JPH0434317A - Flow rate measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the execution of four types of inspection easily and quickly by transmitting a set flow rate and a set apparatus error to a communication means with an external setting device with a passage opened to the atmospheric air. CONSTITUTION:In inspecting a flow rate measuring device, a pressure of a passage is lowered by being opened to the atmospheric air while a meter body is tilted. Under such a condition, when an inspection mode is entered to set a flow rate and an apparatus error for a number memory means (11) and an instrumental error memory means (12), the set flow rate and the set apparatus error stored by an inspection means (22), a communication means 10 and the like and results of judgment from an abnormal pressure drop judging means (18) and a seismic judgment means (19) can be reported sequentially to external equipment automatically. Four types of inspection are accomplished at a time for the set flow rate, the set apparatus error, soldering of a pressure sensor and a seismic sensor based on the resulting information.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is used as, for example, a city gas meter, and is equipped with a safety function and configured to be able to communicate with, for example, a central monitoring station. It relates to a flow rate measuring device.

More specifically, a flow rate sensor detects the rotation speed of the output section of a capacitive flowmeter, a number storage means for storing the flow rate per rotation of the output section of the flowmeter, an instrumental difference storage means for storing equipment errors, flow rate calculation means for calculating the flow rate based on information from the flow rate sensor, number storage means, and instrumental error storage means;
In addition, an integrated value storage means is provided for cumulatively storing the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculating means, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid to be calibrated; an abnormal pressure sensor for determining whether the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is below a set value A drop determination means and an output means that closes a shutoff device for the flow path of the fluid to be calibrated when the detected pressure drops below a set value based on an instruction from the abnormal pressure drop determination means are provided to prevent vibration or tilt of the meter body. A seismic sensor for detecting, an earthquake determining means for determining whether an earthquake has occurred based on information from the seismic sensor, and an instruction from the earthquake determining means to close the shutoff device when an earthquake occurs. an output means is provided for setting the flow rate for the symbol number storage means and an instrument error setting for the instrumental error storage means using an external setting device, and a communication means for transmitting the meter side information to the external device. This invention relates to improvements in flow rate measuring devices.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in the above-mentioned flow rate measuring device, inspection of the set flow rate stored in the number storage means, inspection of the setting device error stored in the instrumental error storage means, and pressure sensor are performed in the manufacturing stage or the installation stage. The system is configured to separately inspect whether the seismic sensor is soldered to the printed circuit board as specified, and whether the seismic sensor is soldered to the printed circuit board as specified. is as follows.

(B) Inspecting the set flow rate When the set flow rate confirmation button is operated, the set flow rate stored in the number storage means is transmitted to the communication means as meter side information, and the configuration is such that the correctness or failure of the set flow rate can be determined by an external device. do.

(E1) Inspection of setting device error When the confirmation button for setting device error is operated, the device error stored in the instrumental error storage means is transmitted to the communication means as meter side information, and it is possible to judge whether the setting device error is correct or not using an external device. Configure it as follows.

(c) When soldering the pressure sensor, operate the shut-off valve by operating the valve opening instruction button on the shut-off valve with the test flow path open to the atmosphere and the meter body standing still in a horizontal position. The present invention is configured such that it is possible to artificially determine whether or not the pressure sensor is soldered to the printed circuit board by using operating sounds and vibrations.

(d) When soldering the seismic sensor, operate the valve opening instruction button of the shutoff valve with the meter body tilted and the flow path pressurized, and check whether the shutoff valve operates or not. This is determined artificially based on operating sounds and vibrations.
The configuration is such that it is possible to judge whether soldering of a seismic sensor to a printed circuit board is good or bad.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, because the four types of inspections are conducted in separate processes,
The inspection required a lot of effort and time, and there was room for improvement in improving the inspection workability.

An object of the present invention is to enable the above-mentioned four types of inspection to be carried out easily and quickly by an extremely simple modification that effectively utilizes the configuration originally provided in a flow rate measuring device.

[Means to solve the problem]

The characteristic structure of the present invention is based on the completion confirmation of the flow rate setting for the number storage means and the instrument error setting for the instrumental error storage means in the flow rate measuring device detailed in the above-mentioned [Industrial Application Field] section. Then, the set flow rate stored in the number storage means, the setting equipment error stored in the instrumental error storage means, the determination result of the abnormal pressure drop determination means, and the determination result of the earthquake determination means are sequentially transmitted to the communication means as meter side information. The purpose of this invention is to provide an inspection means to perform the inspection, and its functions and effects are as follows.

