JP5137124B2 - Water meter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water meter having an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used.

Conventionally, as a typical example of this type of water meter, an electromagnetic water meter, an impeller water meter, and an ultrasonic water meter are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).
JP 2000-180224 A (paragraph [0011]) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-292096 (paragraph [0057], FIGS. 1 and 11) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-189090 (paragraph [0030], FIGS. 4 and 6)

  By the way, the above-mentioned water meter includes an external power receiving type water meter that operates by receiving power from an external power source (for example, 100V commercial power source), and an independent operation method that operates only by a built-in battery without receiving power from the external power source. There is a water meter. And because of their structural differences, the water meter with independent operation is superior in terms of waterproof performance and external noise resistance, while it can be used for a long time without replacing the battery (hereinafter referred to as “power supply life performance”). ”), An external power-receiving type water meter was superior.

  However, the water meter needs to be replaced both when the water meter is immersed due to lack of waterproof performance and when the battery runs out due to lack of power life performance. The replacement work requires time and is temporarily unavailable because it is necessary to remove the old water meter from the water pipe and attach a new water meter to the water pipe. For this reason, the water meter has the same waterproof performance as that of an independently operated water meter, has the same power life performance as that of an external power receiving method water meter, and has a stronger performance with respect to external noise resistance than the external power receiving method. The development of was demanded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a water meter having excellent waterproof performance, external noise resistance performance, and power supply life performance.

The water meter according to the invention of claim 1 made to achieve the above object is a water meter having an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used, and a meter case having a sealed space containing the electric circuit. And a daylighting wall portion that is provided as a part of the meter case and made of a translucent member, and is held in a state of being joined or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall portion, and emits light toward the daylighting wall portion A light-emitting element that can be connected to the light-emitting element at one end and an external power supply at the other end, and a waterproof covering member that covers the light-emitting element and the power supply cable in a waterproof state . Inside, there is a solar panel that receives light from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall to generate electricity and supplies power to the electric circuit inside the metercase, and whether it is outside the metercase through the daylighting wall. A light guide block that guides the captured light to the solar cell panel, the light guide block being joined to or opposed to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and one side of the panel light guide unit A light introduction part for directing light from the daylighting wall part from one side part of the panel-shaped light guide part to the other side part, and the side opposite to the solar cell panel of the panel-like light guide part The step surface is provided in a stepped structure, and is provided at each step portion, and includes a plurality of step reflection surfaces that reflect light from one side of the panel light guide portion toward the solar cell panel, A columnar structure extending in the normal direction of the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel from the center in the longitudinal direction on one side surface of the panel-shaped light guide unit, and the distal end surface is joined to the inner surface of the daylighting wall portion, Is obtained by dividing the sphere into four equal parts The light introduced from the front end surface is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface and directed from one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit to the other side, and the plurality of step reflecting surfaces are centered on the light introducing unit. It is characterized by being arranged concentrically.

A water meter according to the invention of claim 2 is a water meter having an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used, and is provided as a part of the meter case having a sealed space containing the electric circuit. A light-emitting wall portion made of a translucent member, a light-emitting element that can be connected to an external power source, and one end surface held in a state of being joined or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall portion, while the other end surface emits light And a fiber optic cable joined to or opposed to the element, and the inside of the meter case receives light from the outside of the meter case through the daylighting wall to generate electricity and supply the electricity to the electric circuit in the meter case A battery panel and a light guide block that guides light taken from outside the meter case to the solar panel through the lighting wall, and the light guide block receives the solar panel. A panel-shaped light guide unit bonded or opposed to the surface, and provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit, the light from the daylighting wall unit is transmitted from one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit to the other side unit. Light from the one side part of the panel-shaped light guide part. And a plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect each toward the solar cell panel, and the light introducing portion extends from the center in the longitudinal direction on one side surface of the panel-shaped light guide portion in the normal direction of the light receiving surface in the solar cell panel. It has an extended column structure, and the tip end surface is joined to the inner surface of the daylighting wall, while the base end face is a sphere-shaped spherical projection surface obtained by dividing the spherical surface into four equal parts, and is introduced from the tip end surface. The reflected light is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface and directed from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to the other side, Stepped reflective surface numbers, having characterized in that arranged concentrically around the light introducing portion.

The invention according to claim 3 is the water meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the meter case is provided with an indicator for displaying the measurement result of the amount of tap water used, and at the upper end of the meter case. The panel is provided with an upper surface translucent member for making the display visible from the outside, and the solar cell panel is arranged below the display in parallel with the upper surface translucent member to form a panel shape in the light guide block. The light guide part is disposed so as to overlap the upper surface or the lower surface of the solar cell panel, the light introduction part is faced to a part of the upper surface transparent member through the side of the display, and a part of the upper surface transparent member is a lighting wall. It has the characteristics in the part.

The water meter according to the invention of claim 4 is a water meter having an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used, and is provided as a part of the meter case having a sealed space containing the electric circuit. A light-emitting element configured to transmit light toward the daylighting wall part, and a light-emitting element that is held in a state of being joined or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall part, and one end portion A power supply cable connected to the light emitting element and having the other end connected to an external power source, and a waterproof covering member that covers the light emitting element and the power supply cable in a waterproof state, and the inside of the meter case via a lighting wall portion The solar panel that receives light from the outside of the meter case, generates electricity, and supplies power to the electrical circuit inside the meter case, and the light that is taken in from the outside of the meter case through the lighting wall A light guide block, and the light guide block is provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit, which is joined to or opposed to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and the lighting wall unit. A light introducing portion for directing light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to the other side, and a surface of the panel-shaped light guide opposite to the solar cell panel in a staircase structure Provided in each step portion, and provided with a plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide part toward the solar cell panel, and the amount of tap water used inside the meter case A display for displaying the measurement results is provided, and an upper surface translucent member for making the display visible from the outside is provided at the upper end of the meter case. Parallel to the member, placed under the display, light guide The panel-shaped light guide portion in the lock is arranged so as to overlap the upper surface or the lower surface of the solar cell panel, and the light introduction portion is abutted with a part of the upper surface light-transmitting member through the side of the display device. It is characterized by the fact that the part is a daylighting wall.

