JPH08189852A - Gas meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a gas meter which can easily and early inform the user of the information including the gas consumption, the charge, etc., and also the gas-using state. CONSTITUTION: An LCD 14 to display various information, return button 13, monthly button 15, and per-hour consumption button 16 are installed on the front panel of the upper case 11 of the gas meter 10, and inside thereof, a control part composed of CPU, ROM, RAM, nonvolatile memory, calender lock, input/output port, etc., and a telephone circuit control device as terminal unit are installed. A flow meter, seismic sensor, shutoff valve, etc., are installed inside the case body 12. The LCD 14 displays the information including the cumulated rate of gas flow, monthly consumption and gas charge, per-hour consumption, max. momentary rate of flow, etc., and also various information pertaining to a failed condition such as total max. rate-of-flow over, individual max. rate-of-flow over, micro-leakage, etc., and other information pertaining to the gas consumption.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas meter which is provided for each household of a gas consumer and which measures and displays the gas usage amount of each house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general household gas meter has a built-in flow meter for detecting the flow rate of passing gas, and a display mechanism for displaying the detected gas flow rate. Conventionally, a mechanical counter has been used as the display mechanism to display an integrated flow rate, that is, a cumulative gas usage amount from a certain point in the past to the present.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional gas meter, only the integrated flow rate is displayed, so that the customer can, for example, read the current month (from the last meter reading to the current meter reading). It is not easy to know the gas usage, let alone know the gas charge for the current month.
For this reason, it is necessary for the gas supplier side to send a notice such as a "notice slip" to each customer in advance every month to inform them of the gas usage fee and the gas fee. This notification is usually given only by a specialized meter reader visiting each home and checking the display of the gas meter, and it is practically difficult for the consumer to know the gas usage amount and the gas charge before that. It was

Further, it is convenient for the safety management if the consumer and the gas supply company can easily know whether the usage state or the supply state of the gas is normal.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to inform each consumer of information such as the amount of gas used and the gas charge easily and early and to easily use the gas. It is to provide a gas meter that can inform.

[0006]

A gas meter according to claim 1 is a gas flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, and based on the gas flow rate measured by the gas flow rate measuring means, an integrated flow rate and a predetermined period The liquid crystal display device is provided with a calculating means for calculating the used gas flow rate, and a liquid crystal display means for displaying the integrated flow rate calculated by the calculating means and the used gas flow rate within the certain period.

In this gas meter, the integrated flow rate obtained from the gas flow rate measured by the gas flow rate measuring means and the used gas flow rate within a fixed period are displayed on a liquid crystal display, so that a customer or the like can easily know such information. .

A gas meter according to a second aspect is the gas meter according to the first aspect, further comprising gas fee acquisition means for obtaining a gas fee corresponding to the flow rate of the used gas within the certain period calculated by the arithmetic means. The liquid crystal display means is also configured to display the gas charge obtained by the gas charge acquisition means.

In this gas meter, the gas charge corresponding to the flow rate of the used gas within a certain period is also displayed on the liquid crystal display, so that the customer or the like can easily know the gas charge.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the gas meter according to the first aspect further comprises an abnormality detecting means for monitoring a gas usage state to detect a predetermined abnormal state, and the liquid crystal display means detects the abnormality. The detection result by the means is also displayed.

In this gas meter, various gas abnormal states are also sensed and displayed on the liquid crystal display, so that a consumer or the like can easily know the abnormal gas usage state.

A gas meter according to a fourth aspect is the gas meter according to the third aspect, wherein the abnormality sensing means is used for at least a long time of a predetermined time or more (excessive continuous use time is exceeded), and a large flow rate gas of a predetermined flow rate or more is used. It is configured to detect (total maximum flow rate excess and individual maximum flow rate excess), earthquakes above a predetermined seismic intensity (seismic intensity over), minute flow rate gas leakage (minute leakage), and abnormality in the remote control telephone line. .

A gas meter according to a fifth aspect is the gas meter according to the first aspect, further comprising a determining means for determining whether or not the gas is in use based on a measurement result by the gas flow rate measuring means, and the liquid crystal display means. Is also configured to display the determination result by the determination means.

In this gas meter, whether or not the gas is used is displayed on the liquid crystal in a real-time manner, so that a consumer or the like can easily grasp the gas usage state.

