JPH0526399A - Gas supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a gas supply system in which a gas supplied customer(s) can select a gas supplier by intensively controlling cylinders and by rationalizing gas distribution. CONSTITUTION:A gas supply system is provided with a controller 3 through which a plurality of gas-filled containers 12 can intensively be stored and gas is supplied to the gas supplied customers of a plurality of houses (A) to (E) through an original gas meter 23 and house-to-house gas meters 24 from the gas-filled containers 12 and the original gas meter 23 and the house-to-house gas meters 24 are controlled. A The controller 3 is connected to the original gas meter 23 and the house-to-house gas meters 24 of a plurality of the houses. These gas inspection values are collected. The house-to-house gas inspection value is informed to a single or a plurality of gas suppliers supplying gas to each house (A) to (E) at established timing. The residual amount of the intensively stored gas is calculated from the inspection value of the original gas meter 23. When the inspection value shows below the established value, a residual amount alarm is generated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention rationalizes the delivery of gas filling containers by collectively managing the gas filling containers by a plurality of gas suppliers working together, and despite collectively supplying the gas. The present invention relates to a gas supply system that allows a gas recipient to select a gas supplier for each house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Gas supply systems using LP gas range from those for single-family small houses to those for apartment houses such as 10-story condominiums.
There are various scales.

To briefly explain this gas supply system, in the case of a detached house, as shown in FIG. 6, a gas filling container 102 (hereinafter referred to as a cylinder) is installed in the vicinity of the house 101.
The gas is depressurized to a working pressure by a pressure regulator 103 connected to the gas, and is further introduced indoors through a door-to-door microcomputer gas meter 104 containing a microcomputer. The meter reading value of the microcomputer gas meter 104 is notified to the gas supplier via the external line of NTT by the controller 105 having a communication function of the external line.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of a high-rise apartment house 110 such as a condominium, since a large number of households are targeted, a large number of cylinders 102 are collectively stored in one place, and a buried pipe 111 is provided. After that, gas is supplied to each household. In the case of the above-mentioned detached house, the consumer, that is, the gas recipient can select the desired gas supplier for each household, but in the case of an apartment, it is generally managed exclusively by a specific gas supplier. In reality, the gas recipient cannot select the gas supplier.

By the way, various problems have occurred with the spread of gas supply systems.

That is, in the case of a detached house, generally, a large number of detached houses are built adjacent to each other, and the road between them is not large enough for the cylinder carrier to pass through, and there are obstacles. In addition, due to the fact that the cylinders must be replaced door to door, the work of loading and unloading the cylinders was extremely troublesome, time-consuming, and required considerable labor. In addition, collecting the consumption information of each house is also expensive in terms of price, such as installing a controller in each house, which has been a great hindrance to the rationalization of the gas supply system along with the circumstances of the above-mentioned cylinder replacement.

A gas supply system as shown in FIG. 8 solves the above-mentioned problems in the delivery of cylinders. That is, each of the detached houses a, b, c, d, and e forms a section, and a gas meter 122, 1
22 and communication controllers 123, 1 connected to these
23 is provided to enable data notification from each door directly to each gas supplier A, B, C via the NTT line 124. Furthermore, each gas supplier A, B, C jointly
This is a gas supply system that rationalizes the delivery to the cylinder storage 126 by providing a cylinder storage 126 that collectively stores the cylinders 125 and a joint distribution center 127 that delivers and exchanges the cylinders 125 to the cylinder storage 126.

An outline of the controller 123 and the gas meter 122 of the above system will be described. The gas meter 122 includes a gas meter 122a including a microcomputer.
And a gas meter 122b that is not built in.

(1) The controller 123 is composed of a controller 123a for connecting the microcomputer gas meter 122a shown in FIG. 9 and a controller 123b for connecting the shutoff valve built-in automatic meter reading gas meter 122b shown in FIG. There are two types. The controller 123a has a built-in CPU 131a, to which the microcomputer gas meter 122a is connected. Controller 123b
Has a built-in CPU 131b, and the meter reading I / F circuit 13
2, the cutoff circuit 133, and the alarm circuit 134 are connected, and the meter reading I / F circuit 132 and the cutoff circuit 133 are connected to the gas meter 122b.

A gas meter, controller, CPU
And the like are collectively referred to as a gas meter 122, a controller 123, a CPU 131, and the like, and letters a and b are attached according to the type. Then, in the RAM of the CPU 131, the following data is set by the center loading or the setting device and stored.

