JP4986777B2 - Flow monitoring method and flow meter using flow meter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, the flow rate superintendent Mikata method using a flow meter, and the flow rate of the fluid by measuring relates to a flow meter used to perform flow monitoring.

  Conventionally, various types of flow meters have been used to measure the flow rate of fluid in a fluid circuit such as a hydraulic circuit or a cooling water circuit. For example, the rotor is rotated by the fluid flow, and the flow rate is measured by detecting the rotational speed of the rotor with a sensor. The signal output from the flow meter not only informs the user of the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the pipeline in real time, but also indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the pipeline or fluid circuit when the flow rate changes beyond the threshold value. Also used to alert the user.

  In a flow meter, there is a method of setting a ratio with respect to the maximum flow rate that can be measured with a potentiometer as a method for setting a threshold value for such alarm output. This is a method of setting the potentiometer to “40 percent” when, for example, it is desired to set 10 liters / minute as the threshold when the maximum flow rate that can be measured by the flow meter is 25 liters / minute. When the user rotates the potentiometer and sets the scale to the “40 percent” position, a threshold value of 10 liters / minute is set, and an alarm signal for monitoring the flow rate when the flow rate exceeds the threshold value. Is output.

  In addition, a flow rate value itself serving as a threshold value is input using a keyboard or various switches.

Also, although not about the flow rate, as a threshold setting method, the maximum value and minimum value of the input value are obtained, and a value obtained by multiplying the difference by a coefficient is added to the minimum value as the threshold value. (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-126660

  However, with the conventional method of setting the threshold value as a percentage, it is possible to calculate the threshold flow rate relatively accurately, but the threshold value is compared to the actual flow rate in the current state. For example, the user cannot intuitively understand the relationship between the current flow rate and the current flow rate to which the alarm will be issued.

  Also, even when the flow rate value itself is entered as a threshold value using a keyboard or the like, it is not possible to intuitively understand how the threshold value is related to the current flow rate. There is a problem that it takes time and effort.

  In addition, in the setting method disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible for the user to know how the input value is related to the threshold value, but is it an abnormality in the device or circuit? It doesn't tell the user about it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the user can intuitively understand how much the flow rate that is actually flowing will be reduced before an alarm is issued. The purpose is to facilitate flow rate monitoring.

The method according to the present invention, there is provided a flow monitoring how using a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the ever-changing fluid, the fluid to the flow rate monitoring in a state of flowing to the flowmeter, the threshold by the user In response to the setting operation for setting the value, the flow rate actually flowing when the setting operation is performed is measured by the flow meter, and the measured flow rate value is A preset flow rate value stored in advance is set as the threshold value, and an alarm signal is output when the flow rate value measured thereafter falls outside the range indicated by the set threshold value .

Also, flowing a fluid to the flow rate monitoring the flow meter, in response to the setting operation unit is operated by the user, the flow rate of actually flowing when the setting operation is performed the A step of measuring by a flow meter, a step of obtaining a flow rate value of a preset ratio stored in advance with respect to the measured flow rate value, a step of setting the obtained flow rate value as a threshold value, and thereafter And a step of outputting an alarm signal when the flow rate value is outside the range indicated by the set threshold value .

  In addition, the step of displaying the measured flow rate on the display unit, the step of displaying a preset ratio stored in advance on the display unit, and the obtained flow rate value or the set threshold value are displayed on the display unit. And a step of displaying.

An apparatus according to the present invention is a flow meter used for measuring a flow rate of a fluid that changes every moment and performing flow rate monitoring, and includes a display unit that displays the measured flow rate value , and a flow rate used for flow rate monitoring. a setting operation means for performing the setting operation of the threshold, a storage unit for storing the set percentage of flow rate value, the setting operation means in response to that is operated, the flow rate value that is actually flowing at that time and a flow rate acquisition means for acquiring, the means for setting it from the set ratio stored in the storage unit and obtained flow value seeking flow rate value as the threshold value, the flow rate value measured is the threshold Means for outputting an alarm signal when the value is out of the range indicated by the value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible for the user to intuitively understand how much the flow rate that is actually flowing is reduced and an alarm is issued, and it becomes easy to monitor the flow rate.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a flow meter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the flow meter 1, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the flow meter 1.

