JPH0650786A - Water-supply monitoring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a water trouble such as an unnecessary continuous running caused by forgetting of closing a water tap or wear of the water tap. CONSTITUTION:The title apparatus is provided with a flow-rate measurement means 3 which measures the volume of water flowing in a water-supply pipe passage 1 and with a flow-rate alarm means 6 which judges the state of a usage flow rate and which issues an alarm according to a flow-rate signal from the flow-rate measurement means 3. The flow-rate alarm means 6 is constituted of a minimum flow-rate setting means 8 which sets the minimum value of a flow rate and of a continuous time judgment means 9 which outputs an alarm signal when the flow rate elapses for a prescribed time at the threshold value between a flow-rate value set by the minimum flow-rate setting means 8 and the measured lower-limit flow-rate value of the flow-rate measurement means 3. Thereby, a water trouble such as an unnecessary continuous running or the like is eliminated, and energy can be saved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply monitoring device for monitoring the usage status of water supply at home.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the amount of tap water used tends to increase with the improvement of life. On the other hand, there are many issues such as securing new water sources and maintaining water quality, and it is desirable to save tap water.

Conventionally, the amount of water used is controlled by a water meter provided in each home, but a flow meter such as this type of water meter mechanically integrates the number of revolutions of a rotor such as an impeller. It has been put into practical use that uses water to measure the amount of water used and electronically converts the number of revolutions of the rotating body into an electric signal with a magnetoelectric conversion element, counts and integrates this electric signal, and measures and displays the amount of water used. (For example, JP-A-56-21017). In the above configuration, the water meter is designed to display the amount of tap water used at home and read the meter.

[0004]

However, in the above configuration, for example, unnecessary continuous water discharge due to forgetting to close the faucet when artificially injecting water in the bathtub or flush failure of the toilet caused by equipment abnormality, and faucet such as washing machine There are many leakage problems such as disconnection of the rubber hose connected from.

This not only damages the building and auxiliary equipment, but also wastes water. The present invention solves the conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a water supply monitoring device that saves energy and checks an abnormal use state.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, a flow rate measuring means for measuring the amount of water flowing through a water pipe,
A flow rate alarming means for judging the state of the flow rate to be used according to a flow rate signal from the flow rate measuring means and issuing an alarm, wherein the flow rate alarming means is a minimum flow rate setting means for setting a minimum value of the flow rate, and the minimum flow rate. Duration determination means for outputting an alarm signal when the flow rate has passed a predetermined time at the threshold value of the flow rate value set by the setting means and the measurement lower limit flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means,
And a notification unit for issuing an alarm in response to the signal from the duration determination unit.

[0007]

With the above-described structure, the present invention can promote energy saving by determining the water usage state of a consumer from the flow rate value and time of water flowing through the water pipe, detecting an abnormal water discharge state, and issuing an alarm.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a primary side water supply pipe, 2 is 2
The secondary side water pipe 3 is a flow rate measuring means for measuring the amount of water flowing through the pipe, and converts a rotating body such as an impeller rotating according to the flow rate into an electric pulse signal by a magnetoelectric conversion element. 4 and 5
Are faucets respectively connected to the home, and 6 is a flow rate measuring means 3
It is a flow rate alarming means that determines the flow rate to be used from the flow rate pulse from and issues an alarm. The flow rate alarming means 6 is set by an instantaneous flow rate measuring means 7 for measuring the flow rate pulse from the flow rate measuring means 3 as an instantaneous flow rate value, a minimum flow rate setting means 8 for setting a minimum flow rate value of the measured flow rate, and a minimum flow rate setting means 8. The minimum flow rate value and the lower limit flow rate of the flow rate measuring means 3 are detected, and an alarm signal is output when the flow rate has passed a predetermined time. And the notification unit 10 for The instantaneous flow rate measuring means 7 obtains the flow rate pulse from the flow rate measuring means 3 as an instantaneous flow rate value from the number per unit time. The duration determination unit 9 is composed of a determination unit 11 for comparing and determining the flow rate value set by the minimum flow rate setting unit 8 and the flow rate value measured by the instantaneous flow rate measurement unit 7, and a timer unit 12 for duration measurement. It The determination unit 11 activates the timer unit 12 when the flow rate value measured by the instantaneous flow rate measurement unit 7 reaches the flow rate value set by the minimum flow rate setting unit 8 or less, and starts the time measurement of the flow rate state. Then, when the time set in the timer unit 12 is reached, an alarm signal is sent to the notification unit 10. The notification unit 10 displays an alarm sound or an alarm mark. The minimum flow rate setting means 8 sets a practical flow rate value that a person uses by opening the faucet. For example, if the amount used as cooling water for cooking is 0.5 liter / minute, The flow rate value below the value is not in the state where the consumer intentionally uses it. Therefore, if the flow rate value in the above-mentioned flow rate range continues, it is determined that the water leak has failed due to incomplete closure of the faucet or aging of the faucet, and an alarm is issued.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and (Table 1). In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the flow rate value measured by the instantaneous flow rate measuring means 7. In the figure, the flow rate value from time t0 to ts increases and decreases at certain time intervals depending on the action of the user. From time ts, the region flow rate that is equal to or less than the minimum flow rate setting value and equal to or more than the measurement lower limit flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means 3 continues. When the determination unit 11 detects the flow rate, the duration determination unit 9 activates the timer unit 12, but does not reach the time of issuing an alarm. When the above flow rate state continues from time ts to tn, the duration determination unit 9 sends an alarm signal to the notification unit 10 to warn. The alarm output determination time of the timer unit 12 is determined according to the minimum flow rate setting value category, as shown in (Table 1).

[0010]

[Table 1]

The alarm output determination time shown in Table 1 is an example for general households because the lower limit flow rate of the flow rate measuring means 3 varies depending on the water supply contract diameter. The practical flow rate range is 15 liters per minute or more for pouring into bathtubs and 6 liters per minute for dishwashing in the kitchen. The alarm is released when the flow rate value deviates from the minimum flow rate setting value and the lower limit value of the measurement value by the faucet operation.

The flow rate measuring means 3 and the flow rate warning means 6 may be separated from each other, and the flow rate warning means 6 may be installed indoors and connected by wire or wirelessly. Further, the flow rate value set by the minimum flow rate setting means 8 can be learned by learning the usage pattern of the consumer, and the setting can be automatically updated to configure a monitoring device adapted to a practical level.

As described above, according to the water supply monitoring apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, the usage state of all faucets can be grasped by one flow rate measuring means 3 in the water meter for monitoring the total flow rate supplied to the home. .

[0014]

As described above, according to the water supply monitoring device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

A lower limit actual flow rate range used by a consumer is set, and a warning is issued when the flow rate range deviates from that range. Therefore, water trouble due to artificial forgetting to stop the faucet or unnecessary continuous water discharge due to aging of the faucet Can be promoted and energy saving can be promoted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a water supply monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow rate alarm chart of the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Flow rate measuring means 6 Flow rate warning means 8 Duration determination means 12 Notification section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate alarm comprising flow rate measuring means for measuring the amount of water flowing through a water pipe, and flow rate alarming means for determining the state of the flow rate to be used in accordance with a flow rate signal from the flow rate measuring means and issuing an alarm. The means is a minimum flow rate setting means for setting the minimum value of the flow rate, and an alarm when the flow rate has passed a predetermined time at the threshold value of the flow rate value set by the minimum flow rate setting means and the measurement lower limit flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means. A water supply monitoring device comprising: a duration determination unit that outputs a signal; and a notification unit that receives a signal from the duration determination unit and issues an alarm.