JPH06348343A - Gas safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In gas safety equipment used in piping systems that supply gas, the purpose is to securely close the gas passages and enhance user safety. [Configuration] When an abnormality is detected by the gas flow rate detection unit 1 or the gas leakage detection alarm unit 6, a signal for operating the gas cutoff unit 5 is output in the first control mode 3, and thereafter, the abnormality is detected within a certain time. Even when a mechanical failure of the gas cutoff unit 5 occurs due to the configuration in which the control unit 2 that outputs a signal for operating the gas cutoff unit 5 again in the second control mode 4 is provided when the gas flow rate is detected. The gas cutoff portion 5 can be operated to surely close the gas passage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas safety device used for a gas supply piping system or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a gas meter for measuring gas consumption, when a gas is used for an abnormally long time or when an abnormal flow rate occurs, the gas passage is automatically cut off to cause an explosion accident due to city gas or propane gas. An invention has been made to prevent accidents such as poisoning (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-171808).

A conventional gas safety device will be described below. As shown in FIG. 5, when the gas flow rate detection unit 11 detects an abnormal long-term use of gas or an abnormal flow rate, the control unit 12 causes the gas passage (not shown) to open the gas cutoff unit 13.
Closed by.

Further, when the gas leak detection alarm unit 14 for detecting and warning the gas leak due to loose connection of the rubber rubber hose is used, when the gas leak is detected, the control unit 12 controls the gas passage to the gas passage. The shutoff unit 13 closes and sends a signal to the gas leak detection warning unit 14 to warn the user.

In the above-described process, when the gas passage is normally operated, the gas passage is closed by the gas shutoff portion 13. However, even if the control portion 12 outputs a signal to the gas shutoff portion 13 to close the gas passage, The gas passage may not be closed due to a trouble with the mechanism of the gas cutoff unit 13.

[0006] In such a case, the user and the neighborhood are also in a dangerous state, which poses a serious safety problem.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional configuration, even if the shutoff means is activated when the gas is used for an abnormally long time or when an abnormal flow rate is detected, the gas shutoff unit 13 is actually used.
If a trouble with the mechanism of (1) occurs, there is a problem that the gas passage is not closed and the abnormal use state is continued.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a convenient gas safety device which surely closes the gas passage to enhance the safety of the user.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, a gas safety device of the present invention sends a signal for closing a gas passage by activating a gas cutoff part when an abnormal flow rate is detected by a gas flow rate detection part. Outputs a first control mode to output and a signal to close the gas passage by activating the gas cutoff unit when an abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detection unit within a predetermined time after the first control mode has operated. The second control mode is set to provide a control unit.

[0010]

In this structure, even if the operation of closing the gas passage in the first control mode is incomplete, the gas passage is surely closed in the second control mode.

[0011]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a gas flow rate detection unit,
Reference numeral 2 is a control unit having a first control mode 3 and a second control mode 4, 5 is a gas shut-off unit that shuts off a gas passage (not shown), and 6 is a gas leak that detects a gas leak and warns the user. It is a detection alarm unit.

With respect to the gas safety device comprising the above-mentioned components, the relationship and operation of each component will be described.

When the gas flow rate detection unit 1 detects an abnormal flow rate of gas, the control unit 2 outputs a signal in the first control mode 3 to operate the gas cutoff unit 5 to close the gas passage. And

However, when a malfunction occurs in the mechanism of the gas cutoff portion 5, the gas passage is not closed and the abnormal flow rate is continued.

Therefore, when the gas flow rate is detected within a predetermined time after the signal is output to the gas cutoff unit 5 in the first control mode 3, the second control mode 4 causes the same operation as in the first control mode 3. To the gas shutoff unit 5 to close the gas passage.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detecting section 1, the gas shutoff section 5
To the first control mode 3 for outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage, and when the gas flow rate detection unit 1 detects an abnormal flow rate within a predetermined time after the operation of the first control mode 3, the gas shutoff unit By providing a control unit 2 having a second control mode 4 for outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage to 5, the abnormal flow rate of gas and abnormal long-term use are detected, and
After outputting a signal to the gas shutoff unit 5 in the control mode 3 of 1., if an abnormal flow rate of gas is detected within a predetermined time when a mechanism of the gas shutoff unit 5 fails, the signal is sent to the gas shutoff unit 5 again. It is possible to close the gas passage by the second control mode 4 that outputs, and it is possible to improve the usability and safety.