[For production]

Simply transmit the set flow rate for the number storage means and the set device error for the instrumental error storage means to the communication means using the external setting device with the flow path open to the atmosphere and the meter body tilted. , the set flow rate and setting equipment error stored by the inspection means, and the judgment results of the abnormal pressure drop judgment means and the earthquake judgment means can be automatically and sequentially transmitted to the communication means as meter side information, and the meter side If the information is received and judged by an external device, it is possible to inspect the set flow rate, inspect the setting device error, inspect the soldering of the pressure sensor, and inspect the soldering of the seismic sensor.These four types of inspection can be performed all at once. Easy and quick to implement.

In other words, if the flow rate and device error are set correctly, the value to be set by the external setting device and the setting value confirmed by the external device match; if not, a setting error has occurred.

In addition, if the soldering of the pressure sensor is good, the flow path is open to the atmosphere, so the abnormal pressure drop determination means will issue a command to close the shutoff valve, and if not, the soldering to the pressure sensor is defective. is occurring. Additionally, if the seismic sensor is soldered well, the meter body is tilted, so the earthquake determination means will issue a command to close the shutoff valve; if not, the seismic sensor will be soldered. There is.

Furthermore, inspection means can be added very easily by effectively utilizing the microcomputer that is originally equipped to provide flow rate measurement, safety, and communication functions.
It is an extremely simple and cost-effective modification.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As a result, it has become possible to provide a much more convenient flow measuring device with safety and communication functions that can easily and quickly perform the four types of inspections described above, and can be modified easily and inexpensively.

〔Example〕

Next, examples will be shown.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the case (1) is divided into upper and lower parts, and a capacitive flowmeter (2) is installed inside the lower case (1a).
), and the upper case (1b) is equipped with a gas inlet (3), a gas outlet (4), an indicator (5) that shows the integrated gas flow rate, and an indicator lamp (6), as well as the output of the flowmeter (2). A flow rate sensor (S3) that detects the rotation speed of the meter, a pressure sensor (S2) that detects gas pressure, a seismic sensor (S3) that detects vibration and tilt of the meter body, and a gas flow path (7) on the gas inlet side. A shutoff device (V) and a control unit (C) are installed inside.

The following (1) to 0 are applied to the control unit (C) as shown in Figure 3.
Various measures are provided in Section 3.

(1) While receiving information from the external setting device (8),
Communication means (10) for transmitting meter-side information to external equipment (9) Number storage means (11) for storing the flow rate (3) Instrument error storage means (12) for storing the equipment error transmitted from the external setting device (8) to the communication means (10) (4) Flow rate sensor (S1) Rotation speed and number storage means (11
) and a flow rate calculation means (13) for calculating the flow rate based on the flow rate per rotation from the instrument error storage means (12)
) (5) Integrated value storage means (14) for integrating and storing the calculated flow rate by the flow rate calculating means (13) and instructing the integrated value transmitting means (15) to store the stored value. (6) Integrated value storage means (14) The stored value is transferred to the communication means (l
(7) Abnormal flow rate determination means (16) for determining whether the calculated flow rate by the flow rate calculation means (13) is equal to or higher than the set flow rate (8) Flow rate calculation means ( 13) Abnormal combustion time determination means (17) for determining whether the flow duration time or the set time has been reached based on the information from (9) Whether the pressure detected by the pressure sensor (S2) is below the set value. abnormal pressure drop determination means (18) for determining whether an earthquake has occurred based on information from the earthquake sensor (S3); abnormal combustion time determination means (17);
Abnormal pressure drop determination means (18), earthquake determination means (19)
If an abnormality or earthquake occurs based on information from
abnormal flow rate determination means (16), abnormal combustion time determination means (17), and abnormal pressure drop determination means (18) of the output means (20) α for closing the valve and lighting the indicator lamp (6).
, the judgment result of the earthquake judgment means (19) is transmitted to the communication means (10).
Abnormality notification means (21) 03 When the completion of the flow rate setting or equipment error setting for these means (11) and (12) is confirmed by the information from the number storage means (11) and the instrumental error storage means (12). , the set flow rate stored in the number storage means (11), and the instrumental error storage means (1
Inspection means (22) for sequentially transmitting the setting equipment error stored in 2), the judgment result of the abnormal pressure drop judgment means (18), and the judgment result of the earthquake judgment means (19) to the communication means (10) as meter side information. In short, the city gas flow rate measuring device is equipped with the functions listed in (a) to (v) below.

(a) If the flow rate is set in the number storage means (11) and the instrument error is set in the instrumental error storage means (12) according to the flowmeter (2), the integrated flow value is calculated, stored, and displayed; External device(
9) can be notified.

(b) If the rubber tube comes off from the gas valve or the inner tube breaks, the abnormal flow rate determining means (16) etc. can automatically close the shutoff device (V) and turn on the indicator lamp (6). , the situation can be notified to the external device (9).

