JP4298888B2 - Gas metering system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas metering system, in particular, when the gas used meets the predetermined condition relates Ruga scan metering system have been set to discount the gas rates.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the recent gas energy sales competition, measures to expand the consumption of gas energy are an important theme, and it has become a challenge to get consumers to use as much gas as possible. In order to increase gas consumption, it is necessary to provide equipment with a large amount of gas consumption. Specifically, it is necessary to use gas for heating instead of kerosene which is cheaper than gas. . For this purpose, it is conceivable to discount the expensive gas charges.
[0003]
In order to make this a reality, based on the Measurement Law, we met the standards of the Measurement Law by using a gas meter that requires the amount of passing gas to be accurately and uniformly integrated within the standard tolerance. Above, it is required to perform another integration to enable calculation of service charges.
[0004]
As a gas meter that can do this, conventionally, when the current amount of gas used is increased by a predetermined amount, an excess flow amount integration unit that separately adds the amount of use corresponding to the increase in use is provided. After a certain amount of time has passed since the increase in use, the flow rate corresponding to the increase in use is accumulated, or when a specific gas appliance is used, it indicates that it is in operation than this specific gas appliance. For example, JP-A-6-123649, JP-A-9-287735, and the like, which separately accumulate the gas amount corresponding to the gas usage amount of a specific gas appliance by the excess flow rate integrating unit, It is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-318407.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The proposed gas meter mentioned above was conceived to increase the amount of gas used, but it only added a function to separately integrate the gas flow rate subject to the charge discount, and other functions were not included. No change from the previous one. Therefore, there is no way for the gas user to know whether the current gas usage state is in a discounted state, and the gas user can know the discount result at the time of gas charge billing based on the result of meter reading. Long time ago. For this reason, there is a problem that the gas user has no feeling of discount and the gas discount effect is weak.
[0006]
Thus, the present invention is to provide an effective gas metering system to thereby have a gas discount feeling during use of gas provides a feeling of satisfaction to the gas consumers, promote the gas consumption resulting in gas discount effect It is an issue.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1, the invention according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a discount flow rate integration unit 142 b-1 that integrates a gas flow rate associated with the use of a gas subject to a charge discount, rates during discount periods gas use is made of the target, the gas meter 14 and a discount signal generating means 142b-2 which generates and outputs a discount signal indicating that a discount use, the discount of the gas meter Discount notifying means for notifying a householder that a discount state is present based on a discount signal output from the signal generating means, and the discount notifying means allows the householder to use the gas discount by the notification performed by the discount notifying means. It exists in the gas metering system characterized by being installed indoors which can know that it is in a state .
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the discounted flow rate integrating means 142b-1 of the gas meter 14 integrates the gas flow rate associated with the use of the gas subject to the charge discount. Therefore, the gas flow rate integrated by the discounted flow rate integrating unit 142b-1 The gas fee can be serviced by the gas meter 14 and the discount signal generating means 142b-2 generates a discount signal indicating that the discount signal is being used during the period when the gas subject to the charge discount is being used. Since the discount notification means 18 and 20 installed indoors are informed of the discount state based on the discount signal output from the discount signal generation means of the discount signal, the discount state is provided by the notification performed by the discount notification means 18 and 20. You can let your family know that
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gas metering system according to the first aspect , the gas meter further includes integrated flow rate display means 142b-3 for integrating and displaying the gas flow rate associated with gas use, has a discount detection means 142b-11 to detect the gas use state of fee discount, characterized by integrating the gas flow rate caused by the gas use of the fee discount in accordance with the detection by said discount detector gas Lies in the weighing system .
[0010]
According to the invention described in claim 2, the gas meter includes the integrated flow rate display means 142b-3 for integrating and displaying the gas flow rate associated with the use of the gas, and the discount flow rate integrating means detects the gas usage state subject to the charge discount. In addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1, there is provided a detection means 142b-11, which integrates the gas flow rate associated with the use of the gas subject to charge discount according to the detection by the discount detection means. The gas flow rate to be discounted can be integrated by using the same gas meter as the gas meter that integrates the gas flow rate associated with normal gas use without installing a gas meter that integrates the gas flow rate.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gas metering system according to the second aspect, the gas meter is configured such that the gas usage state subject to the charge discount is a gas flow rate corresponding to a gas flow rate consumed by a specific gas appliance, a predetermined flow rate or more. The gas metering system comprises any one or a combination of a gas flow rate, a specific flow rate of a certain time or more, and a specific time zone / seasonal gas usage.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gas usage state subject to the charge discount includes the gas flow rate corresponding to the gas flow consumed by the specific gas appliance, the gas flow rate above a certain flow rate, the specific flow rate above a certain time, and the specific time. Since it consists of any one or a combination of the gas usage of the belt and season, in addition to the operation of the invention of claim 2, various gas usage states can be discounted.
