JPH03183914A - Kerosene rest controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To monitor the rest of kerosene at all times and to inform a delivering store that the rest of kerosene is small by providing a kerosene rest detector, a kerosene supplementation request device, and an alarm device. CONSTITUTION:When the kerosene 4 is consumed until its liquid level falls below a reference level, the kerosene rest detector 1 outputs a sampled and held voltage corresponding to the liquid level from an output terminal 5. The kerosene supplementation request device 16 amplifies the input samples and held voltage at 8 and displays the rest of kerosene on a display unit 19. Further, the sampled and held voltage is inputted to a level comparator 20 as well and compare with a rest detection voltage VL inputted from a terminal (b). Consequently, the comparator 20 outputs a comparison voltage. In such a case, the liquid level of the kerosene is lower than the reference level, so a modem 23 inputs the comparison voltage to generate supplementation request data by modulation and sends the data to the alarm 26 installed in the delivering store through a telephone line 25 connected to a telephone set 24. A receiver 27 outputs data regarding a supplementation indication and a display regarding the kerosene supplementation indication of the customer is made on a display device 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a kerosene remaining amount management device that manages the remaining amount of kerosene in a kerosene tank installed in each household.

``Conventional technology'' Recently, a remaining amount management device has been installed in each household that automatically communicates the remaining amount of rice in the rice bin to the store using a telephone line, and the store then delivers the rice. is proposed.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' By the way, similar to the above-mentioned rice, kerosene used in oil stoves, bathtubs, etc. is also delivered to households from stores.

However, until now there has been no device to manage the supply of kerosene.

Therefore, if a consumer notices that the amount of kerosene remaining is low after the store closes, he or she may be unable to keep warm or take a bath because the kerosene stove cannot be used. There wasn't.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a kerosene remaining amount management device that can constantly monitor the remaining amount of kerosene and contact the store when the remaining amount is low. The purpose is

"Means for Solving the Problem" A kerosene remaining amount management device according to the present invention includes a kerosene remaining amount detector that detects the remaining amount of kerosene in a kerosene tank and outputs a detection signal, and a kerosene remaining amount detector that detects the remaining amount of kerosene in a kerosene tank and outputs a detection signal, A kerosene replenishment requesting device that transmits replenishment request data via a communication line when the value is below a set value, and a notification device that manually inputs the replenishment request data and issues a notification regarding the kerosene replenishment instruction. It is characterized by

"Function" According to the present invention, the remaining amount of kerosene in the kerosene tank is constantly monitored by the kerosene remaining amount detector, and when the value of the detection signal is less than or equal to a preset value, the kerosene replenishment requesting device: The replenishment request data is transmitted to the notification device via the communication line.

Thereby, the notification device inputs the replenishment request data and issues a notification regarding the kerosene replenishment instruction.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a kerosene remaining amount control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, ■ is a kerosene remaining amount detector, and installed to detect the remaining amount of kerosene. here,
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a kerosene tank 2 in which a kerosene remaining amount detector 1 is provided. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 3 is a fuel filler port through which kerosene 4 is taken in and taken out, 5 is a cap that opens and closes the fuel filler port 3, 6 is a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode that emits light S to the kerosene 4 side, 7 is a time constant circuit composed of a resistor 8 and a capacitor 9; 10 is a drive current generating circuit that supplies a drive current Id to the light emitter 6 at predetermined time intervals determined by the time constant circuit 7;

In addition, 11 indicates that the output light S emitted from the light emitter 6 is transmitted to the kerosene 4.
A light receiver such as a photodiode receives the reflected light R obtained by being reflected by the liquid surface of input, amplifier 1
This is a sample-and-hold circuit that samples and holds the output signal of No. 2 and outputs a sample-and-hold voltage Vr representing the current liquid level. In addition, circuit elements 7 to 10 and 12 to
13 constitutes a detection circuit section 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes an output terminal from which a sample-and-hold voltage ■ is output. still,
In FIG. 2, L represents the reference level of the kerosene 4 to be replenished.

