JP5288600B2 - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor on the basis of an optimum shut-off determination value of each apparatus by performing block-based apparatus estimation. <P>SOLUTION: A gas shut-off device includes: a flow rate storage means 11 which classifies and stores a flow rate determined based on flow velocity by a flow rate computing means 10; an apparatus storage means 13 which preliminarily stores flow rate information of possessed apparatuses; an apparatus estimation means 14 which estimates a using gas apparatus from apparatus registration data and a stored flow rate data pattern group; and an abnormality determination means 17 which determines whether the using apparatus is abnormal from a registration apparatus estimated by the apparatus estimation means 14 and a shut-off setting value for each apparatus set by an apparatus monitoring value setting means 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device that registers gas appliances owned by each household and monitors the security of each appliance.

  FIG. 3 shows a conventional gas shut-off device, in which a gas meter 101 is provided in the middle of a gas supply pipe 103 to one or more gas appliances 102 installed in each customer's house.

  A gas shutoff valve 105 and a gas flow rate measuring means 106 are sequentially connected to the gas supply path 104 of the gas meter 101 from the upstream side.

  In addition, a signal from the gas flow rate measuring means 106, that is, a display unit 107 that displays the used gas flow rate, a seismic sensor 108 that detects vibration such as an earthquake, an information input means 109 for performing gas appliance discrimination, and a registration memory The device 110 and the device determination unit 111, the control circuit 112 that performs overall control processing of the operation of the seismic device 108, the device determination, the safety function, and the like, and a battery (not shown) serving as a power source thereof are incorporated. .

  The information input means 109 may be a built-in type in the gas meter 101, a type that can be input from the outside, an input key type that can input numerical values and symbols, or a type that is connected to an external device.

  The registration storage means 110 performs addition or rewriting of a semiconductor memory for storing registered data or recording. The appliance determination unit 111 determines the gas appliance to be used from the registered data and the measured flow rate value.

  The gas flow rate measuring means 106 is configured to constitute a gas flow rate detecting means by arranging a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers on the upstream side and the downstream side as the ultrasonic wave obliquely crosses the gas flow in the gas supply path 104. Then, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received alternately between the ultrasonic transmitters and receivers, and the propagation time difference between the forward and reverse ultrasonic waves is measured at regular intervals with respect to the fluid flow, and the flow velocity is measured based on this propagation time difference signal. The flow rate is calculated by the calculation means.

  Next, a procedure for performing device registration will be described.

  As information to be registered in the gas meter 101, a flow rate pattern generated when each gas appliance 102 is used is used. As actual registration data, data of a flow rate value every 0.2 seconds from the start of device operation is stored for a predetermined time.

  In the flow rate pattern registration method, the flow rate pattern of each gas appliance 102 and the code number corresponding to the flow rate pattern are stored in the storage unit of the gas meter 101 in advance. The number of necessary code numbers to be set is input from the input key of the information input means 109 by the necessary number for registration and stored in the registration storage means 110.

  The gas meter 101 measures the gas flow rate at regular intervals, and when the newly measured gas flow rate value increases by more than a predetermined value from the previous value, it is determined that a new instrument has been used, and the flow rate change and the registration storage means The flow rate pattern corresponding to the registered device code is compared to determine the device being used.

  Further, the gas meter 101 has a history storage means, and stores and stores the measured value of the gas flow rate in time series, thereby comparing the past transition and the newly measured gas flow rate value, so that a newer instrument can be obtained. It can also be determined whether it has been used.

  As a flow rate pattern registration method, when the gas meter 101 is connected to an external database and an authentication code of a newly registered gas appliance is registered by key input, the flow pattern corresponding to the authentication code is registered from the database by the data registration means. It is downloaded and saved in the registration storage means 110.

  The gas meter 101 measures the gas flow rate at regular intervals, and when the newly measured gas flow rate value increases by a predetermined value or more from the previous value, it is determined that a new instrument has been used, and the flow rate change and registration memory are stored. The flow rate pattern corresponding to the instrument code registered in the means 110 is compared, and the instrument being used is determined.

  The flow rate pattern uses a table of characteristic numerical values such as a difference in data at a certain time interval and a maximum value, and is used for comparison with the actually measured flow rate value.

