JPH0788945B2 - Gas safety shut-off device - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gas safety shutoff device for preventing a gas accident.

2. Related Art Conventionally, various safety devices have been used in order to prevent a gas accident which, once it occurs, would be a catastrophic risk. In recent years, detecting abnormal use of gas and gas leakage,
A gas safety shutoff device that shuts off gas is drawing attention. In particular, due to advantages such as ease of gas piping and low cost, there is an increasing demand for a gas safety shutoff device having a shutoff valve capable of shutting off a gas flow in an abnormal condition installed in a gas meter.

Conventionally, this type of gas safety shutoff device has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 140981, it had a structure as shown in FIG.

That is, the gas meter 1 has the gas flow rate measuring means 2 built-in, and based on the signal from the measuring means 2, the interruption determination section 3 having a microcomputer outputs a interruption signal when the gas flow rate satisfies a predetermined condition. Receiving this cutoff signal, the cutoff valve 5 as a cutoff device provided in the gas flow path 4 operates to close the gas flow path. Furthermore, the signal from the abnormality sensor 6 such as an earthquake detector or a gas leak alarm is cut off by the judgment unit 3
When the predetermined condition is satisfied, a shutoff signal is output to shut off the flow path. Further, since the lithium battery 7 built in the gas meter 1 is used as a power supply for supplying power to the shutoff determination unit 3 and the shutoff valve 5, the shutoff valve 5 is a self-holding solenoid that does not require power to maintain the open state. It is common to use a valve.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a conventional configuration, when it is desired to shut off the shutoff valve 5 of the gas meter 1 indoors urgently due to a fire occurring indoors or for some other reason, or when going out or going to sleep. Shut-off valve 5 from inside for safety
I couldn't respond if I wanted to shut off. Even if the conventional gas safety shut-off device is constructed by adding a switch for manual shut-off to the gas leak alarm corresponding to the abnormality sensor 6 installed indoors, the conventional gas safety shut-off device does not have the abnormality sensor 6 Signal of the cutoff determination unit 3
The shut-off determination unit 3 shuts off the shut-off valve 5 by the power of the lithium battery 7 built in the gas meter 1 based on the signal. Therefore, for example, the shut-off valve 5 is shut down every day before going to bed or before going out. If the lithium battery 7 of the gas meter 1 is used for shutting down, the lithium battery 7 of the gas meter 1 will not be replaced for 10 years, but the battery will be exhausted.
There was a problem that it could not function as a gas safety shutoff device in less than 10 years.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a self-holding shutoff valve capable of shutting off a gas flow path, and a signal based on a signal from a measuring unit for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas flow path. A shutoff determination unit that determines whether or not to shut off the shutoff valve and that generates a shutoff signal to the shutoff valve, a battery that supplies shutoff power to the shutoff valve when shutting off, and a power source different from the battery. And a remote controller that is connected to the shutoff valve and that shuts off the shutoff valve by the shutoff power supplied from the remote controller to the shutoff valve. It is a thing.

The gas safety shutoff device of the present invention has the above-described configuration, and first, based on the signal of the measuring means of the amount of gas flowing through the gas flow path, the shutoff determination unit determines whether it is in an unsafe state, and when it determines that the battery is abnormal, The shutoff valve is shut off by the electric power of. Separately from this, a cutoff signal is output from the remote control operated by a power source other than the battery to the shutoff valve, and the shutoff valve is shut off by the power of the other power source.

With the above operation, the shutoff valve can be operated from the remote controller at any time to shut off the gas. For example, if you want to shut off the shutoff valve of the gas meter indoors due to a fire or some other reason, or you want to shut off the shutoff valve indoors for peace of mind before going out or going to bed. is there. Moreover, in this case, the shutoff valve is shut off by the power of the power source different from the battery, without using the power of the battery that is supplying power to operate the shutoff determination unit. Therefore, even if the shut-off valve is shut off before going to bed or going out every day, it is possible to solve the problem that the battery becomes exhausted and cannot function as a gas safety shut-off device within a predetermined number of years. It is a thing.

Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a gas meter 1 is equipped with a metering mechanism 2 for metering the gas flow rate and a metering means 2 including a flow sensor,
Based on the signal from the metering means 2, the interruption determination unit 3 having a microcomputer outputs an interruption signal when the gas flow rate satisfies a predetermined condition. Upon receipt of this shutoff signal, the self-holding shutoff valve 5 provided so that the gas passage 4 can be shut off to close the gas passage 4. In this case, the shut-off electric power for shutting off the shut-off valve 5 is supplied from the lithium battery 7 built in the gas meter 1 together with the shut-off determination unit 3. Further, the lithium battery 7 also supplies electric power for operating the cutoff determination unit 3 having a microcomputer. Further, although not shown, a shutoff valve returning mechanism is provided so that the shutoff valve 5 that has been shut off can be manually restored from the front surface of the gas meter 1. It is fed back to the microcomputer 3 so that the return can be recognized. Further, the information of the gas meter 1 is transmitted from the microcomputer of the interruption determination unit 3 to the remote controller 8. For example, the reason for shutoff, the amount of gas used, the open / closed state of the shutoff valve, etc. can be displayed on the LCD display section 9 of the remote controller 8 as required. Further, the remote controller operation unit 10 includes a display switch 11 for displaying various information of the gas meter 1, an operation switch 12 for manually shutting off the shutoff valve 5 from the remote controller 8, and the like. Furthermore, the remote controller 8 is operated by a power source 13 different from the lithium battery 7 built in the gas meter 1, and the remote source 8 supplied to the remote controller 8 is a lithium battery or a commercial power source, or its commercial source. It is configured so that both can be used. Remote control 8
When the shut-off valve 5 is manually shut off by the operation switch 12, the power of the other power source 13 is applied to the shut-off valve 5 to shut off.