A User ID b First report destination c Second report destination d Item to report to first report destination e Item to report to second report destination (2) Example of setting when used in a collective supply system a First report Destination …… Joint distribution center b Second report destination …… Gas supplier c Items to report to the first report destination …… Gas meter reading value (fixed period report, used by the distribution center to judge delivery necessity d Second report destination Items to be notified to ... Gas meter reading value (reported at a fixed date and time, used by the gas supplier to bill the user) (3) In the case of the controller 123a, the controller 123a is connected to the gas meter 122a with a microcomputer and the controller 123b. In the case of, it is connected to the controller 123b.

Explaining the meter reading and cylinder delivery and exchange in this gas supply system having the above-mentioned structure, (meter reading) two locations: a controller 123 having a communication function (two locations: a common distribution center and a gas supplier) , 123
Using one of the communication functions, the meter reading value of each house can be
Notify the joint distribution center 127 with D. In this case, a fixed-cycle meter reading function that sends a meter-reading value in a fixed cycle is used.
Further, the other communication function reports abnormality information to the gas suppliers A, B and C together with the user ID. Further, the meter reading value notification once a month is also sent to the gas suppliers A, B and C together with the user ID as a fixed date meter reading notification.

(Cylinder replacement) At the joint distribution center 127, the meter reading values for one section are summed to obtain the gas usage amount, and the remaining amount in the cylinder container 126 is calculated. Replace the cylinder 125.

However, such a gas supply system is
It has the following drawbacks.

That is, in order to prevent the gas from running out by calculating the gas usage fee for one section at the joint distribution center 127, it is necessary to be able to detect a sudden increase in consumption amount. For this purpose, it is necessary to shorten the meter reading cycle and frequently notify the distribution center 127. Therefore, this increases the line usage fee and increases the cost.

If any of the meter reading values for one section cannot be obtained, the amount of usage for that section cannot be calculated accurately. This communication may not be terminated normally because of communication line trouble, noise induction, etc. The probability that the usage amount cannot be accurately calculated at the distribution center 127 because communication is not performed normally increases in proportion to the number of units in one section.

[0017]

As described above, in the conventional gas supply system, it may be difficult to accurately grasp the gas consumption amount due to the trouble of the communication line, and the gas supplier has sufficient reliability. Can't get Further, with regard to the delivery of cylinders, since an accurate remaining amount cannot be obtained, it is necessary to increase the number of times of detection in order to cope with a sudden increase in gas consumption, and there is a drawback that the cost becomes rather high.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a single-family house with a plurality of houses or an apartment house with a plurality of houses.
Collectively stores the cylinders and rationalizes the delivery of the cylinders by accurately grasping the gas consumption without increasing the cost, and is applicable not only when there is a single gas supplier but also when there are multiple gas suppliers. The object is to provide a gas supply system that is made possible.

[0019]

To achieve the above object, the present invention consolidates and stores a plurality of gas-filled containers and supplies gas from the gas-filled containers to a plurality of units of gas through an original gas meter and a door-to-door gas meter. A gas supply system provided with a controller for controlling an original gas meter and a door-to-door gas meter, and the controller is connected to the original gas meter and the door-to-door gas meter of the plurality of doors, and collects these meter reading values to each door. Notifying individual or multiple gas suppliers of the meter readings by door at the time of setting, and calculating the remaining amount of the stored gas from the meter readings of the original gas meter, and remaining amount when it falls below the set value The gas supply system is characterized by transmitting an alarm.

[0020]

In the present invention, the gas consumption amount for each door is directly input from the gas meter to the controller without the need for an external line, and the consumption information is processed. A highly reliable gas supply system can be obtained.

[0021]

The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram centering on a controller, FIG. 2 is an action diagram of a main part (controller), and FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating centralized management of cylinders.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the present invention is applied to a section E composed of five detached houses a, b, c, d, and e. In the present embodiment, a storage means 1 provided in a part of this one section E, and a supply meter reading means 2 having a storage means 1 and six gas meters installed in each housing a, b, c, d, and e. And a controller 3 to which these gas meters are connected, and a delivery means 4 for delivering the gas-filled container to the storage means 1 and exchanging it in a timely manner.

The storage means 1 is provided with a cylinder storage 11 provided facing the road, and a plurality of cylinders 12 filled with LP gas are erected and collectively stored to store an amount in consideration of consumption. is doing. It is jointly managed by gas suppliers A, B and C.

The supply metering means 2 distributes and supplies the pressure regulator 21 connected to the cylinder 12 and the gas decompressed through the pressure regulator 21 to each of the doors a, b, c, d, and e.
2, an original gas meter 23 connected to the pressure regulator 21 to detect the total amount of gas supplied to the section E, and five individual gas meters 24 provided for each house to detect the respective gas consumption amounts. The gas that has passed through the original gas meter 23 is branched through the buried portion 25 of the pipe 22 and the like, enters the gas meter 24 of each house, and passes through these to the inside of each housing a, b, c, d, and e. Be led to.