A gas meter according to a sixth aspect is the gas meter according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid crystal display means performs a display operation in response to a signal from the outside.

A gas meter according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the gas meter according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid crystal display means performs a display operation for a certain time period every certain time period.

In this gas meter, the liquid crystal display of various information is intermittently performed, and the electric power required for the display is saved.

A gas meter according to an eighth aspect is the gas meter according to the first aspect, further comprising a maximum value of an instantaneous flow rate, which is an instantaneous gas flow rate, within a predetermined time based on the gas flow rate measured by the gas flow rate measuring means. The liquid crystal display means also displays the maximum instantaneous flow rate obtained by the maximum instantaneous flow rate obtaining means.

This gas meter displays the maximum instantaneous flow rate within a certain period in the past and is used for analysis of an abnormal state of gas use.

A gas meter according to a ninth aspect is the gas meter according to the first aspect, wherein the calculating means further calculates the flow rates of the used gases in different past periods, respectively, and the liquid crystal display means causes each of the periods. It is configured to display the amount of gas used inside.

In this gas meter, for example, the amount of gas used for each hour is displayed on the liquid crystal for several hours, so that the consumer or the like can easily know the past gas usage.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front appearance of a gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This gas meter 10
Is an upper case 11 accommodating an electronic circuit such as the control unit 40 shown in FIG. 2, a flow meter (not shown) for detecting the gas flow rate, and a gas flow path for interrupting the gas flow rate when the gas flow rate is abnormal. It is composed of a case body 12 that houses a shutoff valve and the like. On the front panel of the upper case 11, a return button 13 for returning the gas flow passage blocked by the shutoff valve,
A liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as LCD) 14 for displaying various kinds of information on a gas usage state, which will be described later, and a monthly button 1 for switching the display of the LCD 14.
5 and hour usage button 16 are provided. An inlet gas pipe 18 for introducing gas and an outlet gas pipe 19 for discharging gas are connected to the upper part of the upper case 11.

FIG. 2 shows a control unit 4 constituting the gas meter 10.
0 and its peripheral portion. As shown in this figure, the control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, R
An OM (read only memory) 42, a RAM (random access memory) 43, a non-volatile memory 44, a calendar clock 45 and an input / output port 46 are provided, and these are connected to each other by a bus 47. The input / output port 46 has an LCD driver 51 for driving the LCD 14, a monthly button 15, an hour usage button 16,
A flow meter 52, a pressure sensor 53, a seismic sensor 54, a drive circuit 56 for driving the shutoff valve 55, a return button 13 for returning the shutoff valve 55, and a modem (modulator / demodulator) 58 are connected.

In addition to the control program executed by the CPU 41, the ROM 42 stores a gas charge table (FIG. 4) and a continuous use time table (FIG. 6) which will be described later, and is referred to by the CPU 41 as needed. It has become.

The RAM 43 is a memory used as a work area when the CPU 41 performs a predetermined process (calculation of gas usage, etc.), and is, for example, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) or SRAM (static random).・ Access memory).

The non-volatile memory 44 is a memory for storing a usage status table (FIG. 5) and a gas usage history table (FIG. 7) which will be described later, and stores data even when the power supply (not shown) is cut off. Can be held, and writing can be performed at any time. For example, it is composed of an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) or the like.

The calendar clock 45 is a clock for clocking, which has a built-in oscillator that oscillates at a constant frequency, and has a function of providing the CPU 41 with not only the information of the hour, minute and second but also the date.

The LCD 14 is for displaying various kinds of information as shown in FIG. 3, and is driven by the LCD driver 51. The LCD driver 51 generates a necessary display voltage based on the data given from the CPU 41, and LC
Supply to D14.

The monthly button 15 is used to switch the monthly gas usage amount and gas fee displayed on the LCD 14 (FIG. 3) between the present month and the month before the first month.
Each time the button is pressed, the display can be switched in the order of current month, last month, last month, current month, .... Further, the hour usage button 16 is a unit time (1 hour) displayed on the LCD 14.
It is for switching the amount of gas used per hour and the maximum instantaneous flow rate from 1 hour before to 3 hours before, and 1 hour ago, 2 hours ago, 3 hours ago, 1 hour ago,
The display can be switched in the order of. here,
The instantaneous flow rate refers to the gas flow rate flowing in 30 seconds and is represented by (liter / 30 seconds) or (m ³ / h). Then, the maximum value within a certain hour is the maximum instantaneous flow rate.

