut off.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the gas supply control apparatus of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a gas supply control apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. This gas supply control device realizes a prepaid gas charge system that allows gas to be used based on balance data stored in the IC card 30, and is roughly provided in the middle of the gas supply path 1 of each household. The gas meter 10 and the card device 20 serving as an insertion portion of the IC card 30 are included.
[0011]
The gas meter 10 includes a measuring unit 11 that measures the amount of gas supplied from the gas supply path 1 to each household, a shut-off valve 12 that opens and closes the gas supply path 1, and a meter communication unit 13 that communicates with the card device 20. The reset switch 14 for returning the shut-off valve 12 from the closed state to the open state and a meter control unit 15 for controlling them are provided.
[0012]
The gas meter 10 constantly measures the amount of gas used by the measuring unit 11. A display meter (not shown) rotates in accordance with the amount of use to display a numerical value corresponding to the amount of use, and gas meter reading is possible. In addition, when an abnormality such as detection of an excessive gas flow rate or continuation of the gas flow for a long period of time is detected, the shutoff valve 12 is closed to stop the gas supply to prevent danger such as gas leakage. Performs a shutdown process when an error occurs.
[0013]
When the reset switch 14 is pushed while the shut-off valve 12 is closed, the shut-off valve 12 is opened, and the gas flow is detected by the metering unit for 1 minute after the valve is opened. Therefore, it is determined that the gas stopper or the instrument stopper is forgotten to be closed, and the return safety process is performed such that the shutoff valve 12 is closed again to prevent the raw gas from flowing out.
[0014]
The card device 20 includes a read / write unit 21 for reading and rewriting data stored in the IC card 30, a display unit 22 for displaying the balance frequency, a card communication unit 23 for communicating with the gas meter 10, The card controller 24 controls these. The card communication unit 23 and the meter communication unit 13 are connected by a communication cable 25 so that mutual communication is possible. The communication cable 25 and the gas meter 10 are connected by a connector 26 and can be easily removed.
[0015]
The IC card 30 incorporates an EEPROM (non-volatile memory) for storing a plurality of data such as balance data updated by prepaying the gas charge, and is electrically connected to the read / write unit 21 on the card surface. Terminal 31 is provided.
[0016]
The read / write unit 21 reads and rewrites data while the IC card 30 inserted manually is held at a fixed position. Therefore, there is no need for parts such as a card transport motor and a magnetic head as in the case of a magnetic card reader device, and a compact configuration can be achieved.
[0017]
The display unit 22 is composed of a 2-digit 7-segment LED, and displays the balance data stored in the IC card 30 by converting it into a balance frequency.
[0018]
When the IC card 30 is inserted, the card control unit 24 reads balance data stored by the read / write unit 21. When there is a balance, a use permission signal for permitting use of gas is transmitted to the gas meter 10.
[0019]
The meter control unit 15 includes an EEPROM for storing data, and stores whether or not the card device 20 has been connected even once. When the card device 20 has never been connected, it functions in the same manner as a conventional metering gas meter. After the card device 20 is connected even once, the data is stored and functions as a prepaid dedicated machine.
[0020]
When the gas meter 10 functions as a prepaid machine, the meter unit 11 transmits a unit amount detection signal to the card device every time the metering unit 11 detects the use of a predetermined unit amount of gas. The card controller 24 subtracts a unit amount of the usable amount of gas by subtracting a predetermined value from the balance data every time a unit amount detection signal is received. Further, the gas meter 10 restricts the use of gas so that the gas can be used only in a state where the use permission signal is received from the card device 20. Therefore, the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a balance, and when the balance is lost or the card is removed and the use permission signal is not received, the shutoff valve 12 is immediately closed. Prohibit the use of gas. On the other hand, when the gas flow is not detected, even if the use permission signal is not received, the shutoff valve 12 is not immediately closed and the valve opening state is continued. When the gas flow is detected in this state, The shutoff valve 12 is closed. This control is performed so that the shut-off valve 12 is not closed as much as possible so that the trouble of opening the shut-off valve 12 by the reset switch 14 is reduced and the return safety process is reduced so that the usability is not impaired. In addition, this is to improve the durability of the solenoid valve. Therefore, if the gas is not used, the shutoff valve 12 is not closed even if the card is removed, and the balance can be updated without closing the shutoff valve 12, so that the shutoff valve 12 is closed by normal use. You can almost eliminate that. In addition, the processing conditions and the like for the return safety process are not limited at all, and thus the safety is not impaired.
