JPH05274571A - Gas leakage alarm and gas leakage alarm interrupting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inform a user of the excess of using validity term by a lamp, a buzzer, etc., by driving the lamp, the buzzer, etc., when an internal timer counts up the passage the using validity term. CONSTITUTION:The internal timer of a microcomputer (CPU1) automatically counts up the using period from the start of the use of a gas leakage alarm 10, and when the using validity has passed, informs a user of the time-out by the lamp 15, the buzzer 16, and so on. The time-out is displayed on a display part 20 also in a microcomputer meter 11 and then the information is also given to the external such as a management center through a telephone line L2. Since the CPU1 in the alarm 10 is backed up by a battery b1, the using period can be counted without generating a trouble even if service interruption or the like is generated in the using validity and a gas leakage alarm function is not temporarily executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a general household gas leak alarm device capable of self-managing the effective period of use, and a gas leak alarm shutoff system constructed by connecting a microcomputer meter to the gas leak alarm device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, gas leak alarms for general household use are
Valid period from the start of use is 4 years for LP gas,
It is defined as 5 years for city gas, and beyond that, the reliability of the sensing element cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, a seal for writing the date after 4 years or 5 years is attached to the exterior surface of the gas leak alarm so that a general user can know the effective period of use.

In addition, gas appliance dealers prepare an installation destination ledger for recording the installation status of the gas leak alarm device so that the date of replacement can be managed.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, even if the user forgets to write the date 4 or 5 years after the beginning of use on the sticker indicating the effective period of use, or even if it is entered, the period passes without knowing it. , There was often a problem that it was out of warranty.

[0005] Further, in gas appliance dealers, there are cases where the management of the installation ledger is sloppy or not fully utilized, and the ones out of the warranty period are used.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, that is, to provide a gas leak alarm device with a function of measuring the effective period of use, and use a lamp or a buzzer to indicate that the effective period of use has expired. Notify the user, display that fact on the microcomputer meter that works in conjunction with it, and make it possible to report further to the outside.Also, even if the commercial power supply is interrupted for a certain period of time during the effective operation period, the timekeeping operation is stopped. It is to be able to do without trouble.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, in the gas leak alarm device according to the present invention, the operation of the microcomputer is backed up by a battery such as a battery, and the microcomputer is started up when the battery is started to be used. And a function of operating a lamp, a buzzer, or the like to notify the user of the expiration of the usage valid period by the internal timer.

Further, in the gas leak alarm shutoff system which automatically closes the shutoff valve in the microcomputer meter when the gas leak alert device detects a gas leak, it is self-confirmed that the gas leak alert device has passed its effective period of use. When this is done, the microcomputer meter also displays that fact on the display unit, and also notifies the outside such as the management center through a telephone line.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the microcomputer automatically measures the period of use with the internal timer from the time when the use of the gas leak alarm is started, and when the period of validity of use has expired, the period of time expires with a lamp or buzzer. Let me know. Further, the fact is displayed on the display unit of the microcomputer meter, and is also reported to the outside such as the management center through the telephone line. The microcomputer of the gas leak alarm is backed up by a battery, so even if the gas leak alarm function is temporarily disabled due to a power failure during the effective period of use,
The use period is timed without any hindrance.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a gas leak alarm shutoff system according to the present invention. The gas leak alarm shut-off system, gas leak alarm 1 having a microcomputer CPU ₁
0 and a microcomputer meter 11 having a microcomputer CPU _2, which are connected via a signal line L ₁ .

The gas leak alarm 10 has a battery B ₁ for backing up the microcomputer CPU ₁ inside,
The DC voltage of the battery B ₁ is supplied to the power supply terminal Vcc ₁ of the microcomputer CPU ₁ . Further, the input signal I ₁ of the microcomputer CPU ₁ is supplied with the output signal a of the power supply voltage detection circuit 12 for detecting whether or not the AC power is turned on.
The input terminal I ₂ has a gas detection circuit 1 for detecting a gas leak.
The output signal b of _{No. 3} is input to the input terminal I ₃ from the microcomputer meter 11 via the signal line L ₁ and the photocoupler 14. Furthermore, from the output terminal O ₁ of the microcomputer CPU _1, the signal c for blinking the lamp 15 at the time and used lifetime elapses gas leak detection is, from the output terminal O _2, a gas leakage detection and during use valid period elapses Sometimes the signal d for operating the buzzer 16 is
From the output terminal O ₃ , a signal e for transmitting various information to the microcomputer meter 11 via the photo coupler 17 and the signal line L ₁ is output, respectively.