Next, the operation of the configuration of this embodiment will be described. First, in the normal use state, the coil of the self-holding solenoid type shutoff valve 5 of the gas meter 1 is in a non-energized state, and the plunger of the shutoff valve 5 (not shown) urges the valve in a closing direction. The magnet holds the open force of the spring by overcoming the biasing force of the spring. Therefore, the gas flows through each part of the gas flow path 4, the shutoff valve 5 and the metering means 2, and the flow rate signal detected by the metering means 2 is input to the shutoff judging section 3. As described above, in the normal use state, a flow rate signal that can be regarded as exceeding the predetermined maximum gas flow rate or exceeding the predetermined continuous use time of the gas appliance used is input from the flow rate sensor of the measuring means 2 to the cutoff determination unit 3. If the shutoff determination unit 3 determines that it is in a dangerous abnormal state, the battery 7 that has the power for shutting off the shutoff valve 5 built in the gas meter 1
It acts to apply from. Then, the solenoid coil of the shutoff valve 5 is instantaneously energized to generate a magnetic field in a direction opposite to the magnetic field of the self-holding magnet, and the attraction and holding of the plunger by the magnet is released. Therefore, the valve body closes the valve seat by the biasing force of the spring, and the gas is blocked from flowing. This can prevent gas leakage in the event of an abnormality. In addition, in the case of abnormal cutoff in this way,
The cutoff reason signal is transmitted from the cutoff judgment unit 3 to the remote controller 8, and is displayed on the display unit 9 so that the gas user can take an appropriate countermeasure. Alternatively, by pressing the operation switch 12 of the remote controller 8, the shutoff valve 5 of the gas meter 1 can be remotely shut off manually. Therefore, by shutting off with the remote controller 8 before going to bed or before going out, it is possible to almost completely prevent a gas accident at night or while away. At the same time, there is a peculiar effect that you can get a lot of peace of mind by eliminating the worry of gas accidents during the night and during absence. Moreover, when shutting off by the remote controller 8, the power of the battery 7 that is supplying power to operate the shutoff determination unit 3 of the gas meter 1 is not used, and the shutoff valve 5 is shut off by power different from the battery 7. Because of the configuration, even if the shut-off valve 5 is shut off before going to bed or going out every day, the battery 7 is not burdened. Therefore, while monitoring the gas flow rate signal of the gas meter 1, the interruption determination unit 3
It is possible to guarantee a gas safety shutoff function for a predetermined number of years without shortening the life of the battery 7 that functions to electrically back up the shutoff valve 5 shutoff function. Further, since the remote control unit 8 can be shut off remotely, in the event of an emergency such as a fire, gas can be shut off indoors with the remote control unit 1, and secondary gas accidents due to a fire can be easily prevented. A unique effect can also be obtained. In addition, the metering unit 2, the shutoff determination unit 3, the shutoff valve 5, and the battery 7 are integrally configured in the gas meter 1, and the shutoff determination unit 3 is operated by the battery 7. Even if the power source 13 of the remote controller 8 fails, there is no problem in the function of discriminating an abnormality from the gas flow rate signal and performing the safety cutoff, so that a highly reliable gas safety cutoff device can be provided. Further, by using a lithium battery as the power source 13 of the remote controller 8, it is possible to back up and save the signal from the gas meter 1, for example, the information such as the gas usage amount and the reason for abnormal shutoff.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention determines whether or not to shut off the shutoff valve based on a signal from a self-holding shutoff valve capable of shutting off the gas passage and a measuring means for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas passage. And a shutoff determination unit that generates a shutoff signal to the shutoff valve,
A battery that supplies power for shutting off to the shutoff valve when shutting off,
A gas that has a remote controller that is operated by a power source different from the battery and is connected to the shutoff valve, and that shuts off the shutoff valve by shutoff power supplied from the remote controller to the shutoff valve by the different power source. Since the safety cutoff device is provided, the remote cutoff can be performed at high frequency without any trouble in the battery life of the function of discriminating the abnormality by the gas flow rate signal and performing the safety cutoff. That is, in the gas safety shutoff device of the present invention, the shutoff determination unit determines whether or not it is in an unsafe state based on the signal from the measuring unit for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas flow path, and separately from the battery that supplies the shutoff power. Since the remote control operated by another power source outputs a shutoff signal to the shutoff valve and the power of the other power source shuts off the shutoff valve, the remote control can actuate the shutoff valve at any time to shut off the gas. It is a thing.

For example, if you want to shut off the gas meter's shutoff valve indoors for some reason, such as when a fire occurs indoors, or if you want to shut off the shutoff valve indoors for peace of mind before going out or going to bed. It is a thing.

In addition, when shutting down with the remote control, the power of the battery that is supplying power to operate the shut-down determination unit is not used, but the shut-off valve is shut off by the power of a power source different from the battery, so if you go to sleep every day. Even if you shut off the shutoff valve before or before going out, it is possible to solve the problem that the battery that functions as the shutoff determination unit is exhausted and cannot function as a gas safety shutoff device in less than a predetermined number of years. It is a thing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas safety shutoff device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional gas safety shutoff device. 2 ... weighing means, 3 ... shutdown determination section, 4 ... gas flow path,
5 ... shut-off valve, 7 ... battery, 8 ... remote control, 12 ... operation switch, 13 ... another power supply.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A self-holding shutoff valve capable of shutting off a gas flow path, and whether or not to shut off the shutoff valve based on a signal from a measuring means for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas flow path. A shutoff determination unit that generates a shutoff signal to the shutoff valve, a battery that supplies shutoff power to the shutoff valve when shutting off, and a remote controller that operates with a power source different from the battery and is connected to the shutoff valve. A gas safety shutoff device having the shutoff valve that is shut off by the shutoff power supplied from the remote controller to the shutoff valve by the separate power source. 2. The gas safety shutoff device according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller is provided with an operation switch for manually shutting off the shutoff valve. 3. The gas safety circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the other power source is a lithium battery, a commercial power source, or both. 4. The gas safety shutoff device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff valve, the shutoff determination unit, and the battery are integrally formed with a gas meter for measuring the amount of gas flowing through the gas passage.