JP4803204B2 - Individual gas equipment operation detection system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an individual gas equipment operation detection system that detects a gas usage amount of a gas equipment.

  Conventionally, the amount of gas used is generally detected for each dwelling unit using a gas meter, or the gas device itself is provided with detection means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As shown in FIG. 7, the gas supplied to the burner 1 is controlled by the proportional valve 2. The opening degree of the proportional valve 2 is detected by the proportional valve opening degree detecting means 3 and transmitted to the calculating means 4. The calculating means 4 calculates the amount of gas used from the transmitted proportional valve opening and the valve opening time of the proportional valve 2 measured by itself, and displays the integrated result on the display means 5.
Japanese Patent No. 3528274

However, in the conventional configuration, if a gas company intends to take a charge measure for each use of gas, it is necessary to have a means for detecting the amount of gas used for each gas appliance . For example, if a gas company intends to take a charge measure that is limited to heating applications, either a gas usage detector is installed in all gas heaters already owned by the user, or all gas is supplied to the user. There was a problem that it was necessary to buy a new heater.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is easy for a gas company to charge by installing it on a gas pipe in a home without replacing or remodeling the gas equipment that the user has now. It aims at providing the individual gas equipment operation detection system which enables it to carry out a measure.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the individual gas equipment operation detection system of the present invention is a gas that is attached in the middle of a gas passage in a home and outputs the gas usage of a gas appliance connected downstream of the gas passage. An individual gas equipment operation detecting means having a flow detecting means, a radio wave transmitter for transmitting an output result in the gas flow detecting means by communication, and a radio wave receiver for receiving a gas usage amount transmitted from the individual gas equipment operation detecting means, A gas meter for measuring the total gas usage at home, a storage unit for integrating and storing the received gas usage, and a display unit, between the gas meter and the T-NCU , an individual gas equipment operation detection unit, and a T a wireless communication means for communicating by radio between the the -NCU, connects between the T-NCU and gas companies in the computer, transmitting data from the gas meter and the individual gas appliance operation detecting means And a, a line communication unit for transmitting to the gas business's computer. Then, the gas meter sets the gas usage fee of the gas appliance connected downstream of the individual gas equipment operation detection means as a separate fee based on the measured total gas usage amount and the gas usage amount stored in the storage means. A fee discount process is executed, and the amount to be charged is displayed on the display unit .

  According to the above invention, in addition to the gas meter that measures the total amount of gas used in the home, the gas flow detection that detects the gas usage status for each appliance or application by attaching to the gas supply pipe for each gas appliance. Total gas to be measured by gas meter and gas usage information for each instrument or application, provided with individual gas equipment operation detection means that integrally incorporates a means and a radio wave transmitter that transmits the detection result to the T-NCU by wireless communication Since the usage data is transmitted to the T-NCU wirelessly and sent to the gas operator's computer using a dedicated communication line, the gas operator is specified based on the data corresponding to the service provided. By applying this process to, for example, charge measures implemented by the gas company, the gas company provides it without having to buy or remodel the equipment currently in use. Discount services, etc. can be easily implemented.

The individual gas equipment operation detection system of the present invention wirelessly transmits gas usage information for each appliance or application and total gas usage data measured by the gas meter to the T-NCU, and uses a dedicated communication line for the gas business. Because it is transmitted to the computer of the gas company, the gas company is currently using it by applying it to specific processing based on the data corresponding to the service provided, for example, the fee policy implemented by the gas company. It is possible to easily carry out a discount service provided by the gas company without replacing or remodeling the appliance.

1st invention is attached in the middle of a gas passage in a home, and transmits the output result in the gas flow detection means which outputs the gas usage-amount of the gas appliance connected downstream from the said gas passage by communication An individual gas equipment operation detecting means having a radio transmitter, a radio receiver for receiving a gas usage amount transmitted from the individual gas equipment operation detecting means, a storage means for accumulating and storing the received gas usage amount, display A gas meter for measuring the total amount of gas used at home , and a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between the gas meter and the T-NCU, and between the individual gas equipment operation detecting means and the T-NCU. , connected between the T-NCU and gas companies in the computer, and a line communication unit for transmitting to the gas company's computer to transmit data from the gas meter and the individual gas appliance operation detecting means Is an individual gas appliance operation detecting system. Then, the gas meter sets the gas usage fee of the gas appliance connected downstream of the individual gas equipment operation detection means as a separate fee based on the measured total gas usage amount and the gas usage amount stored in the storage means. A fee discount process is executed, and the amount to be charged is displayed on the display unit .

  In addition to the gas meter that measures the total amount of gas used in the home, a gas flow detecting means that is attached to a pipe that supplies gas for each gas appliance and detects the gas usage status by appliance or by application, and Provide individual gas equipment operation detection means integrated with a radio transmitter that transmits the detection result to the T-NCU by wireless communication, gas usage information for each instrument or application and total gas usage data measured with a gas meter Is transmitted to the T-NCU wirelessly and transmitted to the gas operator's computer using a dedicated communication line, so that the gas operator performs a specific process based on the data corresponding to the service provided, for example, By applying to gas companies' price measures, etc., the discounts provided by gas companies without having to replace or remodel the equipment currently in use Etc. it is possible to easily implement-bis.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the individual gas equipment operation detection system according to the present embodiment is installed in the middle of the gas passage 11 in the home and detects a gas flow for each gas equipment, and detects a certain time. A timer 16a, a memory 16b for accumulating and storing the time when the gas flow detection means detects the gas flow, and a display 17 for displaying the accumulated gas flow detection time are provided.