  In FIG. 1, a flow meter 1 has various components incorporated in a housing 31 made of a metal material, and a panel PN for operation and display is provided on the surface. Connection screw portions 32 and 33 are provided at both ends of the housing 31, and the flow meter 1 is inserted in-line into the pipe line where the flow rate is to be measured using the connection screw portions 32 and 33.

  A rotor (not shown) is provided inside the housing 31, and the rotor rotates by the flow of fluid. A magnetic body or a magnet is embedded in the rotor, and a sensor detects the movement of the magnetic body or the magnet due to the rotation of the rotor and outputs a signal. Such a mechanism for measuring the flow rate is known per se.

  On the surface of the housing 31, there are provided three switches SW1 to SW3, three indicator lights PL1 to PL3, and a display unit 22 capable of displaying a three-digit numerical value. The indicator lights PL1 to PL3 are lit when the switches SW1 to SW3 are pressed, respectively.

  In FIG. 2, the electric circuit of the flow meter 1 is configured around the microcomputer 10, and the three switches SW 1 to 3 described above are connected to the input unit 11, and the output unit 16 is connected to 2 Two transistors TR1-2 and two light emitting diodes LED1-2 are connected. A display unit 22 is connected to the display output unit 15 of the microcomputer 10, and a pulse signal S 4 from the sensor 21 is input to the counter 14. Discrete circuit elements may be used without or together with the microcomputer 10.

  The switches SW1 to SW3 are also referred to as an A button, a B button, and an E button, respectively, and are used for mode setting, percent setting, and the like. For example, when the switch SW2 is pressed, a setting mode for changing or setting the setting ratio α is entered. In the setting mode, by pressing the switch SW1, the value of the setting ratio α changes sequentially. Further, by pressing the three switches SW1 to SW3 in combination, the setting ratio α can be finely changed and set.

  The sensor 21 is a magnetic detection element such as a Hall element, a magnetoresistive element, or a coil, for example, and outputs a number of pulse signals S4 corresponding to the rotational speed of the rotor, that is, the flow rate Q. The counter 14 counts the pulse signal S4 every predetermined period, and thereby outputs a count value S5 corresponding to the flow rate Q.

  The arithmetic processing unit 12 performs various arithmetic processing based on the on / off signals S1 to 3 of the switches SW1 to 3 input to the input unit 11, the count value S5 of the counter 14, and the contents stored in the memory 13. The signal S6 for displaying the flow rate (flow rate value) Q is output to the display output unit 15, and the control signal S7 for alarm is output to the output unit 16. The measurement (calculation) of the flow rate in the arithmetic processing unit 12 and the output of the control signal S7 by comparison with the threshold value are known per se, and various methods or methods can be adopted.

  The transistors TR1 and TR2 are turned on or off based on the control signal S7, and output alarm signals S8 and S9.

  The flow meter 1 is provided with a power supply device (not shown) and the flow meter 1 is operated by turning on the power switch.

  Next, a threshold value setting method in the flow meter 1 will be described.

  When the power is turned on while the flow meter 1 is connected to the pipeline, the flow rate Q of the pipeline at that time is calculated in real time by the arithmetic processing unit 12 and displayed on the display unit 22. This is the measurement mode.

  In this state, when the switch SW3 is pressed, the arithmetic processing unit 12 multiplies the flow rate value A1 when the switch SW3 is pressed by the set ratio α stored in the memory 13. (A1 × α) is set as the threshold value TH.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the measured flow rate Q changes every moment, but at the time point t1 when the switch SW3 is pressed, the flow rate value A1 at the time point t1 is read and stored in the flow rate value A1 and the memory 13. The product (A1 × α) with the set ratio α is set as the threshold value TH. In this case, α is represented by a value from “0” to “1”.

