JP4836115B2 - Gas metering system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas metering system capable of accurately grasping at least the amount of gas used by a specific gas appliance when a plurality of gas appliances are connected to one gas meter.

In order to increase the gas consumption, a fee system for setting a usage fee (discount fee) specific to each gas appliance or a specific gas appliance is considered. However, since a plurality of gas appliances are connected to one gas meter, in order to realize the above fee system, whether or not a gas appliance that currently uses gas is a discounted appliance is determined. It is necessary to determine and specify which instrument is used. Therefore, there is an invention created by paying attention to the fact that the range of the amount of gas used per unit time differs to some extent for each type of gas appliance. It has a unique integration unit that is separate from the integration unit that integrates the total gas usage. If there is a certain range of gas usage, it is assumed that a specific gas appliance was used. A specific integrating unit integrates the amount of gas used by a specific gas appliance (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2927626

The amount of gas used integrated by the specific integration unit described above is calculated based on the estimation that a specific gas appliance has been used. However, even if different types of gas appliances have overlapping portions in the range of gas usage per unit time, it is unclear which gas appliance used the gas when used in the overlapping portions. There is a problem with how to use the above estimation.

In order to prevent this, the idea of detecting that a specific gas appliance has been switched on and integrating the amount of gas used by a specific integration unit corresponding to the gas appliance is also described in paragraph No. 0011 of the patent document. However, in this way of thinking, when a plurality of gas appliances are used at the same time, it is not known which gas appliance is used to what extent, and the accumulated error becomes large. In addition, when the amount of gas used is varied while the gas appliance is being used, the integration error is further increased.

Another idea is to divide gas appliances into appliances that consume high amounts of gas and appliances that consume low amounts of gas, calculate the amount of gas used separately, and apply a different fee structure (Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-289684 A

However, this also has the same problem when a high-consumption appliance and a low-consumption appliance are used at the same time or when the amount of gas used during gas use is changed.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to accurately determine the gas usage of at least a specific gas appliance when a plurality of gas appliances are connected to one gas meter. It is to provide a gas metering system that can be grasped.

The present invention branches a pipe connected to the gas outlet of the parent meter, connects a gas appliance to each branch pipe, and measures the amount of gas used by all the gas appliances together, and measures with the normal measuring means In the gas metering system in which the parent meter is provided with a normal flow rate integration unit that integrates the gas flow rate and a display unit that displays the integration result of the normal flow rate integration unit, a plurality of all gas appliances are subject to measurement. A child meter is connected to the branch pipe connected to the gas appliance, and the child meter has an instrument measuring means for measuring the gas usage of the gas instrument, and the communication means for transmitting and receiving data is the parent meter and the child meter. Provided in each of the above, the instrument flow rate integration means for integrating the gas flow rate measured by the instrument measurement means is provided in the child meter or the parent meter, and the instrument flow rate integration means is provided in the child meter. Transmits the integrated result with identification information distinguishable from other child meters from the communication means of the child meter to the communication means of the parent meter, and identifies the integration result to another flow rate integrating means for the instrument provided in the parent meter When the parent meter is equipped with flow rate integration means for the instrument, the identification information that distinguishes the child meter communication means from the other meter in the parent meter communication means. The gas measurement system is characterized in that the measurement result added with is transmitted, and after integrating the gas flow rate by the flow rate integrating means for appliances, the integration result is stored as the integration result of the child meter corresponding to the identification information.

Connecting a sub meter to a branch pipe means that a sub meter may be attached to the primary side of the gas appliance to be measured, and the sub meter may be provided in the middle of the branch pipe. It may be provided between the secondary end of the tube and the gas appliance, or a sub meter may be incorporated as a part of the gas appliance.

In addition, the child meter is a device separate from the gas appliance, and the gas flow path that leads the gas from the gas outlet of the branch pipe to the inlet of the gas appliance is composed of an extension cord and a child meter. A plug that closes the flow path is connected to the gas outlet of the branch pipe and the inlet of the gas appliance, and when inserted into the plug, a socket that opens the gas flow path is connected to the gas inlet of the gas flow path constituted by an extension cord and a child meter. It is connected to the gas outlet and the extension cord is flexible.

The signal transmission method used for the communication means is wired or wireless. The communication means may be built in the parent meter and the child meter, or may be externally attached. The same applies to the flow rate integrating means for appliances.