The flow meter 52 is for detecting the flow rate of the gas introduced from the inlet side gas pipe 18 and discharged from the outlet side gas pipe 19, and, for example, the frequency of so-called fluidic oscillation corresponds to the flow rate of the fluid. A fluidic flow meter that takes advantage of the relationship is used. The fluidic oscillation means that a flow passage expanding portion is formed by a pair of side walls on the downstream side of a nozzle that generates a jet flow, and a return guide provided outside the side walls separates the fluid that has passed through the nozzles. This is a phenomenon in which, when a pair of feedback flow passages that lead to the ejection port side of the nozzle are formed toward the outside of the side wall, the fluid that has passed through the nozzle alternately flows through the pair of feedback flow passages.

The pressure sensor 53 is provided in the pipe between the outlet gas pipe 19 and the shutoff valve 55 and detects the gas pressure of the customer (downstream side).

The seismic sensor 54 is based on the principle that, when a steel ball placed in the center of a dish-shaped support moves by a seismic motion over a predetermined reference value, electrical contacts are turned on and off to generate a pulse signal. It is used, for example, and is designed to operate in the case of shaking exceeding an intensity of 5 (acceleration of 200 gal or more).

The drive circuit 56 drives the shut-off valve 55 according to an instruction from the CPU 41 when the use / supply state of gas becomes abnormal or when the seismic sensor 54 detects an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5 or more, The gas flow path between the inlet gas pipe 18 and the outlet gas pipe 19 is operated to be blocked.

The modem 58 has a modulation function for converting an internal signal of the control section 40 into a transmission signal of the telephone line 61 and the telephone line 6.
1 is a transmission / reception device having a demodulation function of returning the signal of 1 to the internal signal of the control unit 40, and a telephone line 61 via a T-NCU (terminal telephone line control unit) 63 to which a telephone 62 of a consumer's house is connected. It is connected to the. The T-NCU 63 has a control function for automatically switching between the control unit 40 and the telephone 62 to connect to the telephone line 61.

The devices described above are operated by using a battery (not shown) as a power source.

FIG. 3 shows a display example of the LCD 14. In the left half area of the display panel, the cumulative flow rate of gas, the monthly gas usage rate and gas charge, the gas usage rate per unit time, and the maximum instantaneous flow rate are displayed in order from the top. In the right half area of the display panel, in order from the top, "total maximum flow rate exceeded", "individual maximum flow rate exceeded", "continuous use time exceeded", "minor leakage",
"Gas pressure drop", "Telephone line error", "Seismic intensity over", "Shutdown valve closed", "Gas in use", "Gas not used"
Each display of is displayed corresponding to each of the following states.

That is, "total maximum flow rate over" is
This is displayed when the instantaneous flow rate exceeds the rated value specified for each size (number) of gas meters. “Individual maximum flow rate over” indicates that the amount of change when the instantaneous flow rate changes stepwise It is displayed when the amount of gas exceeds the common sense as. "Continuous use time over" means that the gas is continuously used when it is used for a long time longer than a predetermined time, that is, exceeds the allowable continuous use time for each gas flow rate specified in the continuous use time table shown in FIG. This is what is displayed when it is done. "Small leak" is displayed when continuous gas use such as a minute gas leak is detected, specifically, when a signal that the gas is not used is not detected for one month or more. . "Low gas pressure" means
This is displayed when the pressure on the gas supply side obtained by the pressure sensor 53 is below a predetermined level, and "telephone line abnormality" is displayed when the telephone line 61 is abnormal. “Over seismic intensity” is displayed when the seismic sensor 54 detects a shake of a predetermined value (seismic intensity 5) or more. The “shutoff valve closed” is displayed when the shutoff valve 55 is closed and the gas flow path is shut off for a predetermined reason. Here, the predetermined reason is a case where any one of "total maximum flow rate over", "individual maximum flow rate over", "continuous use time over", "seismic intensity over", and "gas pressure drop" is detected. . When "gas is in use", the flow meter 52 detects the gas flow (specifically, for example, a fluidic oscillation pulse is detected).
It is displayed during the period when the gas is being used, and at other times, "no gas is used" is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the contents of the gas charge table in which the used gas flow rate and the gas charge are associated with each other and stored in the ROM 42. However, the data may be stored in the non-volatile memory 44 in order to be able to flexibly cope with the price revision.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of a state table that stores various state parameters indicating the use state and supply state of gas. This table is a non-volatile memory 44
The data "1" indicating the corresponding or the data "0" indicating the non-corresponding, and the occurrence time of each state are stored in each state item at any time.