[0015]
4. Symbol placement of invention, in claim 3 Symbol mounting of the gas metering system, the discount notifying means always performs various displays in conjunction with the gas meter, it is a discount state by the input of the discount signal The gas metering system is characterized by comprising display means 18 for performing a display for informing.
[0016]
According to the invention of claim 4 Symbol mounting, discount informing means constantly performs various displays in conjunction with the gas meter, since the display unit 18 for display informing that the discount state by the input of the discount signal In addition to the operation of the invention as set forth in claim 4, it is possible to notify the discount state by the existing display means 18 linked to the gas meter.
[0017]
The invention of claim 5 Symbol mounting, in claim 3 or 4, wherein the gas metering system, the discount informing means is normally carried out by the sound or light various alarms in conjunction with the gas meter, the input of the discount signal The gas metering system is characterized by comprising alarm means 20 for giving an alarm notifying that the vehicle is in a discount state.
[0018]
According to the invention of claim 5 Symbol mounting, discount informing means is normally carried out by the sound or light various alarms in conjunction with the gas meter, the alarm means an alarm indicating that the the input of the discount signal in discount state Therefore, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, it can be notified that the discount state is provided by the existing alarm means 20 linked to the gas meter.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 2 shows the Ruga scan metering system by the present invention, reference numeral 10 denotes the ground for example, the gas supply pipe 12 which is buried in the ground, via a gas meter 14 which is installed outdoors indoors and outdoors Gas is supplied to the various gas appliances 16. A flow rate sensor 140 that detects the flow rate of the gas supplied through the gas supply pipe 12 and outputs a flow rate signal corresponding to the detected flow rate is provided in the gas meter 14. The flow velocity signal output from the flow velocity sensor 140 is processed by a microcomputer (μCOM) 142 that operates according to a predetermined program. In the gas meter 14, a modem 146 for reporting meter reading data to a remote meter reading center through a telephone line L to which a subscriber telephone 151 provided indoors is connected via an automatic switch 152. Is also provided.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 3, the μCOM 142 includes a ROM 142a that is a read-only memory for storing programs, fixed data, and the like, a central processing unit (CPU) 142b that performs various arithmetic processing according to the programs stored in the ROM 142a, and processing in the CPU 142b. A RAM 142c, which is a readable / writable memory, having a work area used for data storage and a data storage area for storing calculation processing results is incorporated.
[0021]
The CPU 142b measures the flow rate of the gas supplied to the downstream side through the gas meter 14 by processing the flow velocity signal input from the flow velocity sensor 140, integrates the measured gas flow rate to obtain an integrated flow rate, and calculates the obtained integrated flow rate. It functions to be stored in the normal integrated flow rate storage area 142c1 (FIG. 4) formed in the RAM 142c and to be displayed on the display unit 144. Note that the RAM 142c that normally stores the integrated flow rate is backed up by a battery power source so that stored data is not lost, but a non-volatile memory that does not require a battery power source may be provided separately.
[0022]
The CPU 142b determines whether or not the flow rate measured based on the flow rate signal from the flow rate sensor 140 has increased by a predetermined value or more in comparison with the flow rate measured before that time, and determines that the flow rate has increased. In this case, it is assumed that the use of the gas appliance subject to the discount is started, and the time counting from the starting time is performed by incrementing the time counter area 142c2 (FIG. 4) formed in the RAM 142c every unit time. When the CPU 142b determines that the use of the gas appliance subject to the discount is started, it generates and outputs a discount signal indicating that it is in the discount use state.
[0023]
The discount signal output from the CPU 142b is sent to the indicator 18 that normally performs various displays in conjunction with the gas meter 14, and also to the alarm device 20 that normally performs various alarms by voice or light in conjunction with the gas meter 14. Both the indicator 18 and the alarm device 20 that have been input and have received a discount signal function as discount notification means, and display and sound or light notification that the gas is in a discount use state. Both the indicator 18 as the display means and the alarm device 20 as the alarm means are installed indoors so that it is possible to know that the householder is in the gas discount use state by the notification.