In addition, when there is a difference in the flow rate change pattern of the device in the actual use state with respect to the initially registered flow rate pattern, or when a difference occurs due to changes over time, it is actually assumed that the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The control means has a function of correcting the difference data with the flow rate value and updating / correcting the data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-200802 A

However, in the above conventional configuration, how to ensure the security after checking the registered data and the flow rate of the appliance is not disclosed. However, it is not disclosed how to ensure the security of equipment when performing complicated gas amount control, and there is a problem in terms of safety.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, grasps gas appliances owned by each household, identifies the appliances used, can respond to safety monitoring at an early stage, and is a highly reliable and highly safe gas cutoff device. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, a gas cutoff device of the present invention includes: a flow rate detecting means for measuring the flow rate, and flow rate calculation means for calculating the instantaneous flow rate based on the detected value of the flow rate detecting means, the instantaneous flow rate calculated Are stored as a time-series flow pattern, and the flow rate storage means for classifying and storing the flow rate pattern by the flow rate region for each flow area, the average flow rate calculation means for obtaining the average flow rate from the instantaneous flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculation means, examine an instrument storing means for storing the flow rate pattern for each instrument held at home in advance, a correlation between the memorized flow Ryopa turn group for each flow rate region of the flow pattern and flow storage unit for each instrument of the instrument storage means an instrument estimating means for estimating a used instrument Te, and instrument monitoring registration means for registering the used instruments estimated by the appliance estimation unit as a monitoring target, the instrument monitors for storing in advance monitoring determination value of each instrument And setting means, and abnormality determining means for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality of the use appliance and a monitoring determination value corresponding to the registration device registration instrument and instrument monitoring value setting means which is registered by the instrument monitoring registration means, the abnormality by the abnormality determination means when it is determined that, Ru comprises a blocking unit for cutting off the supply of gas, and communication means for notifying a determination result for each owned gas appliance information of the home to register settings or abnormality determining means to the instrument memory means.

  According to the above invention, the instantaneous flow rate of the appliance to be used is obtained by the flow rate calculation means, stored in the flow rate storage means in time series, and appliance information (various flow data) is previously stored in the appliance storage means by the communication means or the like. Estimate which device was used by checking the flow rate pattern group memorized by the device estimation means and find the device within the predetermined correlation coefficient, and register the obtained device code etc. By registering in the means, referring to the judgment value of the equipment estimated by the equipment monitoring value setting means and monitoring the equipment flow rate value, the length of the equipment usage time, etc. with the abnormality judgment means, it is possible to monitor the use for each equipment, for example, Although it is a single appliance like a water heater, the amount of gas is controlled for constant temperature control, and as a result, it is registered with multiple flow values, so that it is not monitored for a long time or a short time at a flow rate different from the actual state. , Interest The risk of equipment stoppage being delayed or accelerated when a person uses it by mistake is extremely low, and since it properly monitors and notifies the gas company of equipment information etc., abnormal equipment is identified early. It is possible to ensure safety for consumers.

  The gas shut-off device of the present invention stores the instantaneous flow rate obtained when a consumer starts using some device as a device flow rate pattern in the flow rate storage means in a time series, and classifies it and stores it with a device number or the like. , Store data such as flow rate patterns of appliances held in each household in advance via the communication means, etc., estimate which appliance was used by the appliance estimation means, and register the appliance monitoring with the appliance number, etc. Registered in the means, and the abnormality determination means monitors the total flow rate interruption, the increased flow rate interruption or the usage time interruption based on the monitoring judgment value for each corresponding appliance, and the monitoring center together with the information such as the equipment number at the time of abnormality judgment. Since the flow rate is not registered by the complicated gas amount control of the instrument, that is, it is not monitored for a long time at the wrong flow rate, or conversely, it is not monitored for a short time. Is extremely low, and since the warning is reported by the instrument code signal, the gas company can quickly know which instrument is being used abnormally and can take immediate action such as immediately notifying the customer. High safety can be secured.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flow rate detecting means for measuring a flow rate, a flow rate calculating means for calculating an instantaneous flow rate based on a detection value of the flow rate detecting means, and a time-series flow rate pattern obtained from the obtained instantaneous flow rate. A flow rate storage means for classifying and storing each flow rate range from the instantaneous flow rate of the flow rate pattern, an average flow rate calculation means for obtaining an average flow rate from the instantaneous flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculation means, and possessed in each household an instrument storing means for storing the flow rate pattern for each instrument in advance, checks the correlation between the stored flow Ryopa turn groups of the flow rate pattern rate storage means for each instrument of the instrument storing means for each flow rate region used to an instrument estimating means for estimating an instrument, instrument audit storing the instrument monitoring registration means for registering the estimated used instruments in the instrument estimating means for monitoring the advance monitoring determination value of each instrument A value setting means, and abnormality determining means for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality of using the instrument from the monitoring determination value corresponding to the registration device of the instrument monitoring registration device which is registered in the registration means the instrument monitoring value setting means, wherein A shut-off means for shutting off the gas supply when it is determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination means, and a communication means for registering and setting the gas appliance information of each household in the appliance storage means and reporting the determination result by the abnormality determination means Ru equipped with a door.