Furthermore, in FIG. 1, 16 is a kerosene replenishment requesting device installed indoors in a home. In the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16, 17 is an input terminal to which a sample and hold voltage is input, 18 is an amplifier that amplifies the sample and hold voltage V, and 19 is an input terminal that amplifies the sample and hold voltage V. This is a display device such as an indicator that displays the amount in analog form.

In addition, 20 is a level comparator, which compares the sample-and-hold voltage vr input from terminal a and the remaining amount detection voltage vL input from terminal A to obtain a comparison voltage V. Output.

The remaining amount detection voltage vL is determined by adjusting the reference voltage Vs applied to the reference voltage application terminal 21 using the variable resistor 22, and for example, when the remaining amount of kerosene 4 in the kerosene tank 2 reaches the reference level L, the sample It is set to be equal to the sample-and-hold voltage Vr output from the hold circuit 13.

Further, 23 is a modem that modulates replenishment request data regarding a kerosene replenishment request by manually applying the comparison voltage VC, and the telephone 2
Data communication is performed using a telephone line 25 connected to 4. 26 is a notification device installed at a kerosene store,
A receiver 27 that receives data transmitted via the telephone line 25 and outputs data regarding the kerosene replenishment instruction, and a display 28 that displays the kerosene replenishment instruction using the output signal of the receiver 27. It is configured.

In such a configuration, when the liquid level of the kerosene 4 in the kerosene tank 2 installed outdoors in a certain household is equal to or higher than the reference level 1 shown in FIG. The driving current Id is generated from the generating circuit 10 at intervals of, for example, 15 to 30 minutes.

As a result, the driving current I is applied to the light emitter 6 at intervals of 15 to 30 minutes.
d flows and the output light S is emitted. Then, this emitted light S is reflected by the liquid surface of the kerosene 4, resulting in reflected light R.
is received by the light receiver 11. As a result, a current (2) flows through the photoreceiver 11, and this current (2) is amplified in an amplifier 12, and then sampled and held in a sample/hold circuit 13 using the drive current (6) as a sample/hold timing signal. It is outputted from the output terminal 15 as a sample/hold voltage (2) representing the current liquid level.

Next, in the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16 , the sample/hold 11f pressure V inputted from the input terminal 17 is amplified by the amplifier 18 and then inputted to the display 19 . As a result, the current remaining amount of kerosene is displayed in analog form on the display 19.

The sample-and-hold voltage V1 is also input to the level comparator 20 from the terminal a, and is compared with the remaining amount detection voltage V + input from the terminal a. As a result, the comparison voltage ■ is output from the level comparator 20. is output. In this case, since the liquid level of kerosene 4 is above the reference level ■1 in Figure 2,
Modem 23 has a comparison voltage ■. The replenishment request data is not modulated even if input.

Through the operations described above, the remaining amount of kerosene 4 is constantly monitored.

Then, when kerosene 4 is consumed and the liquid level falls below the reference level L shown in FIG.・Voltage V
', is output from the output terminal 15.

As a result, in the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16, the sample/hold voltage V' input from the input terminal 17 is
After being amplified by the amplifier 18, it is input to the display 19, and the current remaining amount of kerosene is displayed in analog form on the display 19.

The sample/halt voltage V' is also input to the level comparator 20 from the terminal a, and is compared with the remaining amount detection voltage V1 input from the terminal a. As a result, the level comparator 20 outputs a comparison voltage ■゛. is output. In this case,
Since the liquid level of the kerosene 4 is below the reference level ■ shown in FIG.
5 to a notification device 26 installed at a kerosene store.

As a result, the receiver 27 receives the transmitted data and outputs data regarding the kerosene replenishment instruction, and the display 28
Displays instructions for replenishing the household's kerosene.

Therefore, the clerk at the store sees the display on the display 28 and visits the home to replenish the kerosene 4.

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Third
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of a kerosene remaining amount management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted. do. In the kerosene remaining amount detector 1 in Fig. 3, 29
is the frequency f shown in FIG. 4(1). (to-about 30-70
30 is a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse of about several hundred μsec;
31 is a modulation circuit that pulse-modulates the high-frequency signal SI using a pulse S and outputs a modulated signal M9 having a signal width T6 and a period T shown in FIG. 4(2).