The DC voltage of the battery B ₂ is applied to the power supply terminal Vcc ₂ of the microcomputer CPU ₂ of the microcomputer meter 11.
Information from the gas leak alarm 10 is input to the input terminal I ₄ via the input / output switching circuit 18, and a pulse from the flow rate pulse generating circuit 19 is input to the input terminal I ₅ .
Further, the information for controlling the gas leak alarm 10 is transmitted from the output terminal O ₄ of the microcomputer CPU ₂ to the gas leak alarm 10 side via the input / output switching circuit 18. Further, the output terminal O ₅ of the microcomputer CPU ₂
Various display information to be displayed on the display 20, a signal for opening and closing the shutoff valve 21 for stopping the gas supply from the output terminal O ₆ , and an external notification circuit 22 and an external notification circuit 22 from the output terminal O _7. Various kinds of information for sending to the outside are respectively sent out via the telephone line L ₂ .

Next, the operation of the gas leak alarm cutoff system configured as described above will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. First, the gas leak alarm device 10 before being used
Does not function as a gas leak alarm because AC power is not supplied, but since it uses the battery B ₁ as the power source for the microcomputer CPU ₁ inside it,
The microcomputer CPU ₁ is a power supply voltage detection circuit 1
The output signal a from 2 is constantly monitored. From when the output signal a changes from L to H, the microcomputer C
PU ₁ measures the elapsed time t of H, and does not consider that the use of the gas leak alarm device 10 has started unless it exceeds a certain time T. This is to deal with ignoring the temporary power-on in the manufacturing process and determining the effective use date after the installation.

When the microcomputer CPU ₁ determines that the output signal a from the power supply voltage detection circuit 12 is H for a certain time T or more, it starts the operation of the internal timer to measure the effective period of use. When the gas leak is detected and the output signal b of the gas detection circuit 13 changes from L to H during the effective period of use, the microcomputer CPU ₁ outputs the output signal c from the output terminal O ₁ thereof, for example, in a cycle of about 0.3 seconds. Repeat H and L to blink the lamp 15. At the same time, the buzzer 16 is intermittently sounded by the output signal d from the output terminal O ₂ synchronized with the output signal c. Also, the output terminal O
_The signal e that repeats H and L is output from ₃ to the cycle of about 2.5 seconds to turn on / off the photocoupler 17. This on
The signal due to turning off is transmitted through the signal line L ₁ to the microcomputer meter 1
1 is transmitted to the first side and is input from the input / output switching circuit 18 to the input terminal I ₄ of the microcomputer CPU ₂ as gas leak information, and the microcomputer CPU ₂ is shut off by the shutoff valve 21.
Shut off.

[0015] In use lifetime, when AC power is cut due to a power failure, gas leak alarm 10 loses its original function, the microcomputer C through the inside of the battery B ₁
Since the operation of PU ₁ is maintained, the use valid period is continuously measured by the internal timer of the microcomputer CPU ₁ .

When the valid period of use (4 years or 5 years) has passed from the start of using the gas leak alarm device 10, the microcomputer CPU ₁ judges from the contents of its internal timer that the valid period of use has passed, The output signal c from the output terminal O _{1 is set} to L for a short time every 10 seconds, and at the same time, the output signal d from the output terminal O _{2 is set} to H for a short time every 10 seconds. As a result, the lamp 15 repeats short extinction every 10 seconds, and at the same time, the buzzer 16 emits a short alarm sound every 10 seconds. The output signal e from the output terminal O ₃ alternately turns on H for about 2 seconds and L for about 0.5 seconds to turn on / off the photocoupler 17, and the microcomputer CPU ₂ on the microcomputer meter 11 side. A signal indicating that the valid period of use has expired. The microcomputer CPU ₂ detects from this signal that the valid period of use of the gas leak alarm device 10 has passed, and notifies the display unit 20 of that fact.
And the signal is output from the output terminal O ₇ . This signal is sent to the telephone line L via the external notification circuit 22.
_It is sent to ₂ and transmitted to an external management center, etc. to prompt replacement of a new gas leak alarm.

By the way, it goes without saying that the gas leak alarm device 10 does not become unusable even after the effective period of use as described above, and normally operates at the time of gas leak. In addition, even if the AC power is turned on in order to use the gas leak alarm device 10 that has passed the effective use period again,
As long as the internal battery B _{1 has} the capacity, the microcomputer CPU ₁ determines that the valid period of use has expired, and thus the lamp 15 and the buzzer 16 similarly notify that the valid period of use has expired. ..

Gas leak alarm device 10 which has passed the effective period
Is replaced with a new one, the output signal e from the output terminal O ₃ of the microcomputer CPU ₁ becomes a normal H, so that the microcomputer CPU ₂ on the side of the microcomputer meter 11 which has received the signal is connected to the connected gas. The leak alarm device 10 determines that it is within the valid period of use, and erases the expiration date display on the display unit 20.