FIG. 6 shows the contents of the continuous use time table which defines the allowable continuous use time for each gas flow rate range. As described above, when the gas is continuously used for more than each of the times defined here, "continuous use time over" is displayed on the LCD 14.

FIG. 7 shows the contents of a gas usage history table for recording gas usage history. In this table, based on the information from the flow meter 52, the integrated flow rate for every 5 minutes is recorded, and 10 instantaneous flow rates (flow rate for 30 seconds) for each 5 minutes are recorded. Whether or not the gas is used (every 5 minutes) is recorded by "0" (not used) or "1" (used). Further, the maximum instantaneous flow rate for the past hour is recorded every hour. However, as will be described later, when the gas usage for a certain 5 minutes is zero, the recording (integrated flow rate and instantaneous flow rate) for the 5 minutes is omitted.

Next, the operation of the gas meter having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the gas flow rate monitoring and usage history recording operation will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 41 internally has a 30-second timer that serves as a reference for instantaneous flow rate detection and a 5-minute timer that serves as a reference for integrated flow rate, and these are first reset to start timing (step S101).
30 seconds have passed (that is, the 30-second timer has timed up)
Then, (Step S102; Y), the CPU 41 calculates the gas flow rate (instantaneous flow rate) flowing during that time (Step S103), and temporarily writes this value in the RAM 43 (Step S104).

When the instantaneous flow rate obtained here exceeds a predetermined value (for example, 8.8 m ³ / h) (step S105;
Y), the LCD 1 is judged to exceed the meter rated flow rate.
4 (FIG. 3), “total maximum flow rate exceeded” is displayed (step S106), and data “1” and detection time are written in the “total maximum flow rate exceeded” column of the state table (FIG. 5) (step S106). S107). On the other hand, even when the instantaneous flow rate does not exceed 8.8 m ³ / h (step S
105; N), when the value sharply increases compared to the previous measured value, for example, when the increase amount exceeds 5.6 m ³ / h (step S108; Y), an abnormal gas amount change occurs. The judgment is made to display "individual maximum flow rate exceeded" on the LCD 14 (step S109), and the data "1" is entered in the "individual maximum flow rate exceeded" column of the status table (FIG. 5).
And the detection time are written (step S110). Then, when "total maximum flow rate excess" or "individual maximum flow rate excess" is detected, the drive circuit 56 drives the shutoff valve 55 to shut off the gas flow path (step S111), and the LCD 14 displays ""Shut-off valve closed" is displayed (step S112). In this case, the subsequent recovery work is awaited.

On the other hand, the instantaneous flow rate does not exceed 8.8 m ³ / h (step S105; N), and the gas increase amount is 5.6 m.
If it does not exceed ³ / h (step S108; N),
The 30 second timer is reset (step S113). Then, such processing (steps S102 to S113)
Is repeated until 5 minutes have passed (that is, the 5-minute timer has timed out) (step S114; Y).

After 5 minutes have passed (step S114;
Y), the CPU 41 displays the integrated flow rate at that time on the LCD 14 (step S115), and displays the integrated flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate (10 pieces of data) in the past 5 minutes in the usage history table of the nonvolatile memory 44. Writing (step S117) and resetting the 5-minute timer (step S118). However, when the total flow rate in the past 5 minutes is zero, that is, when the integrated flow rate does not change (step S116; Y), the integrated flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate are not written to the usage history table. As a result, unnecessary data writing is avoided when the gas is not used, and the non-volatile memory 44 can be saved.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, a 1-hour timer is separately provided and the maximum value of the instantaneous flow rate is calculated every hour.
As shown in FIG. 7, it is also possible to write in the usage history table as the maximum instantaneous flow rate.

