JP5366654B2 - Communication device for watt-hour meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device for a watt-hour meter placeable in a narrow limited space, and applicable to a watt-hour meter having a various size without changing the structure of an existing watt-hour meter. <P>SOLUTION: This communication device for a watt-hour meter connected to a watt-hour meter 1 for metering used electric energy, for transmitting metered data metered by the watt-hour meter 1 to an external host device, includes: cases (an upper case 5, an inner case 6) for storing a transmission signal input/output part for transmitting metered data metered by the watt-hour meter to the outside; and a fixing band 10 mounted on one end of the cases, for fixing the cases to the watt-hour meter 1 by winding around the outer periphery of the watt-hour meter 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device for a watt hour meter that transfers measurement data obtained from a watt hour meter with a communication function to the outside by wire or wireless, and in particular, a structure for attaching the communication device for a watt hour meter to a watt hour meter. About.

  Conventionally, the meter reading of the watt-hour meter provided in each household has been performed by direct visual inspection by a meter reader. However, due to the increase in auto-lock condominiums etc., it has become difficult for meter readers to enter the meter installation location, so a centralized management center or external data readout provided remotely via a wireless or wired communication device Moving to remote meter reading to transfer metering data to the device.

  In Patent Document 1, specific data such as a call number set in a wireless unit is automatically set to automatically perform maintenance and expansion of the wireless unit, and to prevent unauthorized communication intervention from the outside. A wireless unit management system for ensuring security is described. In this wireless unit management system, the wireless unit itself has a plurality of call numbers for specifying and calling a wireless unit such as a watt hour meter, so that a data collection unit installed on a power pole or the like has a plurality of call numbers. It is possible to call by designating one call number suitable for communication use. As a result, the wireless unit management system has a high degree of freedom for calling conditions from the data collection unit, and can select and use communication numbers suitable for maintenance and handling of wireless units.

  Since it is difficult to install a communication device for communicating data acquired from a watt hour meter to the outside, a wireless unit described in Patent Document 1, etc. in an instrument box in which an existing watt hour meter is housed, Usually installed outside the instrument box. Here, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an installation state of the conventional watt-hour meter and the watt-hour meter communication device. The watt-hour meter 1 shown in FIG. 12 is a watt-hour meter with a communication function capable of transmitting metering data to the outside. The watt-hour meter has a distribution line terminal connected to the distribution line at the bottom cover terminal portion. A communication terminal 4 used when transmitting the weighing data weighed in 1 is provided. The terminal cover 19 is for ensuring the waterproofness of the cover terminal portion of the watt hour meter 1, and is fixed to the cover terminal portion by a terminal cover fixing screw 20. In addition, the watt hour meter 1 is often installed in a housing such as the instrument box 2 in order to improve weather resistance without impairing the aesthetic appearance.

  A conventional watt-hour meter communication device 3 shown in FIG. 12 is connected to the watt-hour meter 1 by a communication cable 4 for transmitting the measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter 1. This communication cable 4 has a bar-shaped crimp terminal attached to the tip on the watt hour meter 1 side, and is directly connected to the communication terminal 4 of the watt hour meter 1 to be connected.

JP-A-11-298974

  Conventionally, the watt hour meter is often installed in a housing such as an instrument box 2, a decorative box, or a mounting plate as shown in FIG. 12 for the purpose of improving the weather resistance and not damaging the appearance. . Since these cases are somewhat larger than the watt hour meter, it is difficult to house the watt hour meter communication device 3 together with the watt hour meter 1. Therefore, the watt-hour meter communication device 3 is normally installed outside the meter box 2 as shown in FIG.

  However, when newly installing the watt-hour meter communication device 3 with respect to the existing watt-hour meter, the installation space is not necessarily secured. The conventional watt-hour communication device 3 as shown in FIG. 12 secures a space for installing its own watt-hour communication device 3 in addition to the installation space of the meter box 2 that houses the watt-hour meter 1. If it is necessary and there is no such space near the existing watt-hour installation location, the installation becomes difficult.

  Due to the above circumstances, a watt-hour communication device that can be installed in a housing such as the meter box 2 is desired. However, there are some problems in realizing such a watt-hour communication device. First, the electricity meter may vary in size depending on the contract, rating, etc. of the customer. Accordingly, the watt-hour meter communication device needs to have a structure that can be easily attached to any watt-hour meter.