The water meter according to the invention of claim 5 is a water meter having an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used, and is provided as a part of the meter case having a sealed space containing the electric circuit. A light-emitting wall portion made of a translucent member, a light-emitting element that can be connected to an external power source, and one end surface held in a state of being joined or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall portion, while the other end surface emits light And a fiber optic cable joined to or opposed to the element, and the inside of the meter case receives light from the outside of the meter case through the daylighting wall to generate electricity and supply the electricity to the electric circuit in the meter case A battery panel and a light guide block that guides light taken from outside the meter case to the solar panel through the lighting wall, and the light guide block receives the solar panel. A panel-shaped light guide unit bonded or opposed to the surface, and provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit, the light from the daylighting wall unit is transmitted from one side of the panel-shaped light guide unit to the other side unit. Light from the one side part of the panel-shaped light guide part. And a plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect each toward the solar cell panel, and an indicator for displaying the measurement result of the amount of tap water used is provided inside the meter case, and the upper end of the meter case The panel is provided with an upper surface translucent member for making the display visible from the outside, and the solar cell panel is arranged below the display in parallel with the upper surface translucent member to form a panel shape in the light guide block. Overlay the light guide on the upper or lower surface of the solar cell panel Arranged to, against a part of the upper surface translucent member light introducing portion through the side of the display, having the features a portion of the upper surface translucent member was a lighting wall.

Invention of Claim 6 is the water meter in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5. WHEREIN: The measurement path through which tap water passes, The electromagnet which generates a magnetic flux in a measurement path, and the opposing arrangement | positioning in a measurement path It is an electromagnetic water meter that includes a pair of detection electrodes and measures the amount of tap water used based on the potential difference generated between the pair of detection electrodes due to the flow of tap water in the measurement path. Has characteristics.

[Invention of Claim 1]
When the power supply cable provided in the water meter of claim 1 is connected to an external power source, the light emitting element at one end of the power supply cable emits light. Then, the solar cell panel in the meter case receives light from the light emitting element through the daylighting wall part which is a part of the meter case, generates electric power, and supplies power to the electric circuit in the meter case. This activates the electrical circuit and measures the amount of tap water used. As described above, since the water meter of the present invention is operated by the power output from the external power source, it can exhibit power life performance equivalent to that of the conventional external power receiving type water meter, and the conventional independent operating type water meter. Excellent power life performance.

  Moreover, in the water meter of the present invention, the electric power output from the external power source is converted into light and taken into the meter case, and then the light is returned to electric power to feed the electric circuit. A member becomes unnecessary. Thereby, the water meter of this invention can exhibit the waterproof performance equivalent to the conventional water meter of an independent operation system, and is excellent in a waterproof performance compared with the conventional external power receiving system water meter.

Furthermore, even if electrical noise is placed on the power supply cable, when the power is converted into light and the light is returned to the power, the noise component is filtered, and the external noise resistance performance is superior to that of a conventional external power receiving type water meter. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water meter excellent in both waterproof performance, external noise resistance performance, and power source life performance.
Moreover, the panel-shaped light guide part with which the light guide block was equipped is joined to the solar cell panel, or opposing arrangement | positioning is carried out. And the light which entered the light introduction part of the light guide block from the daylighting wall part goes from one side part of the panel-like light guide part to the other side part, and in the middle, each step reflecting surface in the panel-like light guide part Reflected toward the solar panel. Thereby, the light which passed the lighting wall part can be distributed and irradiated to the light-receiving surface of a solar cell panel, and light can be efficiently converted into electricity by a solar cell panel.
Furthermore, the light taken into the light guide block from the front end surface of the light introducing portion having a columnar structure is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface in the light introducing portion, and is dispersed in the three-dimensional direction of the vertical and horizontal thicknesses of the panel light guide portion. It is possible to irradiate the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel over a wide range by reflecting the dispersed light with a plurality of step reflecting surfaces distributed and arranged in the panel light guide.

[Invention of claim 2]
When the light emitting element provided in the water meter according to claim 2 is connected to an external power source, the light emitted by the light emitting element is taken into the meter case through the optical fiber cable and the lighting wall. Then, the solar cell panel in the meter case receives the light to generate electricity, and feeds the electric circuit in the meter case. This activates the electrical circuit and measures the amount of tap water used. As described above, since the water meter of the present invention is operated by the power output from the external power source, it can exhibit power life performance equivalent to that of the conventional external power receiving type water meter, and the conventional independent operating type water meter. Excellent power life performance.

  Moreover, in the water meter of the present invention, the electric power output from the external power source is converted into light and taken into the meter case, and then the light is returned to electric power to feed the electric circuit. A member becomes unnecessary. Thereby, the water meter of this invention can exhibit the waterproof performance equivalent to the conventional water meter of an independent operation system, and is excellent in a waterproof performance compared with the conventional external power receiving system water meter.