Next, the gas pressure / earthquake monitoring operation will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 41 uses the pressure sensor 53.
The gas pressure is constantly monitored by and the gas pressure is 30 mmH ₂ O.
When it exceeds (step S201; Y), “Low gas pressure” is displayed on the LCD 14 (FIG. 3) (step S202).
At the same time, this state is recorded in the state table (FIG. 5) (step S203).

Further, the CPU 41 constantly monitors the seismic intensity by the seismic sensor 54 and, when the maximum acceleration exceeds 200 gal (step S206; Y), displays "excessive seismic intensity" on the LCD 14 (step S208) and The state is recorded in the state table (step S208).

When "gas pressure drop" or "seismic intensity over" is detected, the shutoff valve 55 is closed to shut off the gas flow path (step S204).
"Shutoff valve closed" is displayed on the LCD 14 (step S2).
05). In this case as well, the subsequent recovery work is awaited.

Although not shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 41
Also monitors the connection state of the telephone line 61, and displays an "telephone line abnormality" on the LCD 14 when detecting the abnormality.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, the amount of gas used per month
The charge display operation will be described. When the monthly button 15 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed (step S301; Y), CP
U41 subtracts the current cumulative flow rate from the cumulative flow rate at the end of last month by referring to the usage history table (FIG. 7) (step S30).
2) Then, this is displayed on the LCD 14 as the amount of gas used for the current month (step S303). Further, based on the gas usage amount of this month, the corresponding gas charge is read from the gas charge table of FIG. 4 (step S304) and displayed on the LCD 14 (step S305). If the monthly button 15 is further pressed here (step S306; Y), the CPU
41 refers to the usage history table to calculate the amount of gas used and the gas charge for the last month, and displays the calculated amount on the LCD 14 (step S307). Then, when the monthly button 15 is pressed again, the usage amount and gas charge for the current month are displayed again.

On the other hand, even if the monthly button 15 is not pressed (step S301; N), a remote signal is sent from the predetermined service center on the gas supplier side via the telephone line 61 (step S308). ; Y), as in the case where the monthly button 15 is pressed, the gas usage amount and gas charge for the current month are obtained and displayed (steps S309 to S).
312). However, in this case, after the display, the usage amount for the current month is sent to the service center via the telephone line 61 (step S313). This also enables remote meter reading.

In the present embodiment, the gas charge is determined by referring to the gas charge table, but in addition to this, a relational expression between the gas flow rate and the gas charge is set, and the gas charge is calculated from this expression. You may do it.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the display operation of the time usage amount / maximum instantaneous flow rate will be described. When the time usage button 16 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed (step S401;
Y), the CPU 41 obtains the gas usage amount and the maximum instantaneous flow rate for the past one hour by referring to the usage history table (FIG. 7) (step S402), and displays them on the LCD 14 (step S403). Here, when the hourly usage amount button 16 is further pressed (step S404; Y), the gas usage amount and the maximum instantaneous flow rate from 2 hours ago to 1 hour ago are displayed on the LCD 14 by referring to the usage history table (FIG. 7). It is displayed (step S405). When the hourly usage amount button 16 is pressed again (step S406; Y), the gas usage amount and the maximum instantaneous flow rate from 3 hours ago to 2 hours ago are displayed on the LCD 14 with reference to the usage history table (FIG. 7). Yes (step S407). And once again, the hour usage button 16
When is pressed, the display returns to the display of the gas usage amount and the maximum instantaneous flow rate for the past one hour (steps S401 to S403).

In this way, each time the hourly usage amount button 16 is pressed, the past gas usage amount per unit time and the maximum instantaneous flow rate are sequentially displayed. It should be noted that the maximum instantaneous flow rate may be displayed by searching the usage history table (FIG. 7) for data exactly one hour before starting from the time when the hourly usage amount button 16 is pressed.
As shown in FIG. 7, among the maximum instantaneous flow rates already recorded at each time in the usage history table, the value at the time closest to the time when the time usage amount button 16 is pressed is read and displayed as it is. You may

Next, with reference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, the operation of monitoring the presence / absence of gas use and minute leakage will be described. C
The PU 41 has a 1-hour timer for judging the gas usage / non-use status and a 30-day timer for judging the presence / absence of a minute leak therein, and these are first reset to start clocking (step in FIG. 12). S501, step S60 in FIG.
1). The CPU 41 monitors the presence or absence of the fluidic oscillation pulse (FIG. 14B) from the flow meter 52, and when it detects this (step S502; Y in FIG. 12), the LCD 1
"Gas in use" is displayed in step 4 (step S503, FIG. 14C), the non-use state flag is turned off (step S504, FIG. 14A), the process returns to step S501, and the one-hour timer is reset. To do. The non-use state flag is a flag indicating that the gas has not been used for one hour or more, and is realized by writing data “0” and “1” to one of the internal registers of the CPU 41, for example.

