JP4729971B2 - Gas meter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is installed at the entrance of a gas supply pipe in each home, and is used to provide a new fee and service according to the usage equipment such as a separate fee for gas equipment, etc. in a gas meter for measuring the gas flow rate. The present invention relates to a technology for discriminating and detecting a gas appliance inside.

  Conventionally, as an example of this type of gas meter device, there is a configuration as shown below (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In general, a gas meter with a gas flow meter is installed at the entrance of a gas supply line in each household.

  When a separate charge is applied to a conventional gas meter, the integrated flow rate when using a plurality of integrating devices connected to the gas meter for a specific time or when a specific range of flow rate is used is calculated. In other words, the flow rate for each time segment and the flow rate for each flow segment are determined, and the charge system is determined based on the integrated value. An example of the fee system will be described based on FIG. A predetermined discount flow rate category and a predetermined discount time zone are set in advance, and the gas rate of the flow rate corresponding to the discount flow rate category and the discount time zone is targeted for discount. That is, the part divided by the oblique line in FIG. However, with this method, the specific determination of the appliance is ambiguous, and it is difficult to make a convenient and easy-to-understand fee setting such as charging a fee for the specific appliance. Then, the following proposals have been made as a method for discriminating a specific instrument (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

The operation of the proposed example will be described. FIG. 12 shows a gas flow rate change pattern when a certain gas appliance is activated and reference values (pattern table) for performing pattern matching based on the pattern. For one gas appliance, this pattern table needs to be prepared for a series of gas flow rate change patterns generated along with the combustion control of the gas appliance, and it is also necessary for the total number of gas appliances used in each household. . A tool is identified by extracting what matches while constantly comparing the change in the flow rate measured by the flow meter of the gas meter with these pattern tables.
JP 2002-71421 A JP 2003-149027 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary to store and hold a series of gas flow patterns of gas appliances in order to perform appliance discrimination. However, when there are many gas appliances to be used, the amount of data increases and comparison discrimination is performed. Therefore, it takes time, and the apparatus for the determination becomes expensive, and the cost of the gas meter itself is increased. Furthermore, when a plurality of appliances are used at the same time, it is necessary to prepare a gas flow rate pattern assuming the combination, and the amount of the combination becomes enormous, so it is very difficult to distinguish between the plurality of appliances. Further, when it is difficult to discriminate between a plurality of appliances, the security function, which is an important function of the gas meter, has a problem that it has only the same gas blocking function as the conventional one and the value of appliance discrimination is reduced.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of determining a plurality of instruments in a short time.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the gas meter device of the present invention is connected to a household gas supply pipe, and a difference value between a flow rate measurement unit that measures a gas flow rate at a constant time interval and a flow rate value output from the flow rate measurement unit. Comparing and determining means for comparing the magnitude of the difference value calculated by the calculating means, the storing means, and the calculating means and the change determination value registered in the storing means to determine a change in the usage state of the gas appliance It is a configuration.

  The gas meter device according to the present invention sequentially calculates a change in the difference value of the instantaneous flow rate output from the measuring means, and determines a change in the usage state of the gas appliance based on the change amount. Correspondingly, the instrument to be used can be determined in a short time, and the measurement algorithm is simpler than the flow rate pattern matching, so that the cost of the instrument required for the determination can be reduced. Also, when another gas appliance is operated while using a gas appliance, the algorithm is easy because it focuses on the change (difference value) in the flow rate value, improving the reliability of appliance discrimination and simplifying the appliance discrimination. This makes it possible to have a high judgment capability, to provide new services such as setting of gas charges corresponding to the equipment used, and to change the security setting values corresponding to the appliances used optimally.

A first aspect of the invention is a flow rate measuring means connected to a household gas supply pipe and measuring a gas flow rate at a constant time interval, a calculation means for obtaining a difference value between flow rates output from the flow rate measurement means, a storage means, and a calculation means. comparing the magnitude of the difference values calculated and registered change determination value in the storage unit by, have a comparative determination means for determining a change in the state of use of the gas appliance, from the measuring means in said operation means By adopting a configuration that can arbitrarily change the time to take the difference between the output flow rate values, it is possible to determine the change in the usage state of the gas appliance at a speed corresponding to the measurement time of the measuring means with a simple algorithm. Is possible. In addition, it is possible to read the change in the flow rate of the gas usage of each instrument properly corresponding to the difference in time of the flow rate change for each instrument.