In addition, since the external power supply and the electrical circuit in the meter case are connected by an optical fiber cable, it is difficult for electrical noise to be taken into the electrical circuit, resulting in an external noise resistance performance that is better than that of conventional external power-receiving water meters. Excellent. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water meter excellent in both waterproof performance, external noise resistance performance, and power source life performance.
Moreover, the panel-shaped light guide part with which the light guide block was equipped is joined to the solar cell panel, or opposing arrangement | positioning is carried out. And the light which entered the light introduction part of the light guide block from the daylighting wall part goes from one side part of the panel-like light guide part to the other side part, and in the middle, each step reflecting surface in the panel-like light guide part Reflected toward the solar panel. Thereby, the light which passed the lighting wall part can be distributed and irradiated to the light-receiving surface of a solar cell panel, and light can be efficiently converted into electricity by a solar cell panel.
Furthermore, the light taken into the light guide block from the front end surface of the light introducing portion having a columnar structure is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface in the light introducing portion, and is dispersed in the three-dimensional direction of the vertical and horizontal thicknesses of the panel light guide portion. It is possible to irradiate the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel over a wide range by reflecting the dispersed light with a plurality of step reflecting surfaces distributed and arranged in the panel light guide.

  In addition, in invention of Claim 1 or 2, when a light emitting element breaks down or a power feeding cable or an optical fiber cable is disconnected, the state where the water meter is attached to the water pipe is maintained, and the light emitting element, the power feeding cable, and Since it is sufficient to replace the optical fiber cable, the repair can be performed easily and quickly without stopping the tap water. In addition, if a backup battery is built in the water meter, the amount of tap water used can be continuously measured when a malfunction such as disconnection occurs.

[Invention of claims 3 , 4 and 5 ]
According to the water meter of claims 3 , 4 and 5 , since the panel-shaped light guide portions of the solar cell panel and the light guide block are arranged in parallel with the upper surface translucent member of the meter case, the water meter is disposed on the upper surface translucent member. It can be made compact in the thickness direction. Moreover, since a part of upper surface translucent member was used as the lighting wall part, waterproof performance improves compared with the case where a daylighting wall part is provided separately from the upper surface translucent member.

[Invention of claim 6 ]
Since power consumption than electromagnetic water meters to the impeller-type water meter is large, as in the invention of claim 6, when the present invention is applied to the electromagnetic water meters, to significantly improve the power life performance be able to.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the meter case 10 </ b> C of the water meter 10 according to the present embodiment includes a measurement unit 11, a relay cylinder unit 12, and a substrate housing unit 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the measurement unit 11 has a double tube structure in which an inner tube portion 14 is provided inside the outer tube portion 15. For example, the inner tube portion 14 has flanges 14B and 14B projecting laterally from both ends of the cylindrical tube 14A, and these flanges 14B and 14B are fitted and welded to the inner ends of the outer tube 15. Yes. In addition, fixed flanges 15F project from both end portions of the outer surface of the outer tube portion 15, and a plurality of bolt insertion holes 15B are formed through the fixed flanges 15F as shown in FIG. And the water meter 10 is fixed to the water pipe 90 by superimposing the fixing flange 15F on the flange 90F of the water pipe 90 shown in FIG. The tap water flows through the measuring path 22 inside.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the relay cylinder portion 12 has a cylindrical shape with both ends open, and is welded to an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the outer tube portion 15 and protrudes upward. The substrate housing portion 13 has a larger diameter than the relay cylinder portion 12 and has a cylindrical shape with both ends and is welded to the upper end portion of the relay cylinder portion 12. As shown in FIG. 3, through holes 15 </ b> C and 30 </ b> C are formed inside the portion of the substrate housing portion 13 and the outer tube portion 15 where the relay cylinder portion 12 is welded. Thereby, the space between the outer tube portion 15 and the inner tube portion 14 in the measurement unit 11 and the internal space of the relay tube portion 12 and the outer tube portion 15 communicate with each other.

  The substrate housing portion 13 has a structure in which an upper surface opening in a cylindrical case 31 having a bottom end and an open upper end is closed by an upper surface translucent member 35. And the upper end part of the said relay cylinder part 12 is welded to the center of the bottom part in the cylindrical case 31, and the said through-hole 30C is formed by penetration.

  The upper surface translucent member 35 is a circular and transparent plate glass, and the upper cap 32 is fitted to the upper surface translucent member 35 from above. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the upper cap 32 is fitted on the outer side of the upper surface translucent member 35 and includes an upper surface pressing wall 32 </ b> B projecting inward from the upper end of the cylindrical wall 32 </ b> A. The inside of the upper surface pressing wall 32 </ b> B is a display window 32 </ b> C for making the inside of the substrate housing portion 13 visible through the upper surface light-transmitting member 35. In addition, at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 32A, engagement projections 32K are formed that are separated from the lower end portion of the cylindrical wall 32A in a protruding piece shape and extend obliquely outward and downward from an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the cylindrical wall 32A. ing.

  A lower cap 33 is fitted below the upper surface translucent member 35 in the upper cap 32. The lower cap 33 includes an inner cylindrical wall 33A fitted inside the cylindrical wall 32A of the upper cap 32, and the upper end portion of the inner cylindrical wall 33A is reduced in a stepped shape so that an O-ring accommodating portion 33R is formed. Is formed. Further, a lower surface pressing wall 33B projects inward from the upper end of the O-ring housing portion 33R, and the inside of the lower surface pressing wall 33B is a display for making the inside of the substrate housing portion 13 visible through the upper surface translucent member 35. It is a window 33C. Then, the O-ring 34A is attached to the O-ring accommodating portion 33R, and the cylindrical wall 32A and the inner cylindrical wall 33A are welded in a state where the O-ring 34A and the lower surface pressing wall 33B are pressed against the lower surface of the upper surface translucent member 35. ing.