[0021]
Further, when an abnormality such as detection of an excessive gas flow rate or long-term continuation of the gas flow is detected by the gas meter 10, an error code corresponding to the abnormality content is transmitted to the card device 20. The card control unit 24 displays the received error code on the display unit 22 to notify the user of the abnormal content.
[0022]
Next, control processing performed by the card control unit 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When it is detected that the IC card 30 has been inserted (S1), the balance data is read and the balance frequency is displayed on the display unit 22 (S2). When it is determined that there is a balance (S3: YES), a use permission signal is transmitted to the gas meter 10 (S4). Each time a unit amount detection signal is received from the gas meter 10 (S5: YES), a predetermined value is subtracted from the balance data (S6). The transmission of the use permission signal is continued while it is determined that there is a balance. On the other hand, when an error code is received from the gas meter 10 (S7: YES), the error code is displayed on the display unit 22 (S8) to notify the user of the abnormal content. Thereafter, when the IC card 30 is removed (S9: NO), the control is terminated (S10).
[0023]
Next, control processing performed by the meter control unit 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, it is checked whether or not the card device 20 has been connected even once from the EEPROM stored data of the meter control unit 15, and when it is determined that the card device 20 has never been connected (S11: NO), It functions in the same way as the metering gas meter. If an abnormality is detected (S12: YES), the shutoff valve 12 is closed (S19), the use of gas is prohibited, and the process waits until the reset switch 14 is turned on (S20: NO). Thereafter, when the reset switch 14 is turned on (S20: YES), the shutoff valve 12 is opened (S21), and it is checked whether or not a gas flow is detected within one minute from the opening (S22). When the gas flow is detected (S23: YES), a return safety process is performed such that the shutoff valve 12 is closed again (S19).
[0024]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 11 that the card device 20 has been connected even once (S11: YES), it functions as a prepaid machine. When the gas flow is detected with the shut-off valve 12 opened (S13: YES), it is checked whether or not a use permission signal is received from the card device 20, and if it is received (S14: YES) Every time a unit amount is detected (S15: YES), a unit amount detection signal is transmitted to the card device 20 (S16). If the use permission signal has not been received (S14: NO), the shutoff valve 12 is closed (S19) to prohibit the use of gas. On the other hand, when an abnormality is detected with the shut-off valve 12 opened (S17: YES), an error code is transmitted to the card device 20 (S18) and the shut-off valve 12 is closed (S19). Prohibit use.
[0025]
As described above, according to the gas supply control device of the present embodiment, the gas meter 10 functions in the same manner as a conventional meter-reading gas meter in a state where the card device 20 has never been connected. Once connected, the gas fee can be paid in advance by functioning as a prepaid machine that restricts the use of gas so that the gas can be used only when the use permission signal is received from the card device 20. The gas meter 10 can be made common between the usage pattern to be collected and the usage pattern that is not so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the memory function for storing the connection of the card device 20 is added to the conventional gas meter 10 and the control processing is slightly changed. Therefore, it can be realized at a low additional cost. Further, once the card device 20 is connected, the restriction is always performed based on the balance data, so that it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the gas by removing the card device 20 while the usage mode requires restriction. it can. Furthermore, when the gas is not used, the shutoff valve 12 is not closed even if the use permission signal is not received, so that the shutoff valve 12 can be almost never closed by normal use. It does not impair the safety, and does not impair the safety because it does not restrict the processing conditions for the return safety processing. In addition, when an abnormality is detected, an error code corresponding to the content of the abnormality is displayed on the display unit 22, so that the user can be immediately notified of the content of the abnormality when the gas supply is interrupted when the abnormality is detected.
