JPH0419500A - Remainder monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a remainder monitoring device with high operability and workability by providing a flow rate measuring means of gas, means for setting remainder warning means, a means for transmitting remainder warning, a means for receiving counter reset command, a means for setting an exchange rate, a means for receiving command from an upper center device, and a means for subtracting the exchange rate. CONSTITUTION:A remainder monitoring device is made up of a flow rate sensor 11 which converts a flow rate of gas to an electric signal, a bomb exchanging switch 12 which is manually operated, and a CPU control part 20 having a CPU, a remainder management counter 22, and the like. The used amount of the gas is integrated by the remainder management counter 22. When the counted rate reaches a remainder warning level, the signal is automatically transmitted to an upper center to perform warning. When the bomb is exchanged and the remainder warning is carried out again, the counter reset for the remainder management is commanded, and calculation is carried out in a terminal device. As a result, the operation for the remainder management counter at field is disused, operability and workability are improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a remaining amount monitoring device for gas, and particularly to resetting a remaining amount management counter in a remaining amount monitoring device for a cylinder such as LP gas.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a remaining amount monitoring device for monitoring the remaining amount of a cylinder of LP gas or the like, there is a microcomputer gas meter as shown in FIG.

In Fig. 5, 1 is a flow rate sensor that converts the gas flow rate into an electrical signal, 2 is a cylinder exchange switch that is operated by a person when changing to a pump, and 3 is a CPU control unit that controls the remaining amount and controls the upper system. communication.

Further, the CPU 8111 section 3 includes a CPU 4, a remaining one tube Bl counter 5, and a memory 6 for storing the remaining capacity management level.

The operation of the microcomputer gas meter will be explained below.

(1) First, when gas is used, an electrical signal corresponding to the amount used is sent from the flow rate sensor 1 to the CPU III control unit 3, and the remaining amount management counter 5 is integrated.

(2) When the remaining amount management counter 5 reaches the remaining amount warning level in the memory 6, the CPU 4 issues an alarm to the upper system. In addition, the remaining amount warning level can be set from the 1st to the 3rd level.
A warning will be issued each time.

(3) When the third level of remaining amount warning is reached, the remaining amount management counter 5 is automatically reset to 0, but for operational purposes, the cylinder is often replaced before reaching the third level of remaining amount warning. .

(4) Since the remaining amount management counter 5 is cleared to 0 when the cylinder exchange switch 2 is operated, the delivery person is required to operate the cylinder exchange switch 2 when exchanging the cylinder. It is also necessary to operate the cylinder replacement switch 2 when the cylinder is replaced at the third level of the remaining amount warning.

Such a remaining amount monitoring device is often used as a component of a delivery system together with a host center. The host center is made up of personal computers and minicomputers, and displays remaining capacity warnings sent from terminals, as well as managing delivery schedules and delivery results.

Therefore, when a delivery person exchanges a cylinder, he or she operates a cylinder exchange switch on-site and also inputs the delivery results from a keyboard at a higher-level center.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional remaining amount monitoring device has a drawback in that a delivery person must operate a cylinder exchange switch every time a cylinder is exchanged.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problem of requiring on-site switch operation, and eliminates manual operation when replacing cylinders.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a remaining amount monitoring device that allows only input at a higher-level center and has excellent operability and operability.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remaining amount monitoring device that includes means for measuring the flow rate of a cylinder and gas, and two or more remaining amount warning levels that are set in advance. means for integrating the flow rate with a counter and issuing a remaining amount alarm to a higher-level center device each time the count amount of the counter reaches the remaining amount warning level; means for receiving a counter reset instruction from the device, if any; and means for presetting the amount to be replaced of the cylinder;
When a remaining amount alarm is issued, means are provided for receiving the amount of cylinders to be replaced from the host center device, and means for receiving the counter reset instruction and subtracting the amount of cylinders to be replaced from the amount counted by the pump. It is.

(Function) According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to set two or more remaining capacity warning levels in advance, and when a remaining capacity alarm is issued to a higher level center, the remaining level management counter is reset from the higher level center. When there is a command, the amount of gas exchanged is subtracted from the count amount of the remaining amount management counter and reset.

Therefore, there is no need to operate the remaining amount management counter on site, and it is possible to improve operability and workability, and to perform accurate remaining amount management of gas.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remaining amount monitoring device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in this figure, 11 is a flow rate sensor that converts the gas flow rate into an electrical signal, 12 is a cylinder total exchange switch that is operated by a person when replacing the entire cylinder, 13 is a setting device, 14 is a serial interface, and 15 is a telephone. This is an NCU modem that automatically calls and communicates with the host center 30 using the line 16, and is controlled by the CPLJ.

20 is a CPU III control unit, and this CPU control unit 20
includes a CPU 21, a remaining amount management counter 22, a ROM 23 in which programs are stored, and a RAM 24 in which information such as the remaining amount warning level, the amount of replacement cylinders, and the telephone number of the host center is stored.
Consists of.

Here, the cylinder total exchange switch 12 is not normally operated, but is operated only when all cylinders have been replaced.

In addition, the remaining capacity warning level is set to 3 levels: 50%, 80%, and 100%, and the amount of cylinder replacement is limited to one of the two installed (
50%) is stored in advance in the RAM 24 by the setter 13.