  A buffering O-ring 34B is provided below the O-ring housing portion 33R to prevent buffering between the lower cap 33 and a circuit board 41 described later.

  From the lower end of the inner cylindrical wall 33A of the lower cap 33, a disk wall 33D projects in the outer horizontal direction, and the outer cylindrical wall 33K protrudes upward from the outer edge of the disk wall 33D. . The outer cylindrical wall 33 </ b> K is fitted inside the upper end portion of the cylindrical case 31. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end portion of the cylindrical case 31 is a thin cylindrical wall 31 </ b> L that is thinned by increasing the inner diameter in a stepped shape. As shown in FIG. 5, the thin cylindrical wall 31 </ b> L and the outer cylindrical wall 33 </ b> K are welded all around in a state in which the upper end surfaces of the thin cylindrical wall are flush with each other. Thereby, the upper surface opening of the cylindrical case 31 is sealed in a waterproof state, and the space communicated across the substrate housing part 13, the relay cylinder part 12, and the measuring part 11 becomes a sealed space 23 isolated from the outside in a waterproof state. It has become.

  A fixing ring 16 is fitted to the upper end portion of the substrate housing portion 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing ring 16 is formed by connecting upper end portions of the outer cylindrical wall 16X and the inner cylindrical wall 16Y, and includes a fitting groove 16Z between the outer cylindrical wall 16X and the inner cylindrical wall 16Y. It has a structure. The upper end portions of the thin cylindrical wall 31L and the outer cylindrical wall 33K are fitted in the fitting groove 16Z. An engagement groove 16V is formed on the inner surface of the fixing ring 16, and the engagement protrusion 32K engages with the engagement groove 16V to prevent the fixing ring 16 from coming off.

  In addition, the water meter 10 of this embodiment is shipped after confirming that it does not immerse in the sealed space 23 in a state where it is submerged and applied with a predetermined water pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an upper surface lid 17 is rotatably attached to a hinge portion 17 </ b> H provided in the fixing ring 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface lid 17 has a cap structure in which a conical wall is suspended from the outer peripheral surface of the disk, and the lower surface of the conical wall is joined to the upper surface of the fixing ring 16 to be in a closed state (FIG. 1). (Refer to FIG. 2). Further, a cable insertion slit 17A is formed at a position on the opposite side of the top cover 17 from the hinge portion 17H. The cable insertion slit 17A has a vertically long shape opened to the lower end surface of the conical wall.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an upper surface protruding piece 32T is formed at the upper end portion of the cylindrical case 31 of the substrate housing portion 13 by extending a part of the upper surface pressing wall 32B inward. The upper surface protrusion 32T is overlapped at a position out of a portion of the upper surface light transmissive member 35 facing a display device 40 described later. In addition, for example, a circular light emitting portion fixing hole 32A is formed through the central portion of the upper surface protrusion 32T. And the front-end | tip part of the electric power feeding cable 36 is being fixed to this upper surface protrusion 32T.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the power supply cable 36 is formed by coating a copper wire 36A with an insulating coating 36B. At the tip of the power supply cable 36, the copper wire 36A is exposed from the insulation coating 36B, and the LED 38 corresponding to the “light emitting element” of the present invention is connected to the tip of the exposed copper wire 36A. The entire LED 38, the exposed portion of the copper wire 36A, and the tip end portion of the insulating coating 36B are packaged with a transparent resin so as to be waterproof. In the present embodiment, the “waterproof coating member” according to the present invention is configured by the insulating coating 36B and the resin used in the package.

  The resin in which the LED 38 and the like are packaged is solidified to form the cylindrical light emitting portion 37 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the LED 38 is disposed so as to emit light toward one end surface of the cylindrical light emitting portion 37, and the power supply cable 36 is pulled out from the side surface of the cylindrical light emitting portion 37 to the side. . One end portion of the cylindrical light emitting portion 37 is, for example, press-fitted and fixed to the light emitting portion fixing hole 32 </ b> A, and a light emitting surface that is one end surface of the cylindrical light emitting portion 37 is joined to the upper surface of the upper surface translucent member 35. . Thus, when the LED 38 emits light, the light is taken into the meter case 10 </ b> C through the upper surface translucent member 35. In other words, in the present embodiment, the portion of the upper surface translucent member 35 that faces the light emitting portion fixing hole 32A is the daylighting wall portion 35S (see FIGS. 2 and 4) according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the proximal end portion of the power feeding cable 36 is connected to the LED drive circuit 72. The LED drive circuit 72 is connected to an external power supply 70 (for example, a commercial power supply of AC 100V to 200V) via an outlet 71. Thereby, LED38 always light-emits. Further, the LED drive circuit 72 has, for example, a current sensor (for example, a shunt resistor), and when an abnormality occurs in the current supplied to the LED 38 and the power supply cable 36, for example, a warning signal is transmitted wirelessly. Output.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a magnetic flux generation unit 24 is accommodated in the sealed space 23 in the measurement unit 11. The magnetic flux generator 24 has a structure in which a pair of electromagnets 26 and 26 are provided at two locations of an annular yoke 25. These electromagnets 26 and 26 are disposed to face each other with the inner tube portion 14 sandwiched in the radial direction. Each electromagnet 26 is formed by winding a coil 26 </ b> B around a shaft-shaped iron core 26 </ b> A, and a terminal portion of the coil 26 </ b> B is drawn into the substrate housing portion 13 through the relay cylinder portion 12.