Further, 32 is a transmitter such as a piezoelectric acoustic transducer that inputs the modulation signal M5 as an excitation voltage and emits an ultrasonic wave S'' to the kerosene 4 side, and 33 is a wave emitted from the wave transmitter 29. By receiving the reflected wave R'' obtained by S' being reflected by the liquid surface of the kerosene 4, a reflected wave signal MR shown in FIG. 4 (3) is generated.
A receiver such as a piezoelectric acoustic transducer 34 that outputs the reflected wave signal MR demodulates the reflected wave signal MR to generate an envelope signal S3 shown in FIG. 4 (4).
This is a demodulation circuit that outputs .

Furthermore, 35 is a counter, which inputs the leading edge of the modulation signal M8 as a count start signal and the demodulation signal M8 as a count end signal, and counts the clock CK output from the pulse generation circuit 30 or a clock generation circuit (not shown). By doing this, the time t from the emission of the emitted wave S' to the reception of the reflected wave R is calculated using the clock CK as a unit.

Here, if the propagation speed of the emitted wave S' is V, and the distance from the receiving surface of the receiver 33 to the liquid level of the kerosene 4 is h, then the reflected wave R
The arrival delay time TI of " is expressed by the following equation.

T,, -eu (sec)...■ ■ That is, the counter 35 measures this time Tb,
The count value N of the clock CK corresponding to the time Th is output. Note that the arrival delay time Tb corresponding to the reference level L of the liquid level of the kerosene 4 in FIG. .

In addition, 36 is a determination circuit that compares the count value N of the clock CK with the reference count value NL and outputs a determination signal SJ;
7 is a reset circuit that inputs the judgment signal SJ and resets the counter 35; 38 is an output circuit that amplifies the judgment signal 3.7; and 39 is a transmitting antenna 40 that modulates a carrier signal using the output signal of the output circuit 38. This is a transmitter that transmits radio waves 41 from.

In addition, in the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16, 42 is a radio wave 41
A receiver 44 receives the output signal of the receiver 42 through a receiving antenna 43 and displays the remaining amount of kerosene 4 on the display 1.
9, and outputs replenishment request data when the remaining amount is below the reference level L.

In such a configuration, when the liquid level of the kerosene 4 in the kerosene tank 2 installed outdoors in a certain household is equal to or higher than the reference level L shown in FIG. A high frequency signal S1 having a frequency f0 shown in FIG. 4(1) is oscillated. Further, the pulse generating circuit 30 generates a pulse S of about several hundred μsec.

As a result, the modulation circuit 31 converts the high frequency signal SI into a pulse S
2 to output a modulation signal Ms shown in FIG. 4(2), which is input to the transmitter 32 as an excitation voltage.

Therefore, an ultrasonic wave S'' is emitted from the transmitter 32 to the kerosene 4 side, and the receiver 33 receives the reflected wave R' obtained by reflecting the emitted wave S'' from the surface of the kerosene 4. It receives the wave and outputs a reflected wave signal MIl shown in FIG. 4(3).

Next, the reflected wave signal MR is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 34, and an envelope signal S3 shown in FIG. 4 (4) is output.

Thereby, the counter 35 inputs the leading edge of the modulation signal M8 as a count start signal and the demodulation signal MR as a count end signal, respectively, and counts the clock CK output from the pulse generation circuit 30 or a clock generation circuit (not shown). Then, from the emission of the emitted wave S' to the reflected wave R using the clock CK as a unit,
The count value N of the clock CK corresponding to the time t until reception of the clock signal, that is, the arrival delay time Tb, is output.

Then, in the determination circuit 36, the count value N and the reference count value NL are compared, and a determination signal S1 is output. Further, the reset circuit 37 manually inputs the determination signal S1 to reset the counter 35. As a result, the count value N of the counter 35 is returned to the initial state (N, -0), and the above-mentioned measurement is performed again.