  In addition, it is desirable that the communication device for the wattmeter does not require the act of damaging the wattmeter or changing the structure, such as providing a screw hole in a part of the wattmeter when installing, and easily A structure that can be attached and is fixed after attachment and cannot be easily detached by vibration or impact is required.

  Furthermore, the watt hour meter is usually connected to a plurality of distribution lines for power distribution, and if it is removed, it will be in a power outage state. Therefore, it is desirable that the communication device for wattmeters can be installed in an uninterruptible state without removing the distribution lines when installing, and it is necessary to secure a space for the distribution lines.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and can be installed in a narrow and limited space, and can be used for various watt hour meters without changing the structure of existing watt hour meters. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device for a watt hour meter that can be applied.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the watt-hour communication device according to the present invention is connected to a watt-hour meter that measures the amount of power used, and transmits the measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter to an external host device. A communication device for a watt-hour meter, a case containing a transmission signal input / output unit for transferring measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter to the outside, and an outer periphery of the watt-hour meter attached to one end of the case A fixing band for fixing the case to the watt hour meter by being wound around the watt hour meter, and the case is locked to the unevenness of the watt hour meter to fix the fixing band and its own case to the watt hour meter. An engaging portion is provided, and the engaging portion is hooked on an upper portion of the case that comes into contact with the watt-hour meter and a jaw portion of a display portion cover of the watt-hour meter .

The watt-hour communication device according to the present invention can be installed in a narrow and limited space, and can be applied to watt-hour meters of various sizes without changing the structure of the existing watt-hour meter. be able to. In addition, the locking part is hooked on the upper part of the case that comes into contact with the watt hour meter and on the chin part of the display part cover of the watt hour meter, so that the fixing band and its case can be fixed to the watt hour meter. Can also be prevented from shifting to the front.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which attached the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 1 of this invention to the watt-hour meter. It is a disassembled perspective view of the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 1 of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a watt-hour communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which attached the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 1 of this invention to the watt-hour meter in a meter box. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which attached the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 1 of this invention to the side surface of the watt-hour meter. It is the partial expansion right view which shows the state which attached the communication apparatus for watt-hours of the form of Example 2 of this invention to the watt-hour meter. It is an external appearance perspective view of the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 3 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which decomposed | disassembled the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 4 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which assembled the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 4 of this invention. It is front sectional drawing of the case in the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 5 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of the form of Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the installation state of the communication apparatus for conventional watt-hour meters.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a watt-hour meter communication device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the watt-hour meter communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the watt-hour meter 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the watt-hour meter communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the watt-hour communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 3, the structure of the communication apparatus for watt-hour meters of a present Example is demonstrated.

  The watt-hour meter communication device of this embodiment is connected to a watt-hour meter 1 that measures the amount of power used via a communication cable 8, and the measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter 1 is transferred to an external centralized management center or external device. It is a device that transmits to a host device such as a data reading device. As shown in FIG. 1, this watt-hour communication device includes a case composed of an upper case 5 and an inner case 6 in which a circuit having a communication function is housed, and a fixed band 10. Is fixed to the watt hour meter 1.

  The fixed band 10 is attached to one end of the case (upper case 5), and is fixed to the watt hour meter 1 by being wound around the outer circumference of the watt hour meter 1. In the present embodiment, the fixed band 10 wraps around the outer periphery of the display unit cover of the watt hour meter 1 projecting to the front and tightens the upper band 5 and the inner case 6 to watt hour meter 1. It is fixed to.

  Further, the case of the communication device for watt hour meter of the present embodiment accommodates a substrate 7 on which a circuit for transferring measurement data measured by the watt hour meter is mounted as shown in FIGS. It is comprised from the inner case 2 to which the board | substrate 7 is fixed, and the upper case 5 accommodated so that the inner case 2 may be covered.

  The board 7 and the circuit mounted on the board 7 correspond to the transmission signal input / output unit of the present invention, receive the measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter 1 via the communication terminal and the communication cable 8, and perform this measurement. Data is transferred wirelessly or by wire to an external data reading device or a centralized management center installed at an external remote location. As shown in FIG. 3, the board 7 is fitted and fixed to the inner case 6, and the communication cable 8 is connected thereto. The inner case 6 integrated with the substrate 7 is housed and fixed inside the upper case 5.