  One end surface of the iron core 26 </ b> A on the side away from the inner tube portion 14 is joined to the yoke 25. On the other hand, the other end surface of the iron core 26 </ b> A is joined to a magnetic pole 27 fixed to the outer surface of the inner tube portion 14. The magnetic pole 27 has a structure in which the belt plate is curved along the outer surface of the inner tube portion 14. When the coils 26 </ b> B and 26 </ b> B are excited, the magnetic flux extends from the one magnetic pole 27 toward the other magnetic pole 27, and the magnetic flux crosses the measurement path 12.

  A pair of detection electrodes 28 and 28 are provided in the inner tube portion 14 at a position 90 degrees apart from each electromagnet 26 and 26. Specifically, through-holes 28A and 28A are formed at two positions in the inner tube portion 14, and pin-like detection electrodes 28 and 28 are fitted and fixed therein and waterproofed. . One end of the detection electrode 28 comes into contact with tap water in the measurement path 12, and an electric wire connected to the other end of the detection electrode 28 is drawn into the substrate housing portion 13 through the relay cylinder portion 12.

  In the substrate housing part 13, the sealed space 23 is surrounded by the upper surface translucent member 35 and the cylindrical case 31. In the sealed space 23 in the substrate housing portion 13, a disc-shaped partition plate 44 is fitted and fixed to the inner side surface of the cylindrical case 31 in a state parallel to the upper surface translucent member 35 in the middle in the vertical direction. . As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of support columns 44 </ b> S are erected from the outer edge portion of the partition plate 44. Then, the circuit board 41 is fixed to the upper ends of the columns 44 </ b> S, and is parallel to the partition plate 44 and the upper surface translucent member 35. Further, a backup battery 45 (for example, a lithium battery) is accommodated below the partition plate 44 in the substrate accommodating portion 13. The battery 45 and the terminal portion of the electric wire connected to the pair of electrodes are connected to the circuit board 41 above the partition plate 44.

  The battery 45 is fixed to, for example, the bottom of the cylindrical case 31 by fixing means (not shown). Further, the electric wire constituting the coil 26 </ b> B and the electric wire connected to the detection electrode 28 are connected to the circuit board 41 through a hole (not shown) formed in the partition plate 44.

  A solar cell panel 43 is disposed on the upper surface of the partition plate 44. As shown in FIG. 8, the solar cell panel 43 has a rectangular flat plate shape (that is, a panel shape), and the upper surface is a light receiving surface 43J (see FIGS. 3 and 4). And the panel-shaped light guide part 51 of the light guide block 50 is piled up and fixed to the upper surface (light-receiving surface 43J) of the solar cell panel 43. The panel-shaped light guide 51 of the light guide block 50 will be described in detail later.

  The circuit board 41 has, for example, a structure in which a part of the outer edge portion of the disk is cut out. And the light introduction part 52 which stood up from the panel-shaped light guide part 51 among the light guide blocks 50 passes the side of the notch part of the circuit board 41, and is faced | matched by the inner surface of the upper surface translucent member 35 from the downward direction. Yes. The light introducing part 52 of the light guiding block 50 will be described in detail later.

  On the upper surface of the circuit board 41, a liquid crystal display panel as the display 40 is mounted. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the display device 40 can be visually recognized through the upper surface translucent member 35. In addition to the display device 40, a plurality of electrical element groups 42 such as a CPU, a memory, a capacitor, a resistor, and a switch element are mounted on the circuit board 41.

  FIG. 9 shows the entire electric circuit 19 accommodated in the sealed space 23 of the water meter 10. The electric circuit 19 includes a power supply circuit 60 formed by connecting an electric element group 42 mounted on a circuit board 41, a main control circuit 61, a coil excitation circuit 62, a voltage detection circuit 63, and a display control circuit 64.

  A battery 45 and a solar battery panel 43 are connected to the input part of the power supply circuit 60. The power supply circuit 60 normally operates by receiving power from the solar cell panel 43 and receives power from the battery 45 when the solar cell panel 43 is not outputting power. The power supply circuit 60 generates a DC stable voltage by performing smoothing, boosting or stepping down processing on the voltage of the power received from the solar battery panel 43 or the battery 45, and the main control circuit 61 and the coil excitation circuit 62. The voltage is supplied to the voltage detection circuit 63, the display control circuit 64, and the like.

  The coil excitation circuit 62 includes a switch element group that can connect the positive and negative DC output terminals of the power supply circuit 60 alternately to both terminals of the electromagnet 26.

  The voltage detection circuit 63 includes, for example, a low-pass filter, an amplifier circuit, and an A / D converter in order from the input side.

  The main control circuit 61 includes a CPU and a memory, and controls the entire electric circuit 19. Specifically, the main control circuit 61 executes a predetermined program provided in the memory to control on / off of the switch element of the coil excitation circuit 62, so that the direction of the magnetic flux in the measurement path 22 is switched alternately. The circuit 62 excites both electromagnets 26 and 26. When the flowing tap water in the measurement path 22 crosses the magnetic flux, a potential difference is generated between the pair of detection electrodes 28, 28, and the potential difference is amplified by the voltage detection circuit 63 and converted into digital data to the main control circuit 61. It is captured.