On the other hand, when the fluidic oscillation pulse is not sensed (step S502; N), "no gas used" is displayed on the LCD 14 (step S505, FIG. 14).
(C)). Then, when one hour elapses (that is, the one-hour timer times out) without sensing the fluidic oscillation pulse (step S506; Y, FIG. 14).
(A), (b)) After the unused state flag is turned on (step S507), the process returns to step S501 to reset the one-hour timer.

In this manner, "no gas is used" is displayed on the LCD 14 while the fluidic oscillation pulse is not sensed, and "gas is being used" is displayed while the fluidic oscillation pulse is sensed. Furthermore, if gas usage is not detected for at least one hour,
The unused state flag is turned on.

After resetting the 30-day timer (step S601 in FIG. 13), the CPU 41 constantly checks the content of the unused state flag, and when it is turned on (step S602; Y), returns to step S601.
Reset the day timer. On the other hand, when the unused state flag remains off (step S602; N) and 30 days have passed (that is, the 30-day timer has timed out), the CPU 41
Judges that there is a minute gas leak, displays "minor leak" on the LCD 14 (FIG. 3), and writes this state and its detection time in the state table (FIG. 5) (step S604).

In this way, a minute gas leak that cannot be detected by the "total maximum flow rate excess" or "individual maximum flow rate excess" detection function is also detected, and recording and display to that effect are performed.

Next, referring to FIG. 15, the monitoring operation for the continuous use time over will be described. The CPU 41 has a continuous use time timer therein, and after resetting it first (step S701), calculates the gas flow rate (m ³ / h) from the instantaneous flow rate (liter / 30 seconds) (step S701). S702). Then, based on this calculated value, the allowable continuous use time t is obtained by referring to the continuous use time table (FIG. 6) (step S703), and this is set in the continuous use time timer. Then, it is determined whether or not the gas flow rate value calculated this time is different from the range to which the previous value belongs, and if the flow rate range is changed (step S704; Y), the flow returns to step S701 to continue use time. Reset the timer. On the other hand, when the time t has elapsed without changing the flow rate range (step S704; N) (step S705; Y), “continuous use time over” is displayed on the LCD 14 (step S70).
6), this state is written in the state table (FIG. 5) (step S707). Then, the shutoff valve 55 is closed to shut off the gas flow path (step S708), and the LCD 14
Is displayed as "shut-off valve closed" (step S709).

As described above, when the gas is continuously used over the time specified for each flow rate of the used gas, the gas is shut off and the display / recording to that effect is performed. Thereby, for example, an accident due to forgetting to turn off the gas appliance can be prevented in advance.

In the above description, the monthly gas usage / charge in FIG. 10 and the hourly usage / maximum instantaneous flow rate in FIG. 11 are displayed by a manual button operation by the user.
It is also possible to do this automatically. However,
In this case, it is desirable to display intermittently in order to suppress battery consumption. For example, in FIG.
As shown in, after resetting both the display-on timer and the display-off timer provided inside the CPU 41 (step S801), wait for the display-off timer to time up (step S802; Y), and calculate the usage amount and charge for the current month. Is displayed (step S803), and the usage amount and the maximum instantaneous flow rate for the past one hour are calculated and displayed (step S803).
804). Then, these displays are continued until the display-on timer expires (step S805; Y),
The display is turned off by the time-up of the display-on timer (step S806). Note that, in FIG. 16, only the monthly gas usage / charge, hourly usage / maximum instantaneous flow rate is displayed intermittently, but various status displays (“total maximum flow rate over”, etc.) are also intermittently displayed. You may make it to.

Further, in this embodiment, some necessary data are extracted from the gas usage history table (FIG. 7) and displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an abnormal situation of gas usage, etc. In the event of occurrence, if all the information in the gas use history table is read out and displayed, it is possible to analyze the past gas use state in detail.