  The inner case 6 is provided with a groove for exiting from the lower part of the case through the communication cable 8 connected to the substrate 7, and the communication cable 8 can be connected even when the inner case 6 is stored in the upper case 5. The structure is not damaged. The upper case 5 is attached so as to cover the inner case 6. The upper case 5 and the inner case 6 are fixed to each other by screwing fixing screws 9 from the rear surface of the upper case 5 into fixing screw holes provided at two lower end portions of the rear surface of the inner case 6.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The watt-hour meter communication device of the present embodiment can be operated in an uninterruptible state without removing the watt-hour meter 1 and the distribution line in a state where the watt-hour meter 1 is installed in a housing such as the meter box 2. It is inserted and installed from the front direction of the meter 1. Further, when installing, the installer connects the communication cable 8 to the terminal portion of the watt hour meter 1 and winds the fixed band 10 vertically around the outer periphery of the display unit cover of the watt hour meter 1 protruding to the front. Also, by tightening, the watt-hour communication device is fixed to the watt-hour meter 1 so that it does not come off.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the watt-hour communication device of the present embodiment is attached to the watt-hour meter 1 in the meter box 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the watt-hour meter communication device of this embodiment is fixed in close contact with the lower part of the display unit cover of the watt-hour meter 1, so that the limited space in the meter box 2 is limited. It can be stored. Since the display part of the watt-hour meter 1 is often used in a shape protruding to the front surface, there is often a free space below the display part. The watt-hour communication device of the present invention has a configuration in which the vacant space can be utilized by using a fixed band 10 and closely contacting the lower portion of the display unit of the watt-hour meter 1.

  In addition to the communication cable 8, many distribution lines for power distribution are connected to the terminal portion existing at the bottom of the watt hour meter 1. It is necessary to ensure. In this respect, the watt-hour meter communication device of the present invention is positioned in front of the terminal portion by closely contacting the lower portion of the display portion of the watt-hour meter 1 using the fixed band 10. The wiring space where the distribution line exists can be secured.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the watt-hour meter communication device of this embodiment is attached to the side surface of the watt-hour meter 1. After the installation of the watt-hour communication device of the present invention, when distribution line work becomes necessary, the worker rotates the watt-hour communication device 90 degrees as shown in FIG. Since it can be installed in the watt hour meter 1, the distribution line work can be performed without removing the communication cable 8 from the watt hour meter 1. After the distribution line work is completed, the operator can turn the watt-hour meter communication device again by 90 degrees to restore the original state.

  As described above, the watt-hour meter communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be installed in a narrow and limited space, and without changing the structure of the existing watt-hour meter 1. It can be applied to a watt-hour meter having a large size.

  That is, the watt-hour meter communication device according to the present embodiment is housed in a housing such as the meter box 2 together with the watt-hour meter 1 by being installed below the display unit of the watt-hour meter 1 using the fixed band 10. Therefore, an extra installation space is not required as compared with the conventional communication device for watt-hour meter, and the appearance can be improved.

  In addition, when the watt-hour meter communication device of the present embodiment is newly attached to the existing watt-hour meter 1 already installed in the housing of the meter box 2 or the like, the installer Without removing the electric wire, the watt-hour meter communication device can be inserted and installed from the front direction of the watt-hour meter 1 in an uninterrupted state. Therefore, the watt-hour meter communication device according to the present embodiment has an advantage that the attaching work and the removing work at the time of failure or replacement are easy, and the working efficiency is improved.

  Furthermore, the watt-hour communication device of this embodiment performs the distribution line work without removing the communication cable 8 or the watt-hour meter communication device itself from the watt-hour meter 1 as described above during the redistribution line work. Can do.

  In addition, since the communication device for the watt hour meter of the present embodiment is fixed by winding the fixed band 10 around the outer circumference of the watt hour meter 1, it can be easily attached to any size watt hour meter. In addition, there is an advantage that there is no need to change or damage the structure of the watt-hour meter 1.