  Then, the instantaneous flow rate of the appliance to be used is obtained by the flow rate calculation means, stored in the flow rate storage means sequentially in time series, and appliance information (various flow data) is stored in advance in the appliance storage means from the communication means, etc. By registering with the flow rate pattern group by means, it is determined whether it is within a predetermined correlation coefficient, and by estimating which instrument has been used, the instrument to be used is registered in the instrument monitoring registration means, and the instrument monitoring value setting means By monitoring the flow rate value of the appliance and the length of usage time of the appliance with the abnormality judgment means based on the judgment value, it is possible to monitor the usage of each appliance. For example, although it is a single appliance such as a water heater, the temperature is constant. The amount of gas is controlled for control and registered as a result of multiple flow values, and it is not monitored for a long time or conversely at a flow rate different from the actual state. Alert As a result, gas companies can identify and respond to abnormal equipment at an early stage, and the danger to users is extremely low. Is possible.

(Embodiment 1)
In FIG. 1, the gas supply pipe 1 in each home is connected to various gas appliances used in the home via a gas cutoff device 2.

  For example, a gas water heater 3 is installed outdoors, and hot water generated by the gas water heater 3 is installed in a kitchen hot water tap 4, a bath 5 in which a bathtub and a shower device are installed, and a living room through a water pipe. The floor heating 6 is supplied to form various usage forms.

  In addition, indoors, it is connected to a gas table 7 installed in the kitchen and a gas fan heater 8 installed in a living room or bedroom.

  FIG. 2 shows a control block of the gas shut-off device 2, wherein 9 is a flow rate detecting means for measuring the gas flow rate.

  There are various methods as the flow velocity detection means 9, for example, a device that detects the flow velocity of the gas from ultrasonic signals from a pair of ultrasonic sensors that are installed opposite to each other in the flow channel, or a hot-wire sensor disposed in the flow channel. There is one that obtains the flow velocity from the impedance, and one that uses a measurement membrane and detects the mechanical operation of the membrane as an electrical pulse signal by a magnet and a reed switch or a magnetoresistive element.

  For example, in the case of the flow velocity detection means 9 using an ultrasonic sensor, although not shown, a first transmitter / receiver that transmits or receives ultrasonic waves and a second transmitter / receiver that receives or transmits ultrasonic waves are arranged to oppose the flow direction, An ultrasonic signal is transmitted from the upstream to the downstream and from the downstream to the upstream at predetermined intervals, and the propagation time is measured.

  Then, the flow rate is measured based on the ultrasonic propagation time difference between the first transmitter / receiver and the second transmitter / receiver, and the instantaneous flow rate is calculated by the flow rate calculation means 10 by multiplying this by the cross-sectional area of the flow path, the correction coefficient, etc. .

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a flow rate storage means. When a flow rate equal to or higher than a predetermined flow rate is detected, the flow rate is determined as a device flow rate, and the instantaneous flow rate is stored in time series.

  It is stored as a flow rate pattern group after the start of use, and is classified into a large flow rate region, a medium flow rate region, and a small flow rate region, and is stored with a serial device number.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an average flow rate calculation means, which calculates a mean flow rate value by averaging a predetermined number of instantaneous flow rates obtained in a predetermined cycle.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes appliance storage means for storing flow rate pattern data of appliances held in each household.

  14 is an appliance estimation means, which estimates from the flow rate data of the flow rate storage means 11 and the appliance flow rate data stored in the appliance storage means 13, and estimates what instrument is currently used.

  For example, with respect to a change in flow rate value equal to or higher than a predetermined flow rate, a peak flow rate, and a flow rate change after the peak flow rate, it is determined which instrument has a close flow rate within a predetermined range using a correlation coefficient, covariance, or the like.

  15 is an appliance monitoring registration means for registering the appliance code estimated by the appliance estimation means 14 and the average flow rate obtained by the average flow rate calculation means 12.