The gas meters 23 and 24 are all composed of microcomputer gas meters having a built-in microcomputer.
That is, the shut-off valve is built-in and the gas alarm device 26 is attached. When not only outputting each meter reading value but also detecting an abnormal flow rate of gas due to operation of the gas alarm device 26 or disconnection of the rubber pipe, etc. Closes the shutoff valve and outputs a signal to the controller 3. It also has the function of detecting minute leaks.

As described above, the original gas meter 23 detects the entire amount of gas supplied to this one section E, and detects and manages the remaining amount of gas in the container 11 as will be described in detail later, and the value is below the set value. When it becomes
Output to. As a result, the controller 3 transfers the delivery means 4
Is notified to the remaining amount.

The door-by-door gas meter 24 detects the amount of gas used for each door. As will be described later, the meter reading value is notified to each gas supplier A, B, C via the controller 3. There is.

Next, the delivery means 4 is always a proper amount of the cylinder 1.
The storage center 1 includes a storage vehicle, a transportation vehicle, and a distribution center 41 including a reporting facility such as a telephone line and a computer.
Pay attention to the remaining amount warning and judge the necessity of delivery. This distribution center 41 is jointly managed by gas suppliers A, B, and C.

Next, the structure and operation of the controller 3 will be described. The controller 3 includes a CPU 31, which is connected to each gas meter 2 via a meter selection circuit 32.
3 and 24, which allows each meter 23,
Serial communication is performed with 24. Also, the CPU 31 is RA
It has a built-in M, which stores data necessary for processing the meter reading value. After the meter readings from the gas meters 23 and 24 are input to the CPU 31, the telephone line I / F circuit 33
After that, it is sent to the gas suppliers A, B, C and the distribution center 41 through the NTT line.

In the built-in RAM, the user ID of the person to be supplied to each door, the meter reading value of the door-to-door meter 24, etc., the telephone number of the report destination (gas supplier A, B, C) (in this embodiment). In the case of up to 5 cases), further cylinder storage 1
The ID of 1, the meter reading value of the original gas meter 23, the telephone number of the report destination (delivery center 41), and the remaining gas level (up to 3 levels) are stored.

These are performed by a dedicated setter or center loading at the time of initial setting.

In principle, center loading is performed with the distribution center 41 via a telephone line.

In addition to the above, as the setting data, the meter reading reporting date, reporting time, reporting cycle, meter reporting reporting date, reporting time and reporting cycle of the cylinder 11 are set. If the fixed date / time notification is unnecessary here, for example, 0 is set for the meter reading notification date, and if the fixed cycle notification is unnecessary, for example, 0 is set for the meter reading notification day.
If the fixed period notification is unnecessary, the notification period may be set to 0, for example.

The meter reading value stored in the RAM at the time of initial setting is the value shown in the display windows of the gas meters 23 and 24, and the same value is stored in the built-in microcomputer.

The gas remaining amount warning level depends on the capacity of the cylinder.
It is a value multiplied by a certain ratio. This is R of controller 3
After being stored in the AM, it is sent to the original gas meter 23 by serial communication and stored in the microcomputer in the meter. This serial communication is performed by the relay contact Ry ₀ of the meter selection circuit 32.
Done after closing.

The microcomputer of the original gas meter 23 has a RAM area for counting and storing gas usage (gas usage counter).

This is because, when the cylinder is exchanged, when the magnet is brought close to the place where the meter is located, the built-in reed switch is turned on, and this signal resets the gas usage counter. At this time, when a communication request signal is output from the gas meter, the signal is transmitted through a path through the diode D ₀ in the meter selection circuit 32 of the controller 3 to the CPU 31 via the communication I / F circuit 34. In response to this, CP
U31 outputs a data (particularly called security data) request signal to the original gas meter 23, and this gas meter 23 outputs information that the cylinder is replaced. Receiving this, the controller 3 notifies the distribution center 41 of this and can know that the replacement has been performed at the distribution center 41.

When the gas usage counter is counted up to reach the gas remaining amount warning level, the original gas meter 23
A communication request signal is output from and is notified to the distribution center 41 by the procedure described above. The delivery center 41 delivers the cylinder 12 based on the information.

On the other hand, in the meter reading for each door, the relay contacts Ry _{1 to} Ry ₅ corresponding to each gas meter 24 for each door are closed under the set report condition (day, time, cycle), and meter reading data is communicated from each gas meter 24. Then, the gas suppliers A, B, and C are notified together with the user ID.