The integration result stored in the flow meter integration means for the meter of the parent meter (the amount of gas used by the gas device to be measured) may be displayed on the parent meter, or it may be a separate device from the parent meter or concentration away from the parent meter The integration result may be read and displayed at the monitoring center. In addition, when displaying on the parent meter, dedicated display means may be provided, and the integration result (total gas usage) of the normal flow rate integrating means is usually displayed on the display means of the parent meter, and the switch The display contents may be switched when the switching means such as is operated to display the gas usage of the gas appliance to be measured. Further, when there are a plurality of gas appliances to be measured, dedicated display means may be provided in a corresponding quantity, or only one dedicated display means is provided and displayed when a switching means such as a switch is operated. The content may be switched to display the gas usage of a specific gas appliance.

The slave meter may be provided with a blocking means in addition to the instrument measuring means, and the supply of the gas to the gas appliance may be stopped by driving the blocking means according to a command from the parent meter.

According to the gas metering system of the present invention, since the child meter is connected to the branch pipe connected to the gas appliance to be metered, the metering means for the instrument of the child meter can accurately measure, and the metered gas Since the flow rate integration results are stored in the instrument flow rate integration means, if the integration results are displayed on the main meter display means or a centralized control device at a remote location, the gas usage of the gas appliance to be measured can be accurately measured. I can grasp. In addition, if a flexible extension cord, a plug and a socket are used, when a sub meter and a gas appliance are sequentially connected to the secondary side of the branch pipe, the connection can be made easily and quickly.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the gas metering system of the present invention, a pipe 3 is connected to a gas outlet 2 of a parent meter 1 that is usually installed outdoors, and a plurality of branch pipes are provided on the secondary side of the pipe 3. 4 is branched and connected, and the secondary meter 5 and the gas appliance 6 are connected in order to the secondary side of each branch pipe 4, and all the gas appliances are set as objects of measurement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sub meter 5 measures the amount of gas used by the gas appliance 6 connected to the secondary side by the instrument measuring means 7 (for example, one electric pulse every time a certain amount of gas flows). A signal is output), the measurement result is integrated by the flow rate integration means 8 for the instrument, the integration result is stored, and the data obtained by adding its own identification information (information distinguishable from other child meters) to the integration result is a communication means. 9 to the parent meter 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main meter 1 measures the amount of gas used to be supplied to the secondary side by the normal measuring means 10, accumulates the measurement result by the normal flow rate integrating means 11, stores the integrated result, and displays the display means. 12 displays the storage result. Further, the master meter 1 receives the data from the child meter 5 by its own communication means 13 and specifies from which child meter its own flow rate integrating means 14 is transmitted from the identification information of the received data, The integration result of the received data is stored as the integration result of the specified child meter. The master meter 1 is provided with a security means 15 for safely using the gas, so that the supply of gas can be forcibly stopped or released in an emergency.

If the outline of the hardware of the child meter 5 and the parent meter 1 is explained together, the child meter 5 is a microcomputer-controlled ultrasonic flowmeter with a communication function, while the parent meter 1 is microcomputer-controlled. The ultrasonic gas meter is added with a communication function and a flow rate counter (memory) for storing the integration result from the sub meter 5.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the child meter 5 measures the ultrasonic waves transmitted and received by the two ultrasonic sensors via the connector using an ultrasonic measurement circuit, and stores the measurement results in the ROM. The microcomputer integrates and calculates the amount of gas used, stores the integration result in a flow counter (memory), and adds the identification information of the child meter to the integration result to the flow pulse output circuit from the interface circuit. And finally the flow rate pulse is transmitted from the antenna.

Similarly, the master meter 1 receives the flow rate pulse transmitted from the child meter by the flow rate pulse input circuit via the antenna, sends it to the microcomputer via the interface circuit, and the microcomputer reads the program according to the program written in the ROM. The flow pulse is stored in the flow counter of the child meter corresponding to the identification information. The flow counter is provided only for the gas appliance.

Further, in order to achieve the general function as a gas meter, the parent meter 1 measures the ultrasonic waves transmitted and received by the two ultrasonic sensors through the connector using an ultrasonic measurement circuit, and the microcomputer outputs the measurement results. Accumulate and store the accumulated result in the normal flow counter. Then, the integrated results of the normal flow counter and the instrument flow counter are displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display panel). For safety purposes, a vibration sensor, test shut-off switch, and return switch are connected to the microcomputer via the interface circuit to detect earthquakes, check that the shut-off valve is operating normally, and close shut-off. It can be used to open the valve. Similarly, a pressure sensor and a shut-off valve are connected to a microcomputer from a connector via a pressure sensor circuit and a shut-off valve drive circuit, and the shut-off valve is closed when the gas pressure deviates from a normal pressure. In addition, a remote computer management system in which an alarm device and NCU are connected to a microcomputer via a terminal block and an interface circuit, and an alarm is sounded when there is an abnormality, or is connected to a NCU (transmission device) through a public line Can send and receive information between them.