  When the obtained average flow rate value is equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate, it is registered as a security monitoring target as a representative flow rate representing the appliance.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an appliance monitoring value setting means for storing a continuous use time limit or a monitoring judgment value of the maximum use flow rate for each appliance.

  When the appliance is estimated by the appliance estimation means 14 and the appliance to be used is registered in the appliance monitoring registration means 15, the appliance code information is notified and the appliance cutoff judgment value to be monitored is selected.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes an abnormality determining means for monitoring the appliances used. For example, when a hose that supplies gas to a stove or the like is disconnected for some reason, an abnormally large flow rate is generated, but the total flow cutoff value for monitoring such a state and the maximum usage time for normal use of the instrument The usage time cutoff time limit that defines the usage time limit time is set corresponding to the case where it is used for a much longer time, and this set value and the registered flow rate value of the appliance monitoring registration means 15 are set by the abnormality determination means 17. By making a comparative determination, it is determined whether the registered flow rate value does not exceed the maximum use flow rate value, or whether the appliance use time exceeds the appliance continuous use limit time corresponding to the registered flow rate value.

  When the abnormality determination means 17 determines that there is an abnormality, a cutoff signal is sent to the cutoff means 18 to stop the gas supply.

  In addition, the shut-off state and shut-off content are displayed on the liquid crystal display element and the like, and a center (not shown) that performs gas safety monitoring is notified through the communication means 19. At this time, it is performed via a transmission medium 20 such as a telephone line or the Internet. At this time, the flow rate codes of the large flow rate range, medium flow rate range, and small flow rate range and the instrument numbers belonging to the respective flow rate ranges are communicated to the center through the communication means 19.

  The communication means 19 can register in advance the flow rate pattern data of the appliances owned by each household in the appliance storage means 13 and the appliance monitoring value setting means 16 via a center or a setting device.

  Next, the operation of the gas cutoff device of the present invention will be described.

  When a gas appliance, such as a gas fan heater 8 or a water heater 3, held at a customer's home is used, the flow velocity at that time is detected by the flow velocity detection means 9.

  For example, when an ultrasonic sensor is used, the propagation time of the ultrasonic signal is measured as a detected value, and this signal is sent to the flow rate calculation means 10 to be calculated as an instantaneous flow rate value. When the flow rate value is detected, it is determined that the flow rate is an instrument flow rate, and the time-series flow value is stored as a flow rate pattern.

  Based on the instantaneous flow rate value of the flow rate pattern detected at the same time, the flow rate code is classified into a large flow rate region, a medium flow rate region, and a small flow rate region and the flow rate region, and an instrument number is assigned and stored.

  The average flow rate calculating means 12 calculates the average flow rate from the flow rate for each predetermined number, and the obtained average flow rate is compared with the average flow rate N times (n = 1 to) before the flow rate change more than the predetermined flow rate, It is determined that the appliance is used, and the usage flow rate is registered in the appliance monitoring registration means 15.

  The appliance storage means 13 stores flow rate pattern data of appliances held in each household. The appliance estimation means 14 estimates from the flow rate data of the flow rate storage means 11 and the appliance flow rate data stored in the appliance storage means 13 to estimate what instrument is currently used.

  That is, with regard to the obtained flow rate signal, for example, a change in flow rate value greater than or equal to a predetermined flow rate, a peak flow rate, and a flow rate change after the peak flow rate, Determine whether.

  Then, the abnormality determination means 17 first shuts off the appliance stored in the appliance monitoring value setting means 16 based on the appliance code information estimated by the appliance estimation means 14 and the use flow rate and appliance code information registered in the appliance monitoring registration means 15. A monitoring value is selected, that is, a determination value for determining a total flow rate or an increased flow rate cutoff is selected, and an abnormality monitoring determination is performed.

  For example, when the gas fan heater 8 is used, the cutoff judgment value of various appliances registered in the appliance monitoring value setting means 16 is monitored by the appliance code signal of the gas fan heater 8 when the appliance estimation means 14 estimates the appliance. With reference to the time limit value of the usage time for each appliance of the value setting means 16, the usage time of the appliance used is measured and monitored.

  For example, when the gas table 7 or the gas fan heater 8 is used in a living room or kitchen, and the flow rate signal is detected, the instrument estimation unit 14 detects the flow rate pattern group stored in the flow rate storage unit 11 and the flow rate of the instrument storage unit 13. The data group, the flow rate pattern group, and the registered flow rate are compared, and the correlation is examined by dividing into blocks of each flow rate pattern.