Next, details of the operation of the microcomputer CPU ₁ of the gas leak alarm device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The microcomputer CPU ₁ is
Whether the operation is started by the internal battery B ₁ in the manufacturing process of the gas leak alarm device 10 and whether the AC power is turned on by the signal a from the power supply voltage detection circuit 12 is H or L in step S ₁ . to decide. When the signal a is L, returns the internal timer for use lifetime counting is reset to 0 in step S ₂ to step S _1.

If the AC power is turned on in step S ₁ (signal a is H), the internal timer is integrated in step S ₃ and it is determined in step S ₄ whether or not there is a gas leak. Otherwise, in step S _5, the output signal c from the output terminal O _{1 is set} to H to turn on the lamp 15, and in step S ₆ the output signal d from the output terminal O _{2 is set} to L to stop the ringing of the buzzer 16. Further, in step S _7, the output signal e from the output terminal O _{3 is set} to H to turn on the photocoupler 17.

Next, it is determined whether or not the internal timer has timed T time (e.g. 1 hour) or more at Step S _8, and returns to Step S ₁ unless. On the other hand, if the time count T or more hours in step S _8, the internal timer is determined whether the timed or useful life proceeds to step S _9, the internal timer returns to step S ₃ if not timed Repeat the integration.

[0022] When it is determined the gas leakage at step S _4, together with the flashing the lamp 15 is repeated alternately H and L output signal c in about 0.3 second period at step S _10, the step S ₁₁ The output signal d is alternately repeated H and L in a cycle of about 0.3 seconds to make the buzzer 16 sound intermittently, and in step S _{12, the} output signal e is alternated between H and L in a cycle of about 2.5 seconds. The photo coupler 17 is repeatedly turned on and off, and the process returns to step S ₃ .

By the way, when it is judged in step S ₉ that the internal timer has timed more than the effective period of use, the output signal c is repeatedly set to L every 0.1 seconds for about 10 seconds and the lamp 15 is set to about 10 seconds in step S _13. noticed is turned off briefly, also the output signal d in the step S ₁₄ at the same time about 10
The buzzer 16 is made to ring for 0.1 second repeatedly every 0.1 second, and the buzzer 16 sounds for a short time every 10 seconds, and in step S ₁₅ , the output signal e alternates between H for about 2 seconds and L for about 0.5 seconds. After repeating the operation of turning the photo coupler 17 on and off, the process returns to step S ₃ .

Although one embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the lamp 15 indicating that the gas leak alarm device 10 has been used for a long period of time may also be used as a power supply indicator lamp or a gas leak alarm lamp or independently. Any of these may be used, and the lighting modes thereof are various. Furthermore, the buzzer 16
Instead of this, a speaker may be used to notify by voice that the valid period of use has expired.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the gas leak alarm device itself is provided with a function for measuring the effective period of use, and a user is notified by a lamp or buzzer that the effective period of use has expired. , It is possible to display that fact on the microcomputer meter linked to it, and to notify the outside such as the management center through the telephone line, so that it is not only the user but also the gas appliance dealer or the gas provider that the effective period has expired. Can be easily found in. In addition, the microcomputer of the gas leak alarm is backed up by a battery, so even if the gas leak alarm function temporarily stops functioning due to a power failure during the effective period of use, the use period can be timed without any hindrance. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a gas leak alarm cutoff system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the same operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Gas Leak Alarm Device 11 Micrometer 12 Power Supply Voltage Detection Circuit 13 Gas Detection Circuit 14/17 Photocoupler 15 Lamp 16 Buzzer 18 Input / Output Switching Circuit 19 Flow Rate Pulse Generation Circuit 20 Display 21 Shutoff Valve 22 External Notification Circuit CPU ₁ Gas Leakage Microcomputer of alarm device CPU ₂ Microcomputer of microcomputer meter B ₁ , B ₂ battery L ₁ signal line L ₂ telephone line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gas leakage alarm device using a microcomputer, comprising a battery such as a battery for backing up the operation of the microcomputer, wherein the microcomputer internally stores a valid period of use from the start of use of the battery. A gas leak alarm, which is provided with a function of timing with a timer and a function of operating a lamp, a buzzer or the like to inform the user of the fact that the internal timer has timed the valid period of use. 2. A gas leak alarm device according to claim 1, and a microcomputer meter for inputting a signal indicating a lapse of a valid period from a microcomputer of the gas leak alarm device and displaying the fact on a display unit. A gas leak alarm shutoff system characterized by: 3. The gas leak alarm cutoff system according to claim 2, wherein the microcomputer meter is provided with an external reporting means for reporting the elapse of the valid period of use to the outside through a telephone line.