[0024]
The indicator 18 that has received a discount signal from the CPU 142b of the gas meter 14 performs a display notifying that the gas is being used for a charge discount as distinguished from other various displays. The alarm device 20 that has received a discount signal from the CPU 142b of the gas meter 14 performs an alarm by voice or light to notify that the gas is being used for the charge discount, in distinction from other various alarms. In addition, the notification by voice can be performed at regular intervals, for example, in the form of “gas usage is in a discounted state”, and the light notification is performed, for example, when the gas usage state is in a discounted state, for example, a predetermined blinking Can be done by.
[0025]
After that, the CPU 142b determines whether or not the flow rate measured based on the flow rate signal from the flow rate sensor 140 has a decrease of a predetermined value or more compared with the flow rate measured before that, and is decreasing. When the determination is made, it is assumed that the use of the gas appliance subject to the charge discount is finished, and the time counting from the start of the use of the gas appliance subject to the charge discount, which has been performed by incrementing the time counter area 142c2 every unit time, is stopped.
[0026]
Then, multiply the flow rate corresponding to the gas flow consumed by the gas appliance subject to the rate discount by the count value of the time counter area and the unit time, and the rate discount target for the gas consumed by the gas appliance subject to the rate discount. Find the flow through. This discounted flow rate of the discounted flow is obtained by integrating separately from the normal integrated flow rate that integrates the normal gas usage amount before that, and stored in the discount integrated flow rate storage area 142c3 formed in the RAM 142c. It is added to the flow rate and integrated.
[0027]
In addition, when the CPU 142b in the μCOM 142 determines that the use of the gas appliance subject to the rate discount has been completed, the display 18 that has been informed that the gas usage state subject to the rate discount has been displayed, and the rate discount. The operation of the alarm device 20 which has been instructing that the target gas is being used by voice or light is stopped.
[0028]
Further, the CPU 142b in the μCOM 142 has a normal accumulated flow stored in the normal accumulated flow storage area 142c1 when the time and date of the clock and calendar held in the μCOM 142 reach a predetermined meter reading date and time, The discount integrated flow rate stored in the discount integrated flow rate storage area 142c3 is read out, and these are automatically notified to the remote meter reading center via the modem 146, the automatic switch 152 and the telephone line L.
[0029]
At the meter reading center that has received meter reading data consisting of such normal integrated flow and discount integrated flow, the difference between the normal integrated flow and discount integrated flow received at the previous meter reading and the currently received normal integrated flow and discount integrated flow is taken. Calculate the normal gas usage amount and the discount gas usage amount, subtract the discount gas usage amount from the normal gas usage amount, and charge the normal gas fee for the discounted gas usage amount. Will be issued.
[0030]
In the above-mentioned example, the flow rate subject to the charge discount for the gas consumed by the gas appliance subject to the charge discount is obtained. When a gas is used at a specific flow rate for a certain period of time or when a gas is used in a specific time zone / season.
[0031]
It should be noted that the detection of the use of gas above a certain flow rate is performed based on the flow rate measured based on the flow velocity signal from the flow velocity sensor 140, and the charge is discounted for the gas flow rate exceeding the certain flow rate. The gas flow rate is integrated.
[0032]
In addition, the detection of the use of a gas having a specific flow rate for a certain time or more is to measure the duration time on condition that the flow rate measured based on the flow velocity signal from the flow velocity sensor 140 is the specific flow rate. In order to discount the charge for the gas flow rate exceeding a certain time, the gas flow amount exceeding the certain time is integrated.
[0033]
Further, when the gas is used in a specific time zone / season, a clock and a calendar are provided in the μCOM 142 of the gas meter 14, and the CPU 142a determines a predetermined time zone as the year / month / day / hour / minute of the clock / calendar. This is done by comparing the hour, minute, or date that defines the period to determine whether it is within the time period or period, and discounts the charges for gas use within the time period or period. Alternatively, the gas flow rate within the period is integrated.
[0034]
Details of the operation of the gas metering system outlined above will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 8 showing the processing performed by the CPU 142a of the μCOM 142 of the gas meter 14 in accordance with a predetermined program.
[0035]
The CPU 142a of the μCOM 142 starts its operation when the power is turned on. In the first processing step S1, the CPU 142a performs a flow rate integration process, which is a basic function of the gas meter, and in a subsequent processing step S2, notifies the usage status of the gas to be discounted. Discount notification processing is performed, and in the next processing step S3, for example, at a date and time determined once in January, meter reading notification processing for automatic meter reading is performed.