  The gas flow detecting means 12 includes a butterfly element 12a that is movable in the direction of the arrow according to the gas flow in the gas passage 11, a magnet 13 attached to a movable portion of the butterfly element 12a, and a printed circuit board outside the gas passage 11. 14 and the like.

The printed circuit board 14 is soldered with a microcomputer 16 having a timer 16a and a memory 16b and a display unit 17. Further, the upstream and downstream extensions of the gas passage of the gas passage 11 are bamboo shoot-like rubber pipe joints 18, and rubber pipes 19 are connected to the upstream and downstream sides of the rubber pipe joint 18, respectively. The side is connected to the residential gas piping, and the downstream side is connected to the gas equipment.

  Here, when a gas device is used and gas flows, the butterfly element 12 a is movable and tilted by the gas flow, and the magnet 13 approaches the reed switch 15. As a result, the reed switch 15 is turned on. At the same time that the microcomputer 16 detects that the reed switch 15 is turned on, the microcomputer 16 accumulates and counts the ON time of the reed switch 15 with its internal timer 16a and memory 16b, and counts and stores the accumulated gas flow detection time. Is displayed on the display unit 17.

According to such a configuration, for example, when the gas equipment connected to the individual gas equipment operation detection system in the present embodiment is a gas heater and is subject to a discount on gas charges, If the value of the indicator 17 is confirmed at the time of meter reading and the value of the indicator 17 of the previous month is subtracted, the usage amount of the gas equipment for this month can be known, so that the charge measure can be taken at a specific discount rate. This is effective when the gas company wants to reduce the fee only for heating applications because it opposes heating equipment that uses oil as a heat source in terms of running costs.

  In the present embodiment, the butterfly element 12a having the magnet 13 is configured to turn on the reed switch 15 in accordance with the gas flow. However, the butterfly element 12a has an impeller shape and the gas flow rate flowing through the gas passage 11 is increased. If the impeller rotates in proportion and the magnet 13 disposed in the rotating part of the impeller turns on the reed switch 15 in proportion to the rotation of the impeller, the ON / OFF frequency of the reed switch 15 is set to gas. Since it can be handled as proportional data of the gas amount in the passage 11, a more accurate charge measure can be taken.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The individual gas appliance operation detection system according to the present embodiment has a female quick joint 20b having a male quick joint 20a and an O-ring 20c instead of the rubber pipe joint 18 of the first embodiment. The male quick joint 20a is a female quick joint 21a at the tip of the home gas pipe, and the female quick joint 20b is a male quick joint 21b at the tip of the gas cord whose other end is connected to the gas device. To be connected.

  According to such a configuration, for example, even if the gas device used by the user is changed, the connection can be easily changed by the quick joints 20a, 20b, 21a, and 21b. However, the gas company can implement the above-mentioned charge measures without any problems. The male type and female type of the quick joint may be reversed with respect to the gas flow direction.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 3 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the individual gas equipment operation detection system according to the present embodiment, the indicator 17 is not located on the printed circuit board 14 but is installed at a location separated from the gas passage 11, and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 14 via the lead wire 22. It is what has been.

According to such a configuration, for example, if the display device 17 is installed in the vicinity of the gas meter, the gas company can easily enter the residence without entering the residence even if the user is away at the time of meter reading of the gas meter. The value can be confirmed, and more reliable fee measures can be implemented.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 4 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system in Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the individual gas equipment operation detection system in the present embodiment, a radio wave transmitter 23 is provided on the printed circuit board 14 on the gas flow detection means 12 side, and a radio wave receiver 24 is provided on the separated display 17 side, and accumulated. The gas flow detection time data is transmitted and received by radio waves. A display control microcomputer 25 is electrically connected to the display 17 side.

  With this configuration, data to be displayed is transmitted from the radio wave transmitter 23, received by the radio wave receiver 24, and displayed on the display 17 by the display control microcomputer 25 that has received the data. In this case, transmission / reception by radio waves may be performed with the ON signal of the reed switch 15 and the display control microcomputer 25 may count the ON time of the reed switch 15 with its internal timer.

  According to such a configuration, since no lead wire is required between the gas flow detection means 12 and the indicator 17, complicated wiring work from the vicinity of the gas equipment in the house to the vicinity of the gas meter outside the house becomes unnecessary. Even in an existing house, there is an advantageous effect that the degree of freedom of the installation location of the display device 17 is increased.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 5 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

The individual gas equipment operation detection system in the present embodiment is configured to transmit the accumulated gas flow detection time data to the gas meter 26.