Examples of gas appliances include a stove, a hot water heater, floor heating, a dryer, and a fan heater.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the gas metering system of the present invention. This is because when connecting the secondary meter 5 and the gas appliance 6 to the secondary side of the branch pipe 4 in order, a flexible extension cord C, a plug P and a socket S are provided so that the connection can be made easily and quickly. It is used. Specifically, a plug P is connected to the gas inlet of the gas appliance 6 and the gas outlet of the branch pipe 4. On the other hand, an extension cord C is attached to at least one of the gas inlet and the gas outlet in the upper three child meters 5 in the figure, and the gas inlet (gas plug side) as a whole with the extension cord C attached to the child meter 5 A socket S is attached to the gas outlet (device side), and the socket S and the plug P are connected by simply inserting the socket S into the plug P, whereby the secondary meter 5 and the gas appliance 6 are connected to the secondary side of the branch pipe 4. Connect. In addition, a socket S is connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet on the lowermost child meter 5 in the drawing, and a flexible extension cord C having a plug P and a socket S at both ends is connected to the branch pipe 4 and the child meter 5. At the same time, the same extension cord C is connected to the child meter 5 and the gas appliance 6. In the case of the plug P alone, the gas flow path is closed, and when the socket S is inserted, the gas flow path is opened, and finally the gas is guided to the gas appliance 6. There are two modes of attaching the socket S directly to the child meter 5 and attaching the socket S to the extension cord C.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the normal weighing means 10 of the parent meter 1 and the instrument weighing means 7 of the child meter 5 are not limited to those using an ultrasonic sensor, but may be a membrane type or a flow sensor.

It is drawing which shows schematic structure of the gas metering system of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of a gas metering system. It is a detailed block diagram of a gas metering system. It is a block diagram which shows another example of a gas metering system.

1 parent meter 2 gas outlet 3 pipe 4 branch pipe 5 child meter 6 gas instrument 7 instrument measuring means 8 instrument flow integrating means 9 communication means 10 normal measuring means 11 normal flow integrating means 12 display means 13 communication means 14 instrument flow Integration means

Claims (2)

Branch the pipe (3) connected to the gas outlet (2) of the parent meter (1), connect the gas appliance (6) to each branch pipe (4), and adjust the gas usage of all the gas appliances (6). Normal metering means (10) for collectively weighing, normal flow rate integrating means (11) for integrating the gas flow rate measured by the normal metering means (10), and display means for displaying the integration result of the normal flow rate integrating means (11) (12) In the gas metering system provided in the parent meter (1),
A plurality of all gas appliances (6) are to be measured, and a child meter (5) is connected to the branch pipe (4) connected to the gas appliance (6) to be measured. An instrument measuring means (7) for measuring the amount of gas used by the gas instrument (6);
Communication means (9, 13) for transmitting and receiving data is provided in each of the parent meter (1) and the child meter (5), and the instrument flow rate integration means (8, 8) for integrating the gas flow rate measured by the instrument measurement means (7). 14) is provided in the child meter (5) or the parent meter (1),
When the instrument flow rate integrating means (8) is provided in the child meter (5), the communication means (9) of the child meter (5) is connected to the communication means (13) of the parent meter (1) to another child meter ( 5) The integrated result added with the identification information distinguishable from 5) is transmitted, and the integrated result is sent to another instrument flow rate integrating means (14) provided in the parent meter (1) of the child meter (5) corresponding to the identification information. Save as integration result ,
On the other hand, in case of providing the instruments for flow integrating means (14) to the parent meter (1) is child meter (5) other child communication from the means (9) to the communication means of the parent meter (1) (13) of The metering result with the identification information distinguishable from the meter (5) is transmitted, and the integration result of the sub meter (5) corresponding to the identification information is obtained after integrating the gas flow rate by the flow rate integrating means (14) for appliances. Gas metering system characterized by storing as   The child meter (5) is a separate device from the gas appliance (6),
  A gas flow path for guiding gas from the gas outlet of the branch pipe (4) to the inlet of the gas appliance (6) is constituted by the extension cord (C) and the sub meter (5),
  In the case of a single unit, the plug (P) for closing the gas flow path is connected to the gas outlet of the branch pipe (4) and the inlet of the gas appliance (6),
  The socket (S) that opens the gas flow path when inserted into the plug (P) is connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the gas flow path constituted by the extension cord (C) and the child meter (5),
  2. The gas metering system according to claim 1, wherein the extension cord (C) is flexible.

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