[0036]
More specifically, the flow rate integration process in step S1 is performed in a subroutine as shown in FIG. 6, and in the first step S11, a flow rate signal is fetched from the flow rate sensor 140 at a predetermined interval, and the fetched flow rate signal is converted into this fetched flow rate signal. The gas flow rate is measured based on this. Next, it progresses to step S12, the gas flow rate measured in step S11 is integrated, a normal integrated flow rate is calculated | required, and this is displayed on the display part 144 of the gas meter 14. FIG. This normal flow rate integration is performed by adding the gas flow rate measured in step S11 to the normal integrated flow rate stored so far in the normal integrated flow rate storage area 142c1 formed in the RAM 142c.
[0037]
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13, where the flag F1 indicating “1” indicates that the gas is being discounted and “0” indicates that the gas is not being discounted is “1”. Determine. When the flag F1 is “1” and the determination in step S13 is YES, the process proceeds to step S14 to increment the time counter area 142c2 (FIG. 4) formed in the RAM 142c, and then proceeds to step S2 in the original flowchart of FIG.
[0038]
When the flag F1 is “0” and the determination in step S13 is NO, the process proceeds to step S15, where “1” indicates that the gas is not used from the discounted gas usage state, and “0” indicates that the gas is not in the other state. It is determined whether or not the flag F2 indicating that there is “1”. When the flag F2 is “1” and the determination in step S15 is YES, the process proceeds to step S16, where the time counter area 142c2 is incremented in step S14 and the time counted is multiplied by the gas flow rate to be discounted. A discounted flow rate integration process is performed in which the obtained passage flow rate is obtained and the obtained passage flow rate is integrated. This discounted flow rate integration is performed by adding the flow rate to be discounted to the discounted integrated flow rate stored so far in the discounted integrated flow rate storage area 142c3 formed in the RAM 142c. When the discount flow rate integration in step S16 ends, the flag F2 is set to “0” in the next step S17, and if the determination in step S15 is NO, the process immediately proceeds to step S2 in the original flowchart of FIG.
[0039]
The notification process in step S2 is performed in a subroutine as shown in FIG. 7. In the first step S21, is the discounted gas flow rate based on the gas flow rate measured in step S11 of the flow rate integration process subroutine? When the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S22 to determine whether or not the flag F1 is “1”. When the determination in step S22 is NO, the process proceeds to step S23, the flag F1 is set to “1”, and then the process proceeds to step S24 to turn on a discount signal for notifying the gas use state of the discount object, and then the source of FIG. Proceed to the next step S3 of the flowchart. If the determination in step S22 is YES and the flag F1 is already “1”, nothing is done and the process proceeds to step S3.
[0040]
When the determination in step S21 is NO, that is, when the gas flow rate is not the discount target, the process proceeds to step S25 to determine whether or not the flag F1 is “1”. If this determination is YES, it is determined that the gas usage state to be discounted has shifted to a gas usage state that is not so, the process proceeds to step S26, the flag F1 is set to “0”, the flag F2 is set to “1”, and the process proceeds to step S27. Here, after turning off the discount signal for informing the discounted gas use state, the process proceeds to the next step S3 of the original flowchart of FIG. If the determination in step S25 is NO, nothing is done and the process proceeds to step S3.
[0041]
The meter reading notification process in step S3 is performed in a subroutine as shown in FIG. 8. In the first step S31, it is determined with reference to the clock and calendar whether or not it is a predetermined notification date and time, and the determination is YES. If it is the notification date and time, the process proceeds to step S32, and the normal integrated flow stored in the normal integrated flow storage area 142c1 and the discount integrated flow stored in the discount integrated flow storage area 142c3 are read out, and these are read out by the modem 146, After automatic notification to the remote meter reading center via the automatic switch 152 and the telephone line L, when the determination is NO, nothing is done and the process returns to step S1 of the original flowchart in the figure.
[0042]
As is apparent from the description given above with reference to the flowchart, the CPU 142b of the μCOM 142 in the gas meter 14 performs discounted flow rate integration means for integrating the gas flow rate associated with the use of the fee discount target gas by executing the processing performed according to the program. 142b-1, discount signal generating means 142b-2 for generating and outputting a discount signal indicating that the gas is in a discounted use state during the period in which the gas used for the charge discount is being used, and the gas flow rate associated with the gas use It functions as an integrated flow rate display means 142b-3 for integrating and displaying, and a discount detection means 142b-11 for detecting a gas usage state subject to a charge discount.