  Then, the main control circuit 61 calculates the tap water flow rate based on the potential difference between the detection electrodes 28 and 28. The main control circuit 61 calculates the flow rate by multiplying the flow velocity by the cross-sectional area of the measurement path 22, calculates the integrated value of the flow rate, and outputs the calculation result to the display control circuit 64. The display control circuit 64 displays these calculation results on the display 40 as the amount of tap water used.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 4, the light guide block 50 raises the light introduction part 52 upward from one side part of the panel-shaped light guide part 51 superimposed on the upper surface which is the light receiving surface 43J of the solar cell panel 43. It has a structure. As shown in FIG. 8, the panel-shaped light guide 51 has a quadrangular shape that is substantially the same as that of the solar cell panel 43 and covers the entire light receiving surface 43 </ b> J of the solar cell panel 43 from above.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the light introducing portion 52 has a column structure that extends upward from the center in the longitudinal direction on one side surface of the panel-shaped light guide portion 51. As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end surface (upper end surface) of the light introducing portion 52 is joined to the inner surface (lower surface) of the daylighting wall portion 35 </ b> S that is a part of the upper surface translucent member 35. The base end surface (lower end surface) of the light introducing portion 52 is a spherical projecting surface 54 having a 1/4 spherical shape obtained by dividing the spherical surface into four equal parts. Then, the light introduced from the front end surface of the light introducing portion 52 is reflected by the spherical projecting surface 54 in the light introducing portion 52 and is directed from one side portion of the panel light guide portion 51 to the other side portion.

  Specifically, the light introducing portion 52 has, for example, a shape based on a cylindrical body having a central axis parallel to the normal direction of the light receiving surface 43J in the solar cell panel 43, and the panel of the cylindrical bodies is a panel. The side surface on the side of the light guide 51 is cut obliquely as shown in FIG. 6A, and the side surface of the light introduction part 52 is inclined so as to move away from the panel light guide 51 as it goes from the upper end to the lower end. It has a structure. Thereby, the light introduced from the tip surface of the light introducing portion 52 is narrowed and reflected by the spherical projecting surface 54 in the light introducing portion 52.

  Further, the light traveling downward through the light introducing portion 52 is reflected on the light receiving surface 43J of the solar cell panel 43 depending on whether the light is reflected at the central position in the left-right direction or at the side position of the spherical projection surface 54. The direction of light traveling in the panel light guide 51 is forcibly dispersed in a parallel two-dimensional plane. Further, as shown in comparison with FIGS. 6A to 6C and FIGS. 7A to 7C, the light that has traveled downward through the light introducing portion 52 is a spherical projecting surface 54. The direction of light traveling in the panel-shaped light guide 51 is compulsory within a two-dimensional plane orthogonal to the light receiving surface 43J of the solar cell panel 43 depending on whether the light is reflected at the lower end position or the upper end position. To be distributed. That is, since the spherical projecting surface 54 has a three-dimensional spherical shape, the light reflected by the spherical projecting surface 54 is forcibly dispersed in the three-dimensional direction of the vertical and horizontal thicknesses of the panel light guide 51. Go ahead.

  The surface of the panel-shaped light guide 51 that is opposite to the joint surface with the solar cell panel 43 (that is, the upper surface of the panel-shaped light guide 51) is changed from one side having the light introduction part 52 to another side. It has a staircase structure that gradually decreases toward the. Each step portion of the staircase structure is provided with a plurality of step reflecting surfaces 53 for reflecting light from one side of the panel light guide 51 toward the solar cell panel 43. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of stepped reflection surfaces 53 are arranged concentrically around the light introducing portion 52. Each step reflecting surface 53 is inclined with respect to the normal direction of the light receiving surface 43J in the solar cell panel 43 as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 7 (A). Light that travels from one side to the other side in the light guide 51 is reflected to the light receiving surface 43 </ b> J side of the solar cell panel 43.

  The description regarding the structure of the water meter 10 of this embodiment is above. Next, the effect of this water meter 10 is demonstrated. For example, the water meter 10 is disposed in a recess (not shown) provided in the outdoor ground, and is attached in the middle of a water pipe 90 (see FIG. 3) embedded in the ground. Moreover, the water meter 10 may be attached in the middle of the water pipe 90 installed in water, such as a pond and a river.

  The LED drive circuit 72 connected to the base end portion of the power supply cable 36 of the water meter 10 is installed in a house, a factory, or a management hut away from the water meter 10 regardless of where the water meter 10 is installed. Connected to an outlet 71 of the power source 70. Thereby, LED38 is maintained in the light-emission state. Then, the light from the LED 38 enters the light introducing portion 52 in the light guiding block 50 in the meter case 10C through the daylighting wall portion 35S. Then, the light travels downward through the light introducing portion 52 and is reflected by the spherical projection surface 54 at the lower end portion of the light introducing portion 52, so that the vertical and horizontal thicknesses of the panel light guide portion 51 are in the three-dimensional direction. Proceed in a distributed manner. Then, the dispersed light is reflected by a plurality of step reflection surfaces 53 dispersedly arranged on the upper surface of the panel-shaped light guide 51 and is irradiated on the entire light receiving surface 43J of the solar cell panel 43. Then, the solar cell panel 43 generates electric power from the light and supplies it to the electric circuit 19 in the meter case 10C. As a result, the electric circuit 19 including the main control circuit 61, the coil excitation circuit 62, etc. is activated to measure the amount of tap water used, and the measurement result is displayed on the display 40.

  In order to visually recognize the indicator 40 of the water meter 10 below the water surface, the top lid 17 is opened with a tool (not shown) whose tip is hook-shaped, and glass is stretched on the bottom surface of the vertically extending cylinder. A meter viewing tool (not shown) may be brought into contact with the upper surface of the water meter 10 and looked into from above.