  That is, the printed circuit board 14 and the gas meter 26 are connected via the lead wire 22 at the microcomputer meter terminal 27. The gas meter 26 includes a liquid crystal display unit 28. The microcomputer 16 transmits the ON signal of the reed switch 15 to the gas meter 26 via the lead wire 22 and the microcomputer meter terminal 27, and the gas meter 26 is a gas whose gas usage should be discounted only when there is an ON signal of the reed switch 15. Accumulated and stored as the amount used, the cumulative amount of gas passing through the gas meter 26 on the display unit 28, that is, the total amount of gas used in a single dwelling unit is displayed, and at the same time, the amount of gas to be discounted is displayed side by side. Yes.

  According to such a configuration, the gas company can confirm the total gas usage amount of the single dwelling unit and the gas usage amount to be discounted only by checking only the display unit 28 at the time of meter reading of the gas meter 26. It is possible to make a fee policy more easily.

  In this embodiment, the total gas usage of a single unit and the gas usage to be discounted are displayed side by side. However, it may be displayed in a time-sharing manner, and normally only the total gas usage of a single unit is displayed. It may be displayed, and the gas usage amount that should be discounted only when some operation is performed on the gas meter 26 may be displayed. Further, the discounted gas usage amount may be subtracted from the total gas usage amount from the gas usage amount data to be discounted, or the amount to be charged may be displayed.

In addition, the printed circuit board 14 and the microcomputer meter terminal 27 are connected by the lead wire 22, but the wireless communication may be performed without using the lead wire 22. Further, although the microcomputer meter terminal 27 is a pair of terminals and the ON signal input of the reed switch 15 is single, a plurality of microcomputer meter terminals 27 may be provided.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 6 shows an individual gas equipment operation detection system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. The same elements as those in the first to fifth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The individual gas equipment operation detection system in the present embodiment transmits the accumulated gas flow detection time data to the T-NCU 29. The T-NCU 29 is connected to the telephone line 30. The printed circuit board 14 and the T-NCU 29 are connected by a lead wire 22. The T-NCU 29 receives the ON signal of the reed switch 15 and counts the accumulated ON time, and together with the total gas amount data received from the gas meter 26, it is sent to the computer of the gas company's office through the telephone line 30. Send and calculate discounted billing gas charges.

  Although the communication line between the T-NCU 29 and the computer of the gas company's office is the telephone line 30, if the communication charge is an ADSL or optical fiber internet line that is not proportional to the number of communications, the ON signal of the reed switch 15 Each time the T-NCU 29 receives an OFF signal, the total gas amount data of the gas meter 26 is transmitted, and a more complicated gas charge can be calculated by the computer of the gas company's office. In addition, the printed circuit board 14 and the T-NCU 29 are connected by the lead wire 22, but the wireless communication may be performed without using the lead wire 22.

  According to such a configuration, there is a further advantageous effect that it is possible to implement a gas charge measure using the automatic meter reading infrastructure of the gas meter using the T-NCU 29.

As described above, the individual gas equipment operation detection system according to the present invention can be easily installed by the gas operator by installing it on the gas pipe in the home without having to replace or modify the existing gas equipment. Since it is possible to implement fee measures, it can be applied to industrial use as well.

The figure which shows the separate gas apparatus driving | operation detection system in Embodiment 1. FIG. The figure which shows the separate gas apparatus driving | operation detection system in Embodiment 2. The figure which shows the separate gas apparatus driving | operation detection system in Embodiment 3. The figure which shows the separate gas equipment operation | movement detection system in Embodiment 4. FIG. The figure which shows the separate gas apparatus driving | operation detection system in Embodiment 5. The figure which shows the separate gas equipment driving | operation detection system in Embodiment 6. FIG. The figure which shows the gas usage-amount detection means of the conventional gas heater

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Gas passage 12 Gas flow detection means 12a Butterfly element 13 Magnet 14 Printed circuit board 15 Reed switch 16 Microcomputer 16a Timer 16b Memory 17 Indicator 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b Quick joint 23 Radio wave transmitter 24 Radio wave receiver 26 Gas meter 28 Display part 29 T-NCU

Claims (1)

A gas flow detector that is attached in the middle of a gas passage in the home and outputs a gas usage amount of a gas appliance connected downstream of the gas passage; a radio wave transmitter that transmits an output result of the gas flow detector by communication; An individual gas appliance operation detection means having
A radio receiver for receiving the amount of gas used transmitted from the individual gas appliance operation detecting means, a storage means for accumulating and storing the amount of gas received, and a display unit; A gas meter to measure,
A wireless communication means for communicating between, between the individual gas appliance operation detecting means and the T-NCU, by radio between the gas meter and the T-NCU,
A line communication means for connecting between the T-NCU and gas companies in the computer, transmits the transmission data from the individual gas appliance operation detecting means and the gas meter to the gas company's computer,
In the individual gas equipment operation detection system with
The gas meter is based on the measured total gas usage amount and the gas usage amount stored in the storage means, and the gas usage fee of the gas appliance connected downstream of the individual gas equipment operation detection means is a separate charge. An individual gas equipment operation detection system that executes discount processing and displays the amount to be charged on the display unit .