Further, the determination signal SJ is amplified in the output circuit 38 and then input to the transmitter 39. The transmitter 39 modulates a carrier signal using the output signal of the output circuit 38 and transmits a radio wave 41 from the transmitting antenna 40 .

Next, the radio wave 41 is transmitted to the receiver 42 of the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16.
The signal is received via the receiving antenna 43 and input to the signal processing circuit 44 . The signal processing circuit includes a signal receiver 4
Input the output signal of 2 and display the current remaining amount of kerosene 4 on display 1.
Display on 9. In this case, since the liquid level of the kerosene 4 is higher than the reference level L shown in FIG. 2, the signal processing circuit 44 does not output replenishment request data. By the operation explained above, kerosene 4
The remaining amount of 3 2 is constantly monitored.

When the kerosene 4 is consumed and its liquid level falls below the reference level L shown in FIG.
1 is output.

As a result, radio waves 41 are transmitted from the kerosene remaining amount detector 1 via the transmitting antenna 40.

Next, the radio wave 41 is transmitted to the receiver 42 of the kerosene replenishment requesting device 16.
The signal is received via the receiving antenna 43 and input to the signal processing circuit 44 . The signal processing circuit includes a signal receiver 4
Input the output signal of 2 and display the current remaining amount of kerosene 4 on display 1.
9, and in this case, since the liquid level of the kerosene 4 is below the reference level L shown in FIG. 2, the signal processing circuit 44 outputs replenishment request data.

As a result, the modem 23 modulates the replenishment request data,
The information is transmitted via a telephone line 25 connected to a telephone 24 to a notification device 26 provided at a kerosene store.

As a result, the receiver 27 receives the transmitted data 4 and outputs data regarding the replenishment instruction for the lamp 141, and displays on the display 28 the instruction regarding the replenishment of kerosene for the household.

Therefore, the clerk at the store sees the display on the display 28 and visits the household to replenish the lamp 7t4+4.

As explained above, this invention allows consumers to automatically report to the store about replenishment of kerosene, which is the biggest weak point of petroleum equipment, without having to manage it, and it is similar to propane gas. , a supply management system (delivery stem) can be realized.

In the above explanation, in order to detect the remaining amount of kerosene 4, the first embodiment uses light and the second embodiment uses ultrasonic waves. may also be used.

In addition, in the second embodiment, the radio wave 41 is used for signal transmission between the kerosene remaining amount detector 1 and the kerosene replenishment request device 16.
Although an example is shown in which the signal transmission medium is used, other signal transmission media such as light or ultrasonic waves, or wires such as cables may be used.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the notification device 26 was composed of the receiver 27 and the display 28, but the notification device 26 uses a personal computer or the like to temporarily transmit data transmitted from each home. As a reminder, the remaining amount of kerosene in each household may be checked by a clerk at a store or by operating a key fob, etc., and each household may be refilled with kerosene at the same time.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, the remaining amount of kerosene can be constantly monitored, and if the remaining amount is low, the retailer can be contacted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a kerosene remaining amount management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the kerosene remaining amount detector 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a kerosene remaining amount management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of signals output from each part of the circuit shown in FIG. 3. 1 ・kerosene remaining amount detector, 6...light emitter, 11...
... Light receiving benefit, 14 ... Detection circuit section, 16 ... Kerosene replenishment request device, 19.28 ... Display unit, 20 ...
Reher detector, 23 ・Motem, 24・ Telephone, 2
5...Telephone line (communication line), 26...Notification device, 27.42...Receiver, 32...Display device, 32
... Transmitter, 33 ... Receiver, 34 ... Demodulation circuit, 35 ... Counter, 36 ... Judgment circuit,
39 ・Transmitter, 44 ・Signal processing circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A kerosene remaining amount detector detects the remaining amount of kerosene in the kerosene tank and outputs a detection signal, and if the value of the detection signal is less than a preset value, replenishment request data is transmitted via a communication line. A kerosene remaining amount management device comprising: a kerosene replenishment requesting device; and a notification device inputting the replenishment request data and notifying you of the kerosene replenishment instruction.