Furthermore, when gas is used, the amount used in the cylinder is accumulated on the remaining amount management counter 22, and the remaining amount management counter 22
An alarm is issued to the upper center 30 each time the amount reaches the remaining amount warning level (50%, 80%, 100%).

When the remaining amount alarm is issued to the higher-level center 30 and an instruction to reset the remaining amount management counter is received from the higher-level center 30, a preset cylinder replacement amount (50%) is subtracted from the remaining amount management counter 22. Further, when the cylinder total exchange switch 12 is operated, the remaining amount management counter 22 is cleared to 0.

The operation of the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention will be explained below.

(1) Gas is used, and actual cylinder usage is 50%
When the remaining capacity alarm (50%) is issued from the terminal device [see Figure 2 (a)], the delivery staff can make a delivery schedule (replacement after one week, etc.) by comparing it with previous results. erect

(2) After replacing one cylinder on the scheduled delivery date, input the information such as the floor of the replaced terminal equipment, housing unit, cylinder block, date of replacement, number of cylinders replaced, etc. to the upper center 30 from the setting device 13 [Figure 2 (b)
)reference〕.

(3) The host center 30 accumulates the delivery results, and when the next level remaining amount alarm is issued from the dwelling unit (terminal device) that received the input (cylinder exchange), it returns and issues a one-time instruction to reset the remaining amount management counter. Remember to bring it out.

(4) Here, even if the cylinder is replaced, the remaining amount management counter 22 of the terminal device is not reset, so when gas is used after the cylinder is replaced, the remaining amount management counter 22 continues to count. Then, when the count amount of the remaining amount management counter 22 reaches 80%, a remaining amount alarm (80%) is issued (see FIG. 2(c)).

(5) Since the remaining amount alarm has been issued from the previously stored terminal device, the host center 30 returns and sends an instruction to reset the remaining amount management counter. The terminal device that receives the instruction to reset the remaining amount management counter resets the cylinder replacement amount (50%) set in advance.
) is subtracted from the count amount of the remaining amount management counter 22.

Therefore, the count amount of the remaining amount management counter 22 becomes 30% [see FIG. 2(d)].

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another aspect of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention.

(1) I couldn't go to change the cylinder on the scheduled delivery date, so I replaced the cylinder.
If the remaining capacity alarm rose to 80% before [Figure 3 (a)
[see Figure 3 (b)]. In such a case, as an exception, the entire cylinder replacement switch 12 should be operated on-site and the remaining amount management counter should be replaced. Clear 22 to 0. When the higher-level center 30 receives the delivery record and determines that the entire amount is to be replaced, it does not send a remaining amount management counter reset instruction. This always applies in the case of full exchange.

(2) Also, I went to change the cylinder on the scheduled delivery date, but the remaining quantity happened to be 80% before inputting the delivery results to the upper center 30.
When it goes up, the remaining power alarm will go up to 100%, so
This can be handled using the operating method described above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing still another aspect of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention.

At a customer where four cylinders are installed, the actual cylinder usage is 80% (see Figure 4 (a)), and 80% of the cylinders are used.
When replacing 3 out of 4 cylinders due to % alarm [
4(b)], when inputting the delivery record to the higher-level center 30, the number of bottles actually replaced is also input, and when sending out the instruction to reset the remaining amount management counter, which one is the remaining amount management counter 22? The subtraction is also sent at the same time.

Then, if a 100% alarm is issued [Figure 4 (b)
By subtracting the previous gas exchange amount (75%) from the amount (reference), the count amount of the remaining amount management counter 22 becomes 25.
%, which matches the actual cylinder usage (
See Figure 4(c)].

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Various modifications are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to operate the remaining amount management counter on-site, so it is possible to improve operability and workability, and to make accurate You can manage the remaining amount of gas.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remaining amount monitoring device showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mode of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another manner of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another mode of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device of the present invention. FIG. 5, which is a diagram showing still another aspect of cylinder exchange using the remaining amount monitoring device, is a configuration diagram of a conventional remaining amount monitoring device. 11...Flow rate sensor, 12...Cylinder total exchange switch, 13...Setting device, 14...Serial interface, Engineering 5...NCU modem, 1G...Telephone line, 20...CPU Control unit, 21...CPU, 22.
・Remaining amount management counter, 23...ROM, 24...
RAM, 30... Upper center. Patent applicant Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (1 other person) Representative Patent attorney Mamoru Shimizu (1 other person) Raimitsu I? I10 remaining amount l
Fig. 1 Night visit to the 0-structure area Fig. 5 (Cylinder 1 tree A) 4
Figure 1: Figure 3: Example of how to hold a cylinder in the BAn remaining display device. Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (a) a cylinder; (b) means for measuring the flow rate of gas; (c) means for presetting a remaining amount warning level of two or more levels; and (d) measuring the flow rate with a counter. (e) when the remaining amount alarm is issued, a counter reset instruction is issued from the upper center device; (f) means for presetting the amount of cylinders to be replaced; (g) means for receiving the amount of cylinders to be replaced from the host center device when a remaining amount alarm is issued; h) A remaining amount monitoring device characterized by comprising: means for receiving the counter reset instruction and subtracting the amount of cylinder replacement from the amount counted by the counter.