[0043]
Although the discount notification process described above does not specifically describe how to determine the discounted gas flow rate, various types of gas usage states that are subject to the charge discount may be considered as described above.
[0044]
In the embodiment, the discount signal output from the gas meter is used to notify that the discount signal is output to the indicator or alarm device linked to the gas meter to notify that the discount is in effect. In order to give gas consumers a sense of satisfaction at the time and to provide gas consumers with a sense of satisfaction and to promote gas consumption by providing a gas discount effect, it can also be used for temperature control and heating on / off, etc. Can do.
[0045]
Furthermore, although the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a gas meter as a normal integrated flow meter has been shown, the present invention can also be applied to a gas meter that measures only a discount integrated flow rate.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to notify the householder that the discounted signal is being used by using the discount signal, it is possible to notify the householder that the discount is in effect. An effective gas metering system can be obtained to give gas consumers a sense of satisfaction when using them and to give gas consumers a sense of satisfaction and to promote gas consumption by providing a gas discount effect.
[0047]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the gas flow rate to be discounted can be reduced by the same gas meter as the gas meter for accumulating the gas flow rate associated with normal gas use, without installing a gas meter for integrating the gas flow rate for discounting separately. Since it can be integrated, a gas metering system having the effect of claim 1 can be obtained at low cost.
[0048]
According to the invention described in claim 3, since various gas usage states can be discounted, a gas metering system capable of dealing with various discounts in addition to the effect described in claim 1 can be obtained.
[0050]
According to the invention of claim 4 Symbol mounting, it is possible to inform that it is in the discount state by the display of an existing display means linked to the gas meter, obtained inexpensively gas metering system the effect of claim 3 Symbol placement It is done.
[0051]
According to the invention of claim 5 Symbol mounting, it is possible to inform that it is in the discount state by an existing alarm means for interlocking the gas meter, the gas metering system to achieve the effect according to claim 3 or 4, wherein is obtained at low cost .
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of by the present invention Ruga scan metering system.
Is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the I Ruga scan weighing system in the invention; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration within μCOM in FIG. 2;
4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a RAM in μCOM in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing performed by a CPU in μCOM in FIG. 2;
6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine which is a specific example of a part of the flowchart of FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine which is a specific example of another part of the flowchart of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine which is a specific example of another part of the flowchart of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
14 Gas meter 142b-1 Discount flow rate integration means (CPU)
142b-2 Discount signal generating means (CPU)
142b-3 Integrated flow rate display means (CPU)
142b-11 Discount detection means (CPU)
18 Discount notification means, display means (display)
20 Discount notification means, alarm means (alarm)

Claims (5)

Generates and outputs a discount flow rate accumulating means for accumulating the gas flow associated with the use of the gas subject to the charge discount, and a discount signal indicating that the gas is being used during the period during which the gas subject to the charge discount is being used. A gas meter comprising discount signal generating means for
Discount notifying means for notifying the householder that the gas meter is in a discount state based on the discount signal output by the discount signal generating means of the gas meter,
The discount notification means is installed indoors so that a householder can know that the gas is in a discounted usage state.
Gas metering system characterized by that . The gas meter further comprises integrated flow rate display means for integrating and displaying the gas flow rate associated with gas use,
The discount flow rate integration means has discount detection means for detecting a gas usage state subject to a charge discount, and integrates the gas flow associated with the use of the gas subject to the charge discount according to detection by the discount detection means. The gas metering system according to claim 1. The gas usage state of the gas discounted by the gas meter includes a gas flow rate corresponding to a gas flow rate consumed by a specific gas appliance, a gas flow rate above a certain flow rate, a specific flow rate above a certain time, a gas in a specific time zone / season The gas metering system according to claim 2, wherein the gas metering system comprises any one or combination of uses. The discount notifying means always performs various displays in conjunction with the gas meter, No placement claim 3 Symbol characterized by comprising display means for performing display informing that the discount state by the input of the discount signal Gas metering system. The discount notification means includes alarm means for performing various alarms by voice or light at all times in conjunction with a gas meter, and issuing an alarm notifying that a discount state is established by inputting the discount signal. The gas metering system according to 3 or 4 .

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