  In addition, the communication device for the watt hour meter of the present embodiment is positioned in front of the terminal portion by closely contacting the lower portion of the display portion of the watt hour meter 1 using the fixed band 10. It has the advantage that the wiring space for the distribution line connected to the terminal part of the watt-hour meter 1 can be ensured.

  FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged right side view illustrating a state in which the watt-hour meter communication device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attached to the watt-hour meter 1. The difference from the watt-hour communication device of the first embodiment is that a rib 11 is projected from the upper part of the upper case 5.

  The rib 11 corresponds to the locking portion of the present invention, and is locked to the unevenness of the watt hour meter 1 to fix the fixing band 10 and its own case (upper case 5) to the watt hour meter 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the rib 11 is provided on the upper side of the upper case 5 that contacts the watt hour meter 1 and on the back side as viewed from the front, and the display unit cover of the watt hour meter 1. It is configured to be caught on the so-called jaw part.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and redundant description is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The installer connects the communication cable 8 to the terminal portion of the watt hour meter 1, and connects the communication device for the watt hour meter to the jaw portion of the display unit cover of the watt hour meter 1. Then, the wattmeter communication device is fixed to the wattmeter 1 by wrapping and tightening the fixing band 10 on the outer periphery of the display unit cover of the wattmeter 1 protruding to the front and tightening. Do not.

  The display unit cover of the watt-hour meter 1 has a so-called tapered shape depending on the type, and may be slightly inclined toward the front. In such a case, even if the fixed band 10 is tightened at the time of installation and the communication device for the watt hour meter is fixed, the fixed band 10 is gradually shifted toward the front surface due to vibration, impact, etc. There may be a situation where the metering communication device is disconnected.

  However, the rib 11 provided in the case of the communication device for the watt hour meter of the present invention is engaged with the unevenness of the watt hour meter 1 so that the fixed band 10 and its own case (upper case 5) become the watt hour meter 1. It can be fixed and prevented from shifting to the front surface due to vibration or impact. Moreover, the latching | locking part of this invention does not necessarily need to be the structure like the rib 11 shown in FIG. 6, and it is for the said watt-hour meter by latching or fitting according to the uneven | corrugated shape of the watt-hour meter 1. What is necessary is just to be able to fix a communication apparatus (case).

  As described above, according to the watt-hour meter communication device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the watt-hour meter communication device (case) is connected to the watt-hour meter 1. Since it can be fixed, it is possible to prevent the fixed band 10 from being displaced or the watt-hour meter communication device itself from being detached due to impact or vibration after installation.

  FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the watt-hour meter communication device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the watt-hour communication device of the second embodiment is that an adjustable band 12 is used as a modification of the fixed band 10.

  The adjustable band 12 corresponds to the fixed band of the present invention, and has an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length according to the outer peripheral length of the watt-hour meter 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the adjustment mechanism of the adjustable band 12 is provided with a plurality of holes having appropriate intervals in the length direction of the adjustable band 12 having a band shape. The length can be adjusted by selecting an appropriate hole according to the size of the meter.

  Other configurations are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a duplicate description is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The installer connects the communication cable 8 to the terminal portion of the watt hour meter 1, and wraps the adjustment band 12 around the outer periphery of the display unit cover of the watt hour meter 1 protruding to the front. By selecting and tightening an appropriate hole according to the length, the communication device for watt hour meter is fixed to the watt hour meter 1 so as not to come off.

  As described above, according to the watt-hour meter communication device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, it can be easily attached to any watt-hour meter. it can. As described above, the watt-hour meter may differ in size depending on the contract, rating, etc. of the customer, but the watt-hour meter communication device of this embodiment depends on the outer circumference length of the watt-hour meter 1. Since the adjustable band 12 having an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length is provided, it can be easily attached by adjusting the adjustable band 12 to an appropriate length for various watt-hour meters. Can be made difficult to come off.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing a disassembled state of the watt-hour communication device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing a state where the watt-hour communication device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is assembled. The difference from the watt-hour communication device of the third embodiment is that the case 13 (upper case 5) and the band 14 can be separated.