Further, in the present embodiment, the telephone line is used for remote meter reading every month, but in addition to this, the contents of the state table of the gas meter of each house are read out and collected at the service center by using the telephone line. By doing so, it is possible to centrally manage a huge number of gas meters and gas usage states. Further, if the contents of the gas charge table in the non-volatile memory of each gas meter can be changed by remote control, it is possible to promptly respond even if the gas charge is revised.

[0068]

As described above, according to the gas meter of the present invention, the integrated flow rate of gas and the flow rate of used gas within a certain period are displayed on the liquid crystal display, so that the consumer can easily and quickly obtain such information. Therefore, it is possible to simplify or omit the notification regarding the gas use, which has been conventionally required for the gas supplier side.

Further, in particular, according to the gas meter of the second aspect, since the gas charge corresponding to the flow rate of the used gas within a certain period is also displayed on the liquid crystal, the gas charge can be easily provided to the customer. This has the effect of being able to notify you at an early stage.

According to the gas meters of claims 3 and 4, since the gas usage state is further monitored and various abnormal states are displayed on the liquid crystal display, the consumer and the gas supplier side use the gas. The abnormality of the condition can be easily known, and it becomes easy to prevent a serious accident due to a gas leak or the like.

Further, according to the gas meter of the seventh aspect, since the liquid crystal display of various information is intermittently performed, the electric power required for the display is saved, which is advantageous in the case of battery drive, for example.

According to the gas meter of claim 8 or claim 9, since the maximum instantaneous flow rate within a certain period and the used gas flow rate during different past periods are displayed respectively, analysis of abnormal state of gas use Useful information will be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a front appearance of a gas meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the gas meter of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal display unit (LCD) shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a gas charge table.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents of a state table.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a continuous use time table.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a gas usage history table.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations of gas flow rate monitoring and usage history recording.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a gas pressure / earthquake monitoring operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display operation of monthly gas usage / charge.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a display operation of a time usage amount and a maximum instantaneous flow rate.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an operation of monitoring whether or not gas is used.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a monitoring operation for minute leakage.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of monitoring / displaying whether or not gas is used.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a monitoring operation of continuous use time.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing timer control of liquid crystal display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Upper case 12 Case body 14 LCD 41 CPU 42 ROM 43 RAM 44 Non-volatile memory 45 Calendar clock 46 Input / output port 51 LCD driver 52 Flowmeter 54 Seismic sensor 61 Telephone line 63 Terminal telephone line control device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A gas flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, and a computing means for calculating an integrated flow rate and a used gas flow rate within a certain period based on the gas flow rate measured by the gas flow rate measuring means, A gas meter, comprising: a liquid crystal display means for displaying the integrated flow rate calculated by the computing means and the flow rate of the gas used within the fixed period. 2. A gas fee acquisition unit for obtaining a gas fee corresponding to the flow rate of the gas used within the certain period calculated by the calculation unit, wherein the liquid crystal display unit is obtained by the gas fee acquisition unit. The gas meter according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. An abnormality detecting means for monitoring a gas use state to detect a predetermined abnormal state, wherein the liquid crystal display means also displays a detection result of the abnormality detecting means. Gas meter. 4. The abnormality detecting means is used for at least a long time use of a predetermined time or more, a large flow rate gas use of a predetermined flow rate or more, an earthquake of a predetermined seismic intensity or more, a gas leak of a minute flow rate, and a telephone line for remote operation. The gas meter according to claim 3, wherein an abnormality is sensed. 5. A determination means for determining whether or not a gas is in use is provided based on a measurement result by the gas flow rate measurement means, and the liquid crystal display means also displays the determination result by the determination means. The gas meter according to claim 1. 6. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display means performs a display operation in response to a signal from the outside. 7. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display means performs a display operation for a fixed time every fixed time. 8. A maximum instantaneous flow rate acquisition means for determining a maximum value of an instantaneous flow rate, which is an instantaneous gas flow rate, within a fixed time based on the gas flow rate measured by the gas flow rate measurement means, wherein the liquid crystal display means is provided. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the maximum instantaneous flow rate obtained by the maximum instantaneous flow rate acquisition means is also displayed. 9. The calculating means further calculates the flow rates of the used gas in different past periods, respectively, and the liquid crystal display means displays the gas use amount in each of these periods. Item 1. A gas meter according to item 1.