  In the second invention, in particular, by setting the measurement time interval of the measuring means of the first invention to 2 seconds or less, it is possible to determine a change in the gas flow rate in 2 seconds or less. The change can be determined within seconds, and the instrument can be determined in a short time.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the measurement means of the second aspect of the invention can measure at intervals of 2 seconds or less by ultrasonic flow rate measurement, and can realize instrument discrimination in a short time.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the comparison / determination means of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention is the magnitude of the difference value of the flow rate value and the change point determination value data corresponding to the gas appliance registered in the storage means. And a function for discriminating the gas appliance in which the usage state has changed, and the gas appliance to be used can be discriminated with a simple algorithm with a simple algorithm.

In particular, the fifth aspect of the invention includes a flow rate history unit that records a history of the flow rate value output from the measurement unit of the first invention, and the difference value of the flow rate value output from the flow rate measurement unit determines whether the storage unit has changed. If there is nothing that matches the gas appliance change point judgment value data registered in the recording means and the calculation means has a function to measure by changing the difference time until it matches the change judgment value. The time difference is automatically changed corresponding to the used gas appliance, and the flow rate change of the used gas appliance can be read appropriately.

The sixth invention, in particular, in the comparison / determination means of any one of the first to fifth inventions, comprises flow rate history means for recording a history of flow rate values output from the measurement means and integration means, and changes in gas flow rate. The flow rate value is integrated from the time when the flow rate is determined, the average flow rate after the gas flow rate change is determined from the flow rate integrated value after a predetermined time, and the value and the change width compared with the flow rate value immediately before the change judgment point are information Even if a change in gas flow rate occurs outside of the state of the gas appliance in use, it has a function to correct the judgment that there is no change in the state of use of the gas appliance if it is smaller than the disturbance judgment value registered in the storage means. It is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the appliance used.

In the seventh invention, in particular, in the comparison / determination means according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, a flow rate history means for recording a history of flow rate values output from the measurement means and an integration means having an average flow rate calculation function The flow rate value is integrated from the time when the change in gas flow rate is determined and the history of the average flow rate is always stored, and the average flow rate after the change in gas flow rate is obtained from the flow rate integrated value after a predetermined time. If the change width compared with the flow rate average value left as the history before the judgment point is smaller than the disturbance judgment value registered in the information storage means, the judgment is corrected that there was no change in the use state of the gas appliance By providing such a function, it is possible to prevent the use instrument from being mistakenly determined even if any gas flow rate change occurs outside the state of the use gas instrument.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a gas meter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a gas meter device, which is provided in the middle of a gas supply pipe, and one or more gas appliances installed in each customer's house are connected to the downstream pipe.

  In the gas meter device, a gas shutoff valve 2, a gas flow rate measuring means 3 and a signal from the gas flow rate measuring means 3 provided in a gas flow path connected to a gas pipe are processed to display the used gas flow rate. Section 4, the seismic device 5 for detecting vibration such as an earthquake, and the gas appliance discrimination according to the present invention, the operation means 6, the storage means 7, the comparison judgment means 8 and the operation of the seismic instrument 5 and the equipment judgment In addition, a control circuit 9 that performs overall control processing of the security function and the like and a battery (not shown) serving as a power source thereof are incorporated.

  The storage means 7 includes a change determination value that is a comparison determination value as to whether or not a change in flow rate has occurred, and a change point determination value at a series of combustion state change points (starting, controlling, stopping, etc.) of each gas appliance. Is recorded. The storage means for storing and holding recorded data uses a semiconductor memory in the present invention. However, a magnetic recording medium or the like can be used as long as recording can be added or rewritten.

  In addition, regarding the flow rate measuring means 3 of the present invention, an ultrasonic type measuring means is used, but as a measuring method, other flow rate measuring methods can be continuously measured in a constant cycle in a short time such as a full dick method. Can be used.

  The operation will be described below.

  First, ultrasonic flow velocity measurement will be described with reference to FIG. The measurement channel 10 has a rectangular cross section, and a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 11 and 12 are located upstream of the channel with the measurement channel 10 sandwiched between walls perpendicular to the gas flow direction of the measurement channel 10. The side and the downstream side are mounted to face each other at an angle φ. Ultrasonic waves are alternately transmitted and received between the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 11 and 12, and the difference between the propagation times of the ultrasonic waves in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the flow of the fluid is measured at regular intervals, and output as a propagation time difference signal. Have a job. In response to this propagation time difference signal, the calculation means (not shown) calculates the flow velocity and flow rate of the fluid to be measured.

  The calculation formula is shown in Formula (1).