  As an example for each block, judgment is made based on the rise of the flow rate, the peak flow rate, the flow rate value in a stable state, the change flow rate gradient when the flow rate changes, and the like, and which gas appliance is used is estimated.

  For example, when a plurality of instruments such as the gas table 7 and the gas fan heater 8 are estimated to be in use, the gas table is set to 120 minutes and the gas fan heater is set to 720 minutes, and the usage time is monitored.

  When an abnormality is established as a result of use monitoring by the abnormality determination means 17, an interruption signal is immediately output to the interruption means 18. At the same time, when the abnormal flow rate is interrupted by which gas appliance to the center of the gas company through the communication means 19, which appliance is used for a long time, or when the usage time is shut off, call communication for shutting down the usage time is performed.

  Normal call communication includes a code signal of an appliance, a code signal indicating an abnormal content, a flow rate classification, and the like. In addition, it is also monitored in parallel whether the flow rate value obtained by the average flow rate calculation means 12 before being registered in the appliance monitoring registration means 15 does not exceed an abnormal flow rate due to a hose disconnection or the like.

  In addition, the numerical limitation used in this embodiment is an example, and the usage pattern is not limited to this embodiment.

  As described above, the appliance estimation unit 14 compares and estimates which gas appliance is used for each block, so that the appliance can be discriminated with high accuracy, and the appliance flow rate of each gas appliance used by the abnormality determination unit 17 can be determined. The size and usage time are monitored in parallel, and if abnormal usage is detected, it can be immediately shut down, and the gas number business is reported by reporting the classified and stored device number to the center via communication means. It is possible to notify the user of which appliance is abnormally used, ensuring the safety of gas appliance consumers, and if gas leakage occurs due to the worst gas appliance usage, the equipment is estimated for each block, so use equipment that differs from the normal flow rate pattern. Since it can be detected and judged as a leak, it can prevent danger to human life due to carbon monoxide poisoning, etc., and report the information such as the instrument number to the center of the gas company Easy to identify the instrument by the early to safety measures the gas company, or can be taken to the gas consumer, extremely safe, and reliable.

  As described above, the gas shutoff device according to the present invention can identify and specify a gas appliance when detecting a flow rate, and can appropriately secure the safety of the appliance by setting and monitoring the optimum cutoff judgment value for each estimated appliance. It can be applied to all instrument monitoring devices.

Explanatory drawing showing the installation form of the gas appliance Control block diagram of gas shutoff device in embodiment 1 of the present invention Control block diagram of a conventional gas shut-off device

Explanation of symbols

9 Flow rate detection means 10 Flow rate calculation means 11 Flow rate storage means 12 Average flow rate calculation means 13 Instrument storage means 14 Instrument estimation means 15 Instrument monitoring registration means 16 Instrument monitoring value setting means 17 Abnormality determination means 18 Shut off means 19 Communication means

Claims (1)

A flow rate detection means for measuring the flow rate;
A flow rate calculating means for calculating an instantaneous flow rate based on a detection value of the flow velocity detecting means;
A flow rate storage means for storing the obtained instantaneous flow rate as a time-series flow rate pattern, and classifying and storing the flow rate pattern by the flow rate range from the instantaneous flow rate of the flow rate pattern ,
An average flow rate calculating means for obtaining an average flow rate from an instantaneous flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculating means;
Appliance storage means for storing in advance a flow rate pattern for each appliance held in each household;
An instrument estimating means for estimating said instrument storing means of the instrument for each of the flow pattern and the flow rate storage unit stores the flow Ryopa turn group and the examining the correlation for each flow rate range used instrument,
Appliance monitoring registration means for registering the use appliance estimated by the appliance estimation means as a monitoring target;
Appliance monitoring value setting means for storing a monitoring judgment value for each appliance in advance;
An abnormality determining means for determining presence / absence of an abnormality of the appliance used from the registered appliance registered by the appliance monitoring registration means and the monitoring judgment value corresponding to the registered appliance of the appliance monitoring value setting means;
A blocking means for cutting off the supply of gas when the abnormality determining means determines that there is an abnormality;
Communication means for registering and setting the gas appliance information of each household in the appliance storage means or reporting the determination result in the abnormality determination means ,
Gas shut-off device with

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