  That is, the band 14 corresponds to the fixed band of the present invention and is detachably connected to the case 13. Any method may be used for connecting the band 14 and the case 13. For example, band insertion ports penetrating the inside are provided on both side surfaces of the upper part of the case 13 close to the portion in contact with the watt hour meter 1. 14 can be connected by passing it through the inside of the case 13 from the band insertion opening on one side of the case 13 and out of the band insertion opening provided on the other side of the case 13.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment, and a duplicate description is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The watt-hour meter communication device in which the band 14 and the case 13 are integrated has a disadvantage that it is difficult to pack in shape and is bulky when carrying a plurality of watt-hour communication devices. However, the watt-hour meter communication device of the present embodiment can be separated into the band 14 and the case 13, so that producers, installers, etc. are separated as shown in FIG. Packing or the like can be performed in the state, and then assembled in a state as shown in FIG. 9 at the consumer.

  As described above, according to the watt-hour communication device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the third embodiment, the watt-hour communication device can be separated into the band 14 and the case 13. Therefore, the packaging can be reduced. Further, even when an installer or the like carries a plurality of watt-hour meter communication devices, it can be carried in a compact form without being bulky.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the case 15 in the electricity meter communication device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front. Here, the left side of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the case 13 having the band insertion port 16 described in the fourth embodiment. On the other hand, what is shown on the right side of FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the case 15 having the concave and convex band insertion port 17 of the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of the watt-hour meter communication apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the watt-hour communication device of the fourth embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 10, a concave / convex shape is provided in a portion (including the concave / convex band insertion port 17) in which the band 14 is inserted in the case 15. .

  In other words, the portion of the case 15 where the band 14 is inserted (including the concave and convex band insertion port 17) corresponds to the fixed band insertion portion of the present invention, and the fixed band (band 14) is inserted and connected to the case 15. , Has unevenness for preventing slipping inside.

  Other configurations are the same as those in the fourth embodiment, and a duplicate description is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. As in the case of the fourth embodiment, the watt-hour meter communication device of the present embodiment can be separated into the band 14 and the case 13, so that producers, installers, and the like are separated when performing packaging and the like. In such a state, packing or the like is performed, and then the customer assembles the state as shown in FIG. In that case, since the part (it includes the uneven | corrugated band insertion port 17) which inserts the band 14 in the case 15 has uneven | corrugated shape, it plays the role of making the band 14 hard to slip. Therefore, the watt-hour meter communication device of the present embodiment prevents the band 14 from moving with respect to the case 15 at the time of installation or thereafter, and reduces backlash.

  As described above, according to the watt-hour meter communication device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the fourth embodiment, the portion into which the band 14 is inserted in the case 15 (including the uneven band insertion port 17). ) Has a concavo-convex shape, it is possible to prevent the band 14 from moving with respect to the case 15 by making the band 14 difficult to slip, and to reduce backlash during installation.

  The watt-hour meter communication device according to the present invention can be used in a meter-reading system that performs automatic meter reading of a watt-hour meter by wired or wireless communication in a host device such as a centralized management center.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electricity meter 2 Instrument box 3 Communication device for wattmeters 4 Communication cable 5 Upper case 6 Inner case 7 Substrate 8 Communication cable 9 Fixing screw 10 Fixing band 11 Rib 12 Adjustable band 13 Case 14 Band 15 Case 16 Band insertion Port 17 Uneven band insertion port 18 Communication terminal 19 Terminal cover 20 Terminal cover fixing screw

Claims (4)

A watt-hour meter communication device that is connected to a watt-hour meter that measures the amount of power used, and that transmits weighing data measured by the watt-hour meter to an external host device,
A case for storing a transmission signal input / output unit for transferring the measurement data measured by the watt-hour meter to the outside;
A fixed band attached to one end of the case and fixing the case to the watt hour meter by wrapping around an outer periphery of the watt hour meter;
With
The case includes a locking portion that locks the unevenness of the watt hour meter to fix the fixing band and its case to the watt hour meter,
The watt-hour communication device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is hooked on an upper portion of the case that comes into contact with the watt-hour meter and a jaw portion of a display portion cover of the watt-hour meter. The watt-hour communication device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed band has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length according to an outer peripheral length of the watt-hour meter. The watt-hour communication device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed band is detachably connected to the case. The wattmeter communication device according to claim 3, wherein the case includes a fixed band insertion portion that has the fixed band inserted therein and connected to the case, and has an anti-slip unevenness therein.

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