In FIG. 2, L is a measurement distance, where t1 is the transmission time from the upstream, t2 is the transmission time from the downstream, and C is the speed of sound, the flow velocity V is expressed by the equation (1) V = L / 2 cosφ (1 / t1-1 / T2)
Although the measurement time interval can be set in a range where ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received, in the present invention, measurement is performed at intervals of 2 seconds. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the time interval in terms of the measurement principle. Depending on the gas instrument, there are instruments that start up in less than 2 seconds, so reducing the measurement time interval is advantageous in terms of instantaneous instrument discrimination. However, if the measurement interval is shortened, there is a problem that the battery consumption increases, and the measurement interval equivalent to the membrane type used in the conventional gas meter is a second digit order interval. Therefore, it becomes difficult to make a judgment by looking at the difference in flow rate change of the algorithm of the present invention, and in the present invention, it is performed by measuring at intervals of 2 seconds as a well-balanced time from the viewpoint of cost and instrument discrimination performance.

  Next, the procedure for determining the operating state of the gas appliance will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the gas meter device, as described above, the gas flow rate is measured every 2 seconds, the data is sent to the calculation means, and the flow rate value is differentiated and output as the difference data of the flow rate every 2 seconds.

  The difference data is sent to the successive approximation determination means and compared with the change determination value registered in the storage means. When the difference value exceeds the comparison determination value, it is determined that the gas appliance has changed state. When a change is detected, in order to further determine which gas appliance is in what state, the comparison / determination means compares the change value according to the state of each gas appliance registered in the storage means to determine the appliance and Determine the state of the appliance.

  FIG. 4 shows changes in the gas flow rate and changes in the difference value when an actual gas appliance is used.

  In the graph of FIG. 4, the solid line indicates the gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring means and the broken line indicates the differential value at that time, that is, the difference value every 2 seconds. The difference value is expressed with a peak on the plus side when the gas appliance is started, and is expressed with a peak on the minus side when the gas appliance is stopped.

  In the above embodiment, when the difference value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (change determination value), it is assumed that there is a change as shown in FIG. Although the determination is performed, in the case of the determination for the limited instrument registered in advance and the processing speed is fast, the difference value data from the calculation means is left as it is, and the comparison with the change point determination value data of all the gas appliances is 2 If possible within a second, it is also possible to determine the changed gas appliance or state directly from the difference value as shown in FIG.

  In addition, although the flow rate value and difference value at the time of using three apparatuses (ABC) simultaneously in FIG. 6 are shown on a graph, it can confirm that the change at the time of starting and a stop of three apparatuses is read.

  The discriminated information is any means that can confirm information from the storage means on the display unit via the control circuit or data transfer to an external terminal (not shown). It can be used.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of operations according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the difference time of the flow rate value performed by the calculation means can be performed by an integral multiple of the shortest measurement time interval (2 seconds in the embodiment of the present invention). It is a point that can be changed to. Since the basic configuration of the gas meter is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The operation will be described below.

  In the second embodiment, it is possible to change the setting of the time difference by the computing means to an integral multiple of 2 seconds according to registration. Depending on the gas appliance, the startup time may be long, and the difference of 2 seconds may show the change, but it may not be directly known which appliance the change corresponds to. An accurate determination can be made by changing the difference time in accordance with the registration information in the storage means and making a determination.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it has a flow rate history means 13 for storing a flow rate value from the flow rate measurement means and a difference value thereof as a history for each time, and a calculation means. The difference time of the flow rate value to be performed can be changed so as to be an integral multiple of the measurement minimum time interval (2 seconds in the embodiment of the present invention). Since the basic configuration of the gas meter is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described in the first embodiment, the gas meter device measures the gas flow rate every 2 seconds, sends the data to the calculation means, differentiates the flow rate value, and outputs it as difference data of the flow rate every 2 seconds. . The difference data is sequentially sent to the comparison determination unit, and is compared with the change determination value registered in the storage unit. When the difference value exceeds the comparison determination value, it is determined that the gas appliance has changed state. When a change is detected, in order to further determine which gas appliance is in what state (for example, start or stop), the comparison determination means is a change value for each state of each gas appliance registered in the storage means. Compared with the change point judgment value, the device is discriminated and the state of the appliance is discriminated. If there is no registration data that matches this judgment, the flow rate history information is used to return to the flow rate change judgment point again. It has a function to repeat the increment and comparison of the difference value until the calculated value that matches the registered data is obtained, even if the instrument data is indistinguishable by the difference of 2 seconds. By incrementing the difference time, the instrument can be identified.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of operations according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a flow rate history means for storing a flow rate value from the flow rate measurement means and a difference value thereof as a history for each time, and an integration means for integrating the flow rate. It is. Since the basic configuration of the gas meter is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment, if the change in the difference value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (change determination value), it is determined that there is a change in the flow rate and the change in the state is determined in the next step. However, it is assumed that the change in flow rate is caused not only by the change in the usage state of the gas appliance but also by the influence of the pressure change in the gas piping and the pulsation of gas from other appliances. . Therefore, there is a slight possibility that this change is erroneously recognized as a change in the usage state of the gas appliance. The embodiment of the present invention is for preventing the erroneous recognition, and the operation will be described below.