Further, the abnormal flow rate of the gas or the abnormal long-term use thereof causes incomplete combustion of the gas or the like, and the gas leak detection alarm unit 6
However, when the mechanism of the gas shutoff unit 5 is defective, it is unlikely that the user can identify the cause. Therefore, the gas shutoff unit according to the second control mode 4 is not likely to be identified. The safety aspect can be secured by closing 5.

The above operation allows the user and neighbors to safely use the gas.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the gas flow rate detecting section 1 detects an abnormal flow rate of gas in the section A1, the first control mode 3 of the control section 2 outputs a signal in the section B1. Then, the gas blocking unit 5 is activated to close the gas passage. At this time, if the gas passage is not closed due to the malfunction of the gas cutoff unit 5, and the gas outflow is detected in the section A2 which is within a predetermined time after the signal is output in the section B1, the second control mode 4 To output a signal in the section B2 set longer than the output time of the signal in the first control mode 3 to increase the operating energy and apply it to the gas cutoff portion 5 to surely close the gas passage. You can

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When a malfunction of the mechanism of the gas shutoff unit 5 occurs after the operation of the first control mode 3 described in the second embodiment, a plurality of gas shutoff units 5 are repeatedly sent to the gas shutoff unit 5 by the second control mode 4. It outputs a signal of times. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when an abnormal flow rate of gas is detected in the section C1, a signal is output to the gas cutoff unit 5 in the section D1 by the first control mode 3. After that, section C
When an abnormal gas flow rate is detected at 2, C3, C4, a signal is output to the sections D2, D3, D4 of the same time a plurality of times, so the gas shutoff unit 5 is activated little by little, and the gas is gradually removed. The passage can be closed, and the gas passage can be surely closed.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When a mechanical failure of the gas shutoff portion 5 occurs after the operation of the first control mode 3 described in the second embodiment, the signal output time of the second control mode 4 is changed stepwise. To output a signal to the gas cutoff unit 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when an abnormal flow rate of gas is detected in the section E1, a signal is output to the gas shutoff unit 5 in the section F1 by the first control mode 3. After a certain period of time, when an abnormal flow rate of the gas is detected in the section E2, a signal is output in the section F2 which is twice the section of the first control mode 3. After that, when the abnormal flow rate of the gas is detected again within a certain time, the signal output time is output as an integer multiple of the signal output time in the first control mode 3 while being repeated stepwise. It is possible to operate the gas blocking unit 5 with certainty and more reliably close the gas passage.

The rate of increase of the signal output to the gas cutoff unit 5 may not necessarily be an integral multiple of the signal output time of the first control mode 3.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detecting section, the first control for operating the gas cutoff section to output a signal for closing the gas passage. Mode and a second control for outputting a signal for closing the gas passage by activating the gas cutoff unit when an abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detection unit within a predetermined time after the operation of the first control mode With the configuration in which the control unit having a mode is provided, the gas passage is surely closed to enhance the safety of the user, and an excellent gas safety device with good usability can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas safety device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between signal output and time of the control unit of the gas safety device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between signal output and time of the control unit of the gas safety device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between signal output and time of the control unit of the gas safety device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional gas safety device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Gas Flow Rate Detection Section 2 Control Section 3 First Control Mode 4 Second Control Mode 5 Gas Cutoff Section 6 Gas Leak Detection Alarm Section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gas shutoff section for shutting off a gas passage, a gas flow rate detection section for detecting a gas flow rate, and a gas leak detection alarm section, wherein the gas shutoff is performed when an abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detection section. A first control mode for outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage to the gas flow section, and shutting off the gas when the abnormal flow rate is detected by the gas flow rate detection unit within a predetermined time after the operation of the first control mode. And a second control mode for outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage to the gas safety device. 2. The second control mode is configured such that the output time of the signal for shutting off the gas passage is longer than the output time of the signal for shutting off the gas passage in the first control mode.
Gas safety device as described. 3. The gas safety device according to claim 1, wherein in the second control mode, the operation of outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage is repeated a plurality of times at predetermined time intervals within a predetermined time. 4. A second control mode, wherein the operation of outputting a signal for shutting off the gas passage is repeated at regular time intervals until the abnormal flow rate is no longer detected by the gas flow rate detection section, and the signal is gradually output. The gas safety device according to claim 1, wherein the output time is extended.