  At time t2 when the flow rate Q falls below the threshold value TH, alarm signals S8 and S9 are output and the light emitting diodes LED1 and LED2 are turned on. Based on the alarm signals S8 and S9, a buzzer (not shown) can be sounded to generate an alarm sound, or a valve (not shown) can be opened and closed to control the flow of the pipeline.

  Explaining with specific numerical values, assuming that the set rate α is 50% and the switch SW3 is pressed when the flow rate Q is 16.7 liters / minute, the threshold value TH is 16.7 × 0. .5 to 8.35 liters / minute. This threshold value TH of 8.35 liters / minute is set as the lower limit value of the flow rate Q. The user knows in advance that the setting ratio α is 50%, and the setting ratio α is displayed on the display unit 22 at an appropriate timing.

  Thus, in the flow meter 1, since the flow rate Q corresponding to the set rate α of the flow rate Q when the switch SW3 is pressed is set as the threshold value TH, how much the current flow rate Q is actually flowing. The user can intuitively grasp whether or not an alarm will be issued if the value falls to the value of. That is, the user knows that the set ratio α is 50%, and easily understands that an alarm is issued when the flow rate Q becomes 50% or less from the time when the switch SW3 is pressed. Therefore, the user can easily monitor the flow rate.

  If it is desired to issue an alarm when the flow rate Q changes to 50% of the current flow rate Q, the switch SW3 may be pressed again at that time. That is, if the switch SW3 is pressed, an alarm is issued when the set ratio α is reached with respect to the flow rate Q at that time.

  Further, the set ratio α can be easily changed by operating the switches SW1, 2 and the like. For example, assuming that the initial value of the set ratio α in the flow meter 1 is 50%, every time the switch SW1 is pressed, it changes to 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 0%, and then 50%. Return to percent.

  In this case, when the set ratio α is 100%, the control signal S7 is output only when the flow rate is out of the measurement range. When the set ratio α is 0%, the value of the flowing flow rate Q is output as the control signal S7.

  Further, the setting ratio α described above is used in the first setting method, and the second setting method will be described next. That is, in the second setting method, a value obtained by subtracting the setting ratio α described above from 100 is used as the setting ratio α. In this case, an alarm is issued when the flow rate Q when the switch SW3 is pressed changes by a set ratio α.

  That is, in the second setting method, assuming that the initial value is 50%, the setting ratio α changes to 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%, and 100% each time the switch SW1 is pressed. Then go back to 50 percent.

  In this case, the threshold value TH is a value obtained by multiplying the flow rate A1 by (100−α) / 100.

  In the above example, the transistors TR1 and TR2 are turned on when the flow rate Q becomes equal to or lower than the threshold value TH. However, the upper and lower threshold values TH1 and TH2 are set based on the set ratio α. The transistor TR1 may be turned on when the flow rate Q exceeds the upper limit threshold value TH1, and the transistor TR2 may be turned on when the flow rate Q exceeds the lower limit threshold value TH1.

  In this case, by using the second setting method, plus α becomes the upper limit threshold value TH1 with respect to the flow rate Q, and minus α becomes the lower limit threshold value TH2 with respect to the flow rate Q. That is, a value of plus or minus α with respect to the flow rate Q is set as the threshold value TH, and an alarm is issued when the flow rate Q is out of this range.

  Note that the flow rate Q of the pipeline is displayed on the display unit 22 in real time from the time when the power is turned on, but when the switch SW3 is pressed, the flow rate at that time is displayed for a predetermined time, and then the set rate α Is displayed for a predetermined time, after which the determined or set threshold value TH is displayed, and then the measured flow rate Q is displayed in real time. The predetermined time may be, for example, 1 second to several seconds.

  Next, the operation of the flow meter 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the flow meter 1.

  In FIG. 4, when a fluid is passed through the flow meter 1 (# 11), the flow rate Q is displayed in real time (# 12). When the switch SW3 is pressed (# 13), the flow rate A1 at that time is taken in (# 14), and calculation with the set ratio α is performed (# 15), which is set as the threshold value TH ( # 16). These processes are performed instantaneously, but thereafter, the flow rate A1, the set ratio α, the threshold value TH, and the like are displayed (# 17). When an operation for changing the setting ratio α is performed (# 18), the processing after step # 14 is performed using the changed setting ratio α. When the change operation of the setting ratio α is not performed, the flow rate Q is displayed (# 19), and the process ends.