  Thus, since the water meter 10 of this embodiment operates with the electric power which the external power supply 70 outputs, it can demonstrate the power supply life performance equivalent to the water meter of the conventional external power receiving system, and the conventional independent operation | movement. Excellent power life performance than water meter. Moreover, in the water meter 10 of this embodiment, after converting the electric power which the external power supply 70 outputs into light and taking it in the inside of meter case 10C, it returns light to electric power and is fed to the electric circuit 19 (refer FIG. 9). Therefore, a conductive member penetrating the inside and outside of the meter case 10C is not necessary. Further, in the water meter 10 of the present embodiment, even if electric noise is applied to the power supply cable 36, the noise component is filtered when the electric power is converted into light and the light is returned to electric power. Thereby, the water meter 10 of this embodiment can exhibit the waterproof performance and external noise resistance equivalent to the conventional independent operation type water meter, and the waterproof performance and resistance to water are more than the conventional external power reception type water meter. Excellent external noise performance. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the water meter 10 that is excellent in both waterproof performance, external noise resistance performance, and power supply life performance.

  Moreover, in the water meter 10 of this embodiment, since the panel-shaped light guide part 51 of the solar cell panel 43 and the light guide block 50 was arrange | positioned in parallel with the upper surface translucent member 35 of 10 C of meter cases, the upper surface translucent member 35 The water meter 10 can be made compact in the plate thickness direction. Moreover, since a part of the upper surface translucent member 35 is the daylighting wall portion 35S, the waterproof performance and the external noise resistance performance are improved as compared with the case where the daylighting wall portion 35S is provided separately from the upper surface translucent member 35.

  In addition, when the LED 38 fails or the power supply cable 36 is disconnected, the LED drive circuit 72 outputs a wireless warning signal. The wireless warning signal is received by, for example, a wireless receiver provided in the water supply management station, and the water supply administrator replaces the LED 38 and the power supply cable 36 with new ones. At this time, the state in which the water meter 10 is fixed to the water pipe 90 is maintained, and only the LED 38 and the power supply cable 36 are replaced. Therefore, the replacement work can be performed easily and quickly without stopping the tap water. Further, at this time, since the electric circuit 19 in the water meter 10 is operated by the backup battery 45 built in the water meter 10, the time from the occurrence of the malfunction such as the disconnection to the completion of the replacement operation of the LED 38 and the power supply cable 36 is completed. The amount of tap water used can also be measured continuously.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the embodiments described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various other than the following can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be changed and implemented.

(1) Although the battery 45 of the first embodiment is an unchargeable lithium electric power, as shown in FIG. 10 , a secondary that can be charged in the middle of a connection line between the solar battery panel 43 and the power supply circuit 60. When the battery 45V is connected and the power generated by the solar battery panel 43 is surplus, the secondary battery 45V may be charged with the surplus power.

  (2) A wireless circuit may be provided in the electric circuit of the water meter of the above-described embodiment so that the detection result by the water meter can be obtained at a remote place.

  (3) The present invention is not limited to an electromagnetic water meter, and may be applied to an ultrasonic water meter, an impeller water meter with electronic calculation, and the like. In addition, since the electromagnetic water meter consumes more power than the impeller water meter with electronic calculation, etc., when the present invention is applied to the electromagnetic water meter as in the present embodiment, the power life performance is improved. It can be remarkably improved.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the circuit board 41 is arranged horizontally, and the panel-shaped light guide 51 is arranged horizontally in parallel with the circuit board 41. For example, the circuit board 41 is arranged vertically. In this case, the shapes of the light guide block 50 and the panel light guide 51 may be appropriately changed so that the panel light guide 51 is arranged vertically in parallel with the circuit board 41.

The perspective view of the water meter which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. A perspective view of the water meter with the top cover open Side cross section of water meter Front view of water meter Partial side sectional view of a water meter Side view of light guide block Front view of light guide block Flat section of water meter Circuit diagram of the electrical circuit of the water meter Circuit diagram of electric circuit of water meter of modification

Explanation of symbols

10, 10 V Water meter 10 C Meter case 19 Electrical circuit 23 Sealed space 26 Electromagnet 28 Detection electrode 35 Upper surface translucent member 35S, 83 Lighting wall part 36 Feeding cable 36B Insulation coating 37 Column-shaped light emitting part 38, 38V LED (light emitting element)
40 display 43 solar cell panel 43J receiving surface 50 the light guide block 51 panel-shaped light unit 52 the light introducing section 53 stepped reflecting surface 54 spherical reflecting surface 70 external power supply 90 water pipe

Claims (6)