Even when the shutoff valve of the gas meter 24 is closed due to a gas leak or the like, communication is performed between the controller 3 and the gas meter 24 in the same manner as when replacing the cylinder, and the gas supplier A,
B and C are notified.

The overall operation will be described separately for the case of individual data and the case of collective data. First, the meter-reading value for each door as individual data is the meter-reading value for each door at the request of the CPU 31 according to the notification date and time set in the CPU 31. Is input to the CPU 31. The meter reading value is sent to, for example, the gas supplier B that manages the meter reading value via an external line. Supplier B creates a bill of charges based on this.

When the shutoff valve is closed due to an abnormal condition, the information is notified to the management gas supplier each time. Data on minute leaks are also reported in a timely manner.

The total of the meter reading values for each door is reported to the delivery center 41 according to the set date and time. In addition, the remaining gas amount alarm from the former gas meter 23 is also notified.

Further, cylinder replacement information and data on micro leaks are also reported in a timely manner.

In the gas supply system in which the meter reading value is directly input to the controller connected to each gas meter without passing through an external line as in the present embodiment, the meter reading value can be reliably obtained without being affected by the outside. Further, since the remaining amount alarm is issued when the remaining amount of gas becomes equal to or less than the set value, communication costs can be significantly saved.

In this embodiment, one section is composed of 5 units, but the number is not limited to this, and the number of units is not limited as long as it can be managed. Also, I explained using a detached house as an example,
It may be an apartment house, and multiple units mean multiple households. Further, the gas supplier is not limited to a plurality and may be a single gas supplier.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Since this embodiment has substantially the same structure as the first embodiment, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, one unit is composed of 5 units, and is composed of the storage means 1, the supply meter reading means 2, the controller 5, and the delivery means 4. ing.

Since the storage means 1 is the same as that in the first embodiment, detailed description will be omitted.

The supply metering means 2 distributes and supplies the pressure regulator 21 connected to the cylinder 12 and the gas decompressed via the pressure regulator 21 to each of the doors a, b, c, d, and e.
2, a source gas meter 23b connected to the pressure regulator 21 to detect the total amount of gas supplied to the section E, and five individual gas meters 24b provided for each house to detect the respective gas consumptions. The gas that has passed through the original gas meter 23b is branched through the buried portion 22b of the pipe 22 and the like, enters the gas meter 24b of each house, and passes through these to the respective housings a, b, c, d, and h. Be led to.

Further, the gas meters 23b and 24 of this embodiment are
Unlike the gas meter with a built-in microcomputer of the first embodiment, b does not have a built-in microcomputer, but is composed of a gas meter with a built-in shutoff valve and automatic meter reading. Therefore, the gas alarm 26b is attached to the controller 5, and the shutoff valve is also closed by the controller 5.

Next, the delivery means 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the controller 5 is the main CPU 5
1 is provided. In addition, there are five sub CPUs 52
Are connected in parallel corresponding to housings a, b, c, d, and e, and each sub CPU 52 has a shutoff circuit 53 and meter reading.
I / F 54 and alarm I / F 55 are connected respectively.

Further, each shutoff circuit 53, each meter reading I / F 54
Are connected to the individual gas meters 24b, and the alarms I / F 55 are connected to the alarms 26b. Further, a meter reading I / F circuit 56 and an external signal I / F circuit 57 are connected to the main CPU 51, and these are separately connected to the original gas meter 23b. The meter reading I / F circuit 56 is for detecting the remaining amount of gas in the cylinder 12, which will be described later, and the external signal I / F circuit 57 is for inputting the data of minute leakage.

The telephone line I / F circuit 58 is connected to the gas supplier A,
This is for reporting meter reading data and the like to B and C and the distribution center 41 via an external line. In short, these five sub CPUs 52 are responsible for the functions of a microcomputer gas meter such as meter reading and gas shutoff. Further, the remaining amount of the cylinder 12 is managed by the main CPU 51. Therefore, the RAM of the main CPU 51 has
A gas usage counter is provided.

Then, the meter pulse counts up, and when it reaches the set remaining gas level warning level, the distribution center 41 is notified.

The main CPU 51 and each sub CPU 5
Between 2 and 2, at least one data line can be configured.
Further, similarly to the communication between the controller and the microcomputer in the previous embodiment, the meter reading value for each door and the abnormality information for each door are stored in the sub CP.
From U52 to the main CPU51, gas supplier A,
Notify B and C.