  In the embodiment described above, switches and buttons of various structures or methods can be used as the switches SW1 to SW3. In addition, the structure, shape, dimensions, number, material, circuit configuration, processing content or order of the entire flow meter 1 or each part can be appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

It is a front view of the flow meter of one embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a flowmeter. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement of a flowmeter. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a flowmeter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flowmeter 11 Microcomputer 12 Arithmetic processing part (Flow rate acquisition means, setting means, display control means)
13 Memory (storage unit)
16 Output unit (means to output alarm signal)
21 Sensor 22 Display 31 Housing 32, 33 Connection thread SW3 Switch (setting operation means)

Claims (8)

A flow monitoring how using a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the ever-changing fluid,
In a state in which the fluid to the flow rate monitoring flowed to the flow meter, in response to the setting operation for setting the threshold is performed by the user, actually when the setting operation is performed The flowing flow rate is measured by the flow meter, and a flow rate value at a preset ratio stored in advance with respect to the measured flow rate value is set as the threshold value , and then the flow rate value to be measured is set. An alarm signal is output when the value is outside the range indicated by the threshold value ;
Flow audit Mikata method using a flow meter, characterized in that. A flow rate monitoring method using a flow meter provided with a setting operation means for performing a threshold value setting operation for monitoring a flow rate of fluid that changes every moment and a display unit for displaying the flow rate ,
Flowing a fluid to the flow rate monitoring the flow meter,
In response to the user operating the setting operation means, measuring the flow rate actually flowing when the setting operation is performed by the flow meter;
Obtaining a flow rate value of a preset ratio stored in advance with respect to the measured flow rate value ;
Setting the obtained flow rate value as a threshold;
A step of outputting an alarm signal when a flow rate value measured thereafter is out of a range indicated by the set threshold;
Flow audit Mikata method using a flow meter characterized by having a. Displaying the measured flow value on the display unit;
Displaying a pre-stored set ratio on the display unit;
Displaying the determined flow rate value or the set threshold value on the display unit;
Flow audit Mikata method using claim 2 flowmeter according made a. The step of displaying the measured flow rate value on the display unit, the step of displaying the preset ratio stored in advance, the step of displaying the calculated flow rate value or the set threshold value in this order. And then display the measured flow value in real time,
Flow audit Mikata method using a flow meter of claim 3, wherein. As the threshold value, an upper limit threshold value obtained by adding a flow value corresponding to the set ratio to the measured flow value and a lower limit obtained by subtracting a flow value corresponding to the set ratio Set the threshold and
A flow rate monitoring method using the flowmeter according to claim 1. A flowmeter used to measure the flow rate of a fluid that changes every moment and to monitor the flow rate,
A display for displaying the measured flow rate value ;
A setting operation means for performing a setting operation of a flow rate threshold value used for flow rate monitoring;
A storage unit for storing a set ratio with respect to a flow rate value ;
In response to the operation of the setting operation means, a flow rate acquisition means for acquiring a flow value actually flowing at that time,
Means from the obtained flow rate value and the set rate stored in the storage unit seeking flow rate value to set it as the threshold value,
Means for outputting an alarm signal when the measured flow rate value is outside the range indicated by the threshold;
A flow meter for flow rate monitoring characterized by comprising: When the setting operation means is operated, the flow rate value acquired at that time is displayed on the display unit for a predetermined time, and then the set ratio stored in the storage unit is displayed for a predetermined time. In addition, a display control unit that displays the set threshold value for a predetermined time and then controls to display the measured flow rate value in real time,
The flow meter for flow rate monitoring according to claim 6 . As the threshold value, an upper limit threshold value obtained by adding a flow value corresponding to the set ratio to the measured flow value and a lower limit obtained by subtracting a flow value corresponding to the set ratio Set the threshold and
The flow meter for flow rate monitoring according to claim 6 or 7.

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