In a water meter with an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used,
A meter case having a sealed space containing the electrical circuit;
A lighting wall provided as a part of the meter case and made of a translucent member;
A light-emitting element that is held in a state of being bonded to or arranged opposite to the outer surface of the daylighting wall, and can emit light toward the daylighting wall;
A power feeding cable having one end connected to the light emitting element and the other end connected to an external power source;
A waterproof covering member covering the light emitting element and the power supply cable in a waterproof state;
Inside the meter case, a solar cell panel that receives light from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to generate power, and feeds the electric circuit in the meter case,
A light guide block for guiding light taken from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to the solar cell panel;
The light guide block is a panel-shaped light guide unit that is bonded or disposed opposite to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and
A light introducing portion provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide, and for directing light from the daylighting wall from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to another side;
Of the panel-shaped light guide, the surface opposite to the solar cell panel is formed in a stepped structure, and is provided at each step portion, and light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide is respectively supplied to the solar cell panel. A plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect toward the
The light introduction part has a pillar structure extending in the normal direction of the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel from the longitudinal center of one side surface of the panel-shaped light guide part, and the tip surface is the inner surface of the lighting wall part. And the base end surface is a spherical projecting surface having a 1/4 spherical shape obtained by dividing the spherical surface into four equal parts, and the light introduced from the distal end surface is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface, and the panel From one side of the light guide to the other side,
The water meter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stepped reflection surfaces are arranged concentrically around the light introduction part. In a water meter with an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used,
A meter case having a sealed space containing the electrical circuit;
A lighting wall provided as a part of the meter case and made of a translucent member;
A light emitting device that can be connected to an external power source;
One end surface is held in a state of being bonded or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall portion, while the other end surface is provided with an optical fiber cable that is bonded or opposed to the light emitting element,
Inside the meter case, a solar cell panel that receives light from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to generate power, and feeds the electric circuit in the meter case,
A light guide block for guiding light taken from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to the solar cell panel;
The light guide block is a panel-shaped light guide unit that is bonded or disposed opposite to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and
A light introducing portion provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide, and for directing light from the daylighting wall from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to another side;
Of the panel-shaped light guide, the surface opposite to the solar cell panel is formed in a stepped structure, and is provided at each step portion, and light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide is respectively supplied to the solar cell panel. A plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect toward the
The light introduction part has a pillar structure extending in the normal direction of the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel from the longitudinal center of one side surface of the panel-shaped light guide part, and the tip surface is the inner surface of the lighting wall part. And the base end surface is a spherical projecting surface having a 1/4 spherical shape obtained by dividing the spherical surface into four equal parts, and the light introduced from the distal end surface is reflected by the spherical reflecting surface, and the panel From one side of the light guide to the other side,
The water meter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stepped reflection surfaces are arranged concentrically around the light introduction part. The meter case is provided with an indicator for displaying a measurement result of the amount of tap water used, and an upper surface for making the indicator visible from the outside at the upper end of the meter case. A translucent member is provided;
The solar cell panel is arranged below the display in parallel with the upper surface light-transmissive member,
The panel-shaped light guide in the light guide block is placed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the solar cell panel,
3. The light introduction part is abutted against a part of the upper surface translucent member through a side of the display, and a part of the upper surface translucent member serves as the daylighting wall part. Water meter as described. In a water meter with an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used,
A meter case having a sealed space containing the electrical circuit;
A lighting wall provided as a part of the meter case and made of a translucent member;
A light-emitting element that is held in a state of being bonded to or arranged opposite to the outer surface of the daylighting wall, and can emit light toward the daylighting wall;
A power feeding cable having one end connected to the light emitting element and the other end connected to an external power source;
A waterproof covering member covering the light emitting element and the power supply cable in a waterproof state;
Inside the meter case, a solar cell panel that receives light from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to generate power, and feeds the electric circuit in the meter case,
A light guide block for guiding light taken from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to the solar cell panel;
The light guide block is a panel-shaped light guide unit that is bonded or disposed opposite to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and
A light introducing portion provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide, and for directing light from the daylighting wall from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to another side;
Of the panel-shaped light guide, the surface opposite to the solar cell panel is formed in a stepped structure, and is provided at each step portion, and light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide is respectively supplied to the solar cell panel. A plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect toward the
The meter case is provided with an indicator for displaying a measurement result of the amount of tap water used, and an upper surface for making the indicator visible from the outside at the upper end of the meter case. A translucent member is provided;
The solar cell panel is arranged below the display in parallel with the upper surface light-transmissive member,
The panel-shaped light guide in the light guide block is placed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the solar cell panel,
A water meter, wherein the light introducing part is abutted against a part of the upper surface light transmitting member through a side of the display, and a part of the upper surface light transmitting member is used as the daylighting wall part. In a water meter with an electric circuit for measuring the amount of tap water used,
A meter case having a sealed space containing the electrical circuit;
A lighting wall provided as a part of the meter case and made of a translucent member;
A light-emitting element that is held in a state of being bonded to or arranged opposite to the outer surface of the daylighting wall, and can emit light toward the daylighting wall;
An optical fiber cable in which one end surface is held in a state bonded or opposed to the outer surface of the daylighting wall portion, while the other end surface is bonded or arranged opposite to the light emitting element,
Inside the meter case, a solar cell panel that receives light from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to generate power, and feeds the electric circuit in the meter case,
A light guide block for guiding light taken from outside the meter case through the daylighting wall portion to the solar cell panel;
The light guide block is a panel-shaped light guide unit that is bonded or disposed opposite to the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, and
A light introducing portion provided on one side of the panel-shaped light guide, and for directing light from the daylighting wall from one side of the panel-shaped light guide to another side;
Of the panel-shaped light guide, the surface opposite to the solar cell panel is formed in a stepped structure, and is provided at each step portion, and light from one side of the panel-shaped light guide is respectively supplied to the solar cell panel. A plurality of step reflecting surfaces that reflect toward the
The meter case is provided with an indicator for displaying a measurement result of the amount of tap water used, and an upper surface for making the indicator visible from the outside at the upper end of the meter case. A translucent member is provided;
The solar cell panel is arranged below the display in parallel with the upper surface light-transmissive member,
The panel-shaped light guide in the light guide block is placed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the solar cell panel,
A water meter, wherein the light introducing part is abutted against a part of the upper surface light transmitting member through a side of the display, and a part of the upper surface light transmitting member is used as the daylighting wall part.   A measuring path through which tap water passes, an electromagnet for generating magnetic flux in the measuring path, and a pair of detection electrodes arranged opposite to each other in the measuring path, wherein the tap water flows in the measuring path The water meter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the water meter is an electromagnetic water meter that measures the amount of use of the tap water based on a potential difference generated between the pair of detection electrodes. .

Images