[0026]
Moreover, since the card apparatus 20 can be installed indoors by providing the card apparatus 20 separately from the gas meter 10, it is convenient. Further, by using an IC card 30 as a storage medium and a manual insertion method, the structure of the card device 20 can be simplified and made compact. Furthermore, by using the IC card 30, the card is more resistant to repeated use than the magnetic card, and when the balance decreases, the same card can be used for a long time by updating the data, thus reducing the card issuance cost. can do.
[0027]
The balance data can be stored in arbitrary units such as a prepaid amount, a usable amount of gas, and a balance frequency.
Further, the shutoff valve 12 may be returned by inserting the IC card 40.
Further, the balance data storage medium is not limited to the IC card 40, and for example, a magnetic card may be used.
[0028]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the gas supply control device of the first aspect of the present invention, the card rewriting device is removed by making the gas usable based on the predetermined signal received from the card rewriting device. Thus, illegal use of gas can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost by using a common gas meter for the usage pattern in which the gas fee is collected in advance and the usage pattern in which the gas fee is not paid. In addition, a memory means for storing the connection of the card rewriting device is added to the conventional gas meter. Since the control processing is only slightly changed, it can be realized at a low additional cost.
[0030]
Further, according to the gas supply control device of the second aspect of the present invention, if the gas is not in use, the gas supply path is not cut off even in a state where the gas cannot be used. Therefore, the user-friendliness is not impaired, and the safety processing at the time of return is not restricted at all, so that the safety is not impaired.
[0031]
Furthermore, according to the gas supply control device of claim 3 of the present invention, when an abnormality is detected, an abnormality code corresponding to the abnormality content is displayed on the display unit, so that when the gas supply is interrupted when the abnormality is detected, The user can be immediately notified of the abnormal content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a gas supply control device as one embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control process performed by a card control unit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control process performed by a meter control unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Gas meter, 11 ... Metering part, 12 ... Shut-off valve, 13 ... Meter communication part,
14 ... reset switch, 15 ... meter control unit, 20 ... card device,
21 ... Read / write unit, 22 ... Display unit, 23 ... Card communication unit,
24: Card control unit, 30: IC card.

Claims (3)

A gas meter equipped with a metering means for constantly metering the amount of gas used provided at each household gas supply port and a shutoff means for shutting off the gas supply path when an abnormality is detected;
The gas meter is communicably connected, reads the balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas from the inserted card, and subtracts the usable amount of gas based on the used amount of gas measured by the measuring means. A card rewriting device for rewriting balance data,
A gas supply control device that shuts off the gas supply path and prohibits the use of gas when there is no more gas available based on the balance data;
The card rewriting device is removable from the gas meter, and the gas meter
The shut-off means limits the amount of gas used so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data based on a predetermined signal received from the card rewriting device. Limiting means to
Storage means for storing whether the card rewriting device has been connected at least once;
A gas supply control comprising: a restriction invalidating means for preventing the restriction by the restriction means when the storage means stores that the card rewriting device has never been connected. apparatus. A measuring means which is provided at the gas supply port of each household and constantly measures the amount of gas used;
A shut-off means for shutting off the gas supply path when an abnormality is detected;
A return means for opening the gas supply path by performing a predetermined operation in a state where the gas supply path is blocked by the blocking means;
A return safety means for shutting off the gas supply path again by the shut-off means when a gas flow is detected by the measuring means within a predetermined time after the gas feed path is opened by the return means;
Card rewriting means for reading the balance data corresponding to the usable amount of gas from the inserted card and rewriting the balance data so as to subtract the usable amount of gas based on the amount of gas used measured by the measuring means;
Limiting means for limiting the amount of gas used by the shut-off means so that the gas can be used only when it is determined that there is a usable amount of gas based on the balance data;
If the gas flow is not detected by the metering means while the gas supply path is open, the restricting means does not determine that there is a usable amount of gas. The gas supply control device is characterized in that the gas supply path is not shut off until the detection is detected. 3. The gas supply control device according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying the balance data or a value corresponding to the balance data, and displaying an abnormality code corresponding to the content of the abnormality on the display when an abnormality is detected.

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