  After determining that there is a change in the flow rate, integrate the flow rate value for a predetermined time with the integration unit, find the average flow rate during that time, and compare the flow rate value before the flow rate change point and the average flow rate calculated from the integration value based on the value of the flow rate history unit The determination means compares and if the difference is less than the disturbance determination value registered in the storage means, it is determined that there is no change in the usage state of the appliance, and it has a check function to correct the flow rate change determination. It is possible to determine the device with higher reliability against disturbance factors.

  The flow rate value before the change point can also be compared with the average flow rate before the change point calculated by the integrating means always obtaining the average flow rate for a predetermined period from the integral value.

  As described above, the gas meter device according to the present invention is connected to a household gas supply pipe, and calculates the difference value between the flow rate measuring unit that measures the gas flow rate at regular time intervals and the flow rate value output from the flow rate measuring unit. A comparison determination unit that compares the difference value calculated by the storage unit, the storage unit, and the calculation unit with the change determination value registered in the storage unit to determine a change in the usage state of the gas appliance. , Which sequentially calculates the change in the difference value of the instantaneous flow rate output from the measuring means, and determines the change in the usage state of the gas appliance with the amount of change, in a short time corresponding to the measurement speed of the measuring means In addition to being able to determine the instrument to be used, the measurement algorithm is also simpler than the flow rate pattern matching, so that the cost of the instrument required for determination can be reduced. In addition, it is easy to discriminate when other gas appliances operate while using gas appliances, and the reliability of appliance discrimination is improved, and it is possible to have a high judgment capability with simple algorithms for appliance discrimination. It is possible to provide new services such as setting corresponding gas charges, and to change the security setting values corresponding to the appliances used optimally.

The block diagram of the gas meter apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Flow rate measurement unit configuration diagram in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flow chart of discrimination operation in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Diagram of flow rate and calculated value in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flow chart of discrimination operation in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Diagram of flow rate and calculated value in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flow chart of discrimination operation in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The block diagram of the gas meter apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention Flow chart of discrimination operation in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Flow chart of discrimination operation in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Discrimination method conceptual diagram of a conventional gas meter device Discrimination method data structure diagram of conventional gas meter device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas meter apparatus 2 Gas shut-off valve 3 Flow measurement means 4 Display part 5 Seismic device 6 Calculation means 7 Storage means 8 Comparison determination means 9 Control circuit 10 Measurement flow path 11,12 Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 13 Flow history means

Claims (7)

Calculated by a flow rate measuring unit that is connected to a household gas supply pipe and measures a gas flow rate at regular time intervals, a calculation unit that obtains a difference value between the flow rate values output from the flow rate measurement unit, a storage unit, and the calculation unit comparing the magnitude of the change determination value registered in the difference value the storage means, have a comparative determination means for determining a change in the state of use of the gas appliance,
A gas meter device capable of arbitrarily changing a time for obtaining a difference between flow rate values output from the measuring means in the calculating means . The gas meter device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement interval of the flow rate measuring means is 2 seconds or less. The gas meter device according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate measuring means is an ultrasonic measurement method. The comparison judgment means has a function of comparing the magnitude of the difference value of the flow rate value and the change point judgment value corresponding to the gas appliance registered in the storage means, and discriminating the gas appliance in which the change in use state has occurred. The gas meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A flow rate history unit that records a history of the flow rate value output from the measurement unit is provided, the difference value of the flow rate value output from the flow rate measurement unit exceeds the change determination value of the storage unit, and is registered in the recording unit If there is no match with the gas appliance change point determination value data, computing means according to claim 1, wherein the change to match the change determination value is a function of measured while changing the difference time from when it is determined Gas meter device. A flow rate history means for recording the history of the flow rate value output from the measuring means and an integration means are provided. The flow rate value is integrated from the time when the change in the gas flow rate is determined, and after the gas flow rate change from the integrated flow rate after a predetermined time If the average flow rate is calculated and the change width compared with the flow rate value immediately before the change judgment point is smaller than the disturbance judgment value registered in the storage means, the use state of the gas flow device has not changed. A gas meter device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-5 provided with a judgment correction function. When the flow rate history means for recording the history of the flow rate value output from the measurement means and the integrating means having the average flow rate calculation function are provided, the average flow rate history is always stored in the flow rate history means and the change in the gas flow rate is determined. From this, the flow rate value is integrated and the average flow rate after the gas flow rate change is calculated from the flow rate integrated value after a predetermined time, and that value is compared with the flow rate average value that is left as the history before the change judgment point. The gas meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising a determination correction function indicating that the use state of the gas appliance has not changed when the change width is smaller than a disturbance determination value registered in the information storage unit.

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