Since the other points are the same as those in the previous embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the number of units in one section is 5, and a plurality of gas suppliers A, B and C manage the units. In addition, the original gas meter that detects the total gas supply amount is not provided, and the remaining amount management of the cylinder storage is
It is performed by the sum of meter readings for each gas meter.

Since the entire structure is the same as that of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions, and detailed description will be omitted. In this embodiment, the gas storage means 1 and the supply meter reading means 2 are provided.
, A controller 5, and a delivery means 4. Among these, the storage means 1, the controller 5, and the delivery means 4 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The supply metering means 2 supplies the source pressure regulator 21a connected to the cylinder 12, the main pressure regulator 21b for further reducing the gas pressure from the pressure regulator 21a, and the gas depressurized by the main pressure regulator 21b to each door. From a pipe 22 for distributing and supplying to a, b, c, d, and e, five door-to-door gas meters 24b provided for each door to detect the respective gas consumption amounts, and a micro leak detection device 25 (described later). It is configured. The gas passing through the pressure regulators 21a and 21b is connected to the pipe 22.
The gas meter 2 of each house is branched through the buried portion 22b of the
Enter 4b, and go through each of the houses a, b, c,
D, guided to the inside of e.

The gas meter 24b of the present embodiment is the automatic meter reading gas meter with built-in shutoff valve of the second embodiment. Therefore, the shutoff valve is closed by the controller 5.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the original gas meter for detecting the entire gas supply amount is not provided, the total amount of meter reading of the individual door gas meter 24b is used for managing the remaining amount of gas in the container 11. The controller 5 calculates and subtracts this from the total amount of gas when replacing the cylinder to manage the remaining amount. When the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than the set value, the controller 5 notifies the distribution center 41 of the remaining amount alarm.

Since the other points are the same as those in the second embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the minute leak detection device 25 is provided with a bypass 25a that connects the inlet side and the outlet side of the main pressure regulator 21b, and the bypass 25a is connected to the bypass 25a from the inlet side.
1c, a minute flow rate gas meter 25b is provided.
Then, by setting the secondary pressure of the auxiliary pressure regulator 21c higher than the secondary pressure of the main pressure regulator 21b, when the flow rate becomes minute at night, all the leaked gas is controlled by the minute flow rate gas meter 25b. Since it passes, a minute leak can be detected.

[0067]

As described above in detail, in the gas supply system of the present invention, the controller and the original gas meter or the individual gas meter are directly connected to each other without an external line to collect and process the gas meter readings. As a result, all meter reading information can be reliably grasped. Therefore, since the meter reading information is highly reliable, the cylinder delivery can be significantly streamlined by the active participation of multiple gas suppliers. Moreover, the recipient can freely select the supplier.

Further, the remaining gas amount is calculated from the sum of the meter reading values for each meter or the reading value of the original gas meter, and when the remaining amount becomes less than the set value, the remaining amount alarm is notified, so that the rapid consumption Can be dealt with well, and this does not result in increased costs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the main part (meter selection circuit) of the same.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a main part (delivery means) of the same.

FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a structural explanatory view of still another conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a main part (controller) of the same.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the main part (controller) of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B, C gas supplier A, b, c, d, ho Gas recipient 3 controller 4 means of delivery 5 controller 12 gas filling containers 23 yuan gas meter 24 gas meters 24b Individual gas meter

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuo Suzuki             23 Yashima Keiki Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Hidetoshi Tanabe             23 Yashima Keiki Co., Ltd.             Inside the company

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A controller for centrally storing a plurality of gas filling containers, supplying gas from the gas filling containers to a plurality of gas recipients through the original gas meter and the door-by-door gas meter and controlling the original gas meter and the door-by-door gas meter. In the provided gas supply system, the controller is connected to the original gas meter and the door-to-door gas meter of the plurality of doors to collect the meter reading values and supply gas to each door. The gas supply system is characterized in that the remaining amount of the stored gas is calculated based on the meter reading value of the original gas meter, and a remaining amount alarm is issued when the remaining amount is less than the set value. 2. A gas supply system provided with a controller for collectively storing a plurality of gas-filled containers, supplying gas from the gas-filled containers to a plurality of gas recipients via a door-to-door gas meter and controlling the door-to-door gas meter. There, the controller is connected to the gas meters for each of the plurality of units, collects the meter readings for each unit, supplies gas to each unit, and reports the meter readings for each unit to a single or multiple gas suppliers at a set time and stores them collectively. A gas supply system, characterized in that the remaining amount of remaining gas is calculated based on the sum of the meter readings for each door, and a remaining amount alarm is issued when the remaining amount falls below a set value.