(c) If you forget to turn off the gas appliance, the abnormal combustion time determination means (17) etc. can automatically close the shutoff device (V) and turn on the indicator lamp (6). (9) can be notified.

(d) When the gas supply pressure decreases due to an accident in the main branch pipe, etc., the abnormal pressure drop determination means (18) etc. can automatically close the shutoff device (V) and turn on the indicator lamp (6). The situation can be notified to external equipment (9).

(f) When an earthquake occurs, the shutoff device (V) can be automatically closed by the earthquake determining means (19), etc., and the indicator lamp (6) can be turned on, so that the external equipment (9) can be notified of the situation.

(f) When inspecting the flow rate measuring device, reduce the pressure in the flow path (7) by opening it to the atmosphere, and tilt the meter body;
In this state, when the flow rate and equipment error are set in the inspection mode in the number storage means (11) and the instrumental error storage means (12), the set flow rate and the set flow rate stored by the inspection means (22), the communication means (10), etc. Setting equipment errors and judgment results of abnormal pressure drop judgment means (18) and earthquake judgment means (19) can be automatically and sequentially notified to external equipment (9), and based on this information, setting flow rate and setting equipment error can be notified. , four types of inspections regarding the soldering of the pressure sensor (S2) and seismic sensor (S3) can be performed at once.

[Another example]

Next, another embodiment will be described.

The capacitive flowmeter (2), the flow rate sensor (S1) that detects the rotational speed of its output part, and the integrated flow rate indicator (5) can be appropriately selected from known ones. In addition, the pressure sensor (S2
), a seismic sensor (SS), and a cutoff device (V) can also be appropriately selected from known ones.

The specific configurations of the communication means (10), and the external setting device (8) and external device (9) that exchange information with it can be changed as appropriate; for example, they may be wired or wireless; (8) and the external device (9) may be integrated or separate, and the type of information transmitted by the communication means (10) can be changed.

The order in which the information is transmitted by the inspection means (22) to the communication means (IO) can be set appropriately.

The use of the flow rate measuring device can be appropriately selected from city gas, LP gas, water supply, industrial use, etc.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings by adding reference numerals in the claims for convenient comparison with the drawings.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a front view of the device;
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram. (2)...Flowmeter, (7)...Flow path,
(8)...External setting device, (9)...External device, (10)...Communication means, (1st work)...
...No. number storage means, (12) ...Instrumental error storage means, (13) ...Flow rate calculation means, (14).
... integrated value storage means, (18) ... abnormal pressure drop judgment means, (19) ... earthquake judgment means, (20) - ... output means, (22)・・・・・・
・Inspection means, (S1)...Flow rate sensor, (S
2)...Pressure sensor, (S3)...
Earthquake sensor, (V)... Cutoff device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A flow rate sensor (S_1) that detects the rotation speed of the output section of the capacitive flow meter (2), and a number storage means that stores the flow rate per rotation of the output section of the flow meter (2). (11), instrumental error storage means (12) for storing equipment errors, and the flow rate sensor (
S_1), number storage means (11), and instrumental difference storage means (12)
) flow rate calculation means (1) that calculates the flow rate based on information from
3), and integrated value storage means (14) for integrating and storing the calculated flow rate by the flow rate calculation means (13), and a pressure sensor (S_2) for detecting the pressure of the fluid to be calibrated.
, abnormal pressure drop determination means (18) for determining whether the pressure detected by the pressure sensor (S_2) is below a set value.
), and an output means (20) that closes the shutoff device (V) for the flow path (7) of the fluid to be calibrated when the detected pressure decreases to a set value or less according to an instruction from the abnormal pressure drop determination means (18). a seismic sensor (S_3) for detecting the vibration and inclination of the meter body, and an earthquake determination means (19) for determining whether an earthquake has occurred based on information from the seismic sensor (S_3).
, and an output means (20) for closing the shutoff device (V) when an earthquake occurs according to an instruction from the earthquake determination means (19), and a flow rate setting for the symbol number storage means (11); A flow rate measuring device that executes instrument error setting for the instrument error storage means (12) by an external setting device (8) and is provided with a communication means (10) for transmitting meter side information to an external device (9). Based on confirmation of completion of the flow rate setting for the previous symbol number storage means (11) and the instrument error setting for the instrumental error storage means (12), the set flow rate is stored in the previous symbol number storage means (11). , the instrumental difference storage means (1
2) inspection means for sequentially transmitting the setting equipment error stored in the device, the determination result of the abnormal pressure drop determination means (18), and the determination result of the earthquake determination means (19) to the communication means (10) as meter side information; (22) A flow rate measuring device with a safety function and a communication function.