JPH09102989A - Structure for fitting electronic equipment to duct line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ignition to another section by covering a section to be inserted into a duct line with a quenching means concerning structure for fitting electronic equipment to a duct line while inserting one part into the duct line in which combustible fluid flows. SOLUTION: A fitting hole 56 is provided on the wall surface of a gas pipe 10 and a casing 28 is mounted on this fitting hole 56 so that a diaphragm 34 can be put into the gas pipe 10. Before the casing 28 is mounted onto the fitting hole 56, the fitting hole 56 is filled with metal fibers 60 as the quenching means and the structure for covering the diaphragm 34 with the metal fibers 60 is formed. Concerning this fitting structure, when a transmission part 16 or a reception part 20 provided inside the casing 28 is sparked or ignited by any fault at communication equipment, the burning of gas is suppressed to the explosion of small scale inside the metal fibers 60. Thus, since the section to be inserted into the duct line is covered with the quenching means, ignition at the other section can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for mounting an electronic device, at least a part of which faces or is inserted in a conduit through which a flammable fluid flows, to the conduit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pipeline for flowing a combustible fluid (for example, a combustible gas such as city gas or propane gas) has a detecting device for detecting the pressure or temperature of the fluid, or the applicant of the present application. In some cases, a transmission unit, a reception unit, and the like that compose the communication system (the communication system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-252578) to which the application has been applied are attached. Further, the mounting structure of the detection device, the transmission unit, and the reception unit to the pipeline is provided with a mounting hole in the wall surface of the pipeline, and the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor of the detection device, and the sound waves of the transmission unit and the reception unit are provided in the holes. A diaphragm for output and input is attached.

[0003]

However, there are the following problems in the above-mentioned conventional structure for mounting the electronic equipment on the conduit. The pressure sensor and temperature sensor of the detection device, which is an electronic device attached to the hole in the pipeline, and the diaphragms of the transmitter and receiver are in contact with the flammable fluid flowing in the pipeline, and for some reason the electronic device Since there is a possibility that a spark may be generated due to the fact that electricity is used when the failure occurs, there is a problem that the spark may ignite the flammable fluid in the pipeline and lead to a large-scale explosion accident. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure for attaching an electronic device to a pipeline, which is capable of preventing an explosion accident even when an electronic device attached to a pipeline through which a flammable fluid flows breaks down.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, in the attachment structure to the conduit of the electronic device at least a part of which faces or is inserted in the conduit through which the flammable fluid flows, the part of the electronic device is covered by the extinguishing means. Characterize. By adopting this configuration, even if the electronic device breaks down and a fire starts from a part of the electronic device that faces or is inserted into the pipeline, it is flammable because the part is covered by the extinguishing means. Ignition of the fluid is completed only in the extinguishing means, and it is possible to prevent ignition to other parts in the pipeline.

Further, the electronic device is attached to the conduit so that a modulation section for generating a modulated signal formed by modulating a signal indicating data and an output means in the conduit are provided, and the modulated signal is supplied to the electronic device. A transmitting unit that converts into a sound wave via the output unit and transmits the sound wave into the pipeline, and a sound wave that is arranged so that the input unit faces the inside of the pipeline separately from the transmission unit and propagates through the pipeline. In the case of a communication device comprising a receiving unit for receiving the signal via an input unit and converting the signal into a modulated signal, and a demodulation unit for demodulating a signal indicating data from the modulated signal, the communication device covered by the flame-extinguishing unit. Some are at least one of the output means or the input means.

When the electronic device is a detection device including a sensor for detecting the pressure, temperature, etc. of the flammable fluid, the part covered by the quenching means is the sensor.

Further, the extinguishing means may be glass fiber, rock fiber, ceramic fiber, metal fiber or a composite thereof. Further, it is effective when the flammable fluid is a flammable gas.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an electronic device attached to a conduit will be described with FIG. In the present embodiment, the electronic device will be described as an example of a communication device using a pipeline, specifically, an automatic meter reading device for combustible gas (LP gas, city gas, etc.). Reference numeral 10 is an existing gas pipe which is an example of a pipe line. Sound waves propagate as gas as a combustible fluid in a pipeline such as a gas pipe as a transmission medium, so basically they do not depend on the material of the pipeline, but propagate through the pipeline itself as a transmission medium. Gas pipe 1
0 is preferably a metal pipe in terms of sound wave propagation, but a synthetic resin pipe, a clay pipe, or the like may be used as long as the sound wave can be sufficiently propagated to the destination (reception device). Reference numeral 12 is an electronic gas meter, and a gas pipe 1
It is possible to detect the cumulative amount of used gas and the like from the flow rate flowing to zero. The accumulated amount of used gas detected by the gas meter 12 is data to be transmitted. The data is transmitted as an electric signal.

Reference numeral 14 is a modulator, which generates a modulation signal obtained by modulating an electric signal sent from the gas meter 12 and indicating data such as the cumulative amount of used gas. In this embodiment, a spread spectrum method, which is resistant to noise, is used as the modulation method. If there is no problem such as noise, a modulation method such as AM or FM may be used. Reference numeral 16 is a transmitter, which is a gas pipe 10.
Attached to. The transmission unit 16 uses the gas meter 12
Are arranged side by side. The transmitter 16 converts the modulated signal generated by the modulator 14 into a sound wave, propagates it to the combustible gas in the gas pipe 10, and sends it out. Modulator 1 above
4 and the transmission unit 16 constitute a transmission device 18, which constitutes a part of the communication device.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a receiving unit, which receives the sound wave transmitted from the transmitting unit 16 to the gas pipe 10 and propagates, and converts it into a modulated signal which is an electric signal. In the present embodiment, the gas pipe 10 is provided with other transmitting devices in addition to the transmitting device 18, and receives sound waves from a plurality of transmitting devices propagating through the gas pipe 10 and outputs a plurality of modulated signals respectively. It can be converted to. Reference numeral 22 denotes a demodulation unit, which is the reception unit 20.
A signal indicating data such as the cumulative amount of used gas is demodulated from the modulated signal converted by. In the present embodiment, as described above, the receiving unit 20 generates a plurality of modulated signals, so the demodulating unit 2
2 demodulates a signal indicating each data from a plurality of modulated signals. In this embodiment, the spread spectrum method is used as the demodulation method. The receiving unit 20 and the demodulating unit 22 include the receiving device 24.
Is configured and forms a part of the communication device.

A data terminal 26 constitutes a part of the communication device, and collects a signal demodulated by the demodulation section 22 and showing data such as the cumulative amount of used gas. The receiving device 24 organizes the data sent from a plurality of transmitting devices connected to the gas pipe 10 as independent data into a predetermined format, and sends the data to a centralized management center via wired or wireless means. To do. In the center, the data sent from the data terminals 26 in various places are centrally processed centrally, and, for example, the gas usage fee and the like are calculated.

Next, a concrete example of the transmitting unit 16 and the receiving unit 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 28 denotes a housing, which is attached to the gas pipe 10. Since the housing 28 may be buried together with the gas pipe 10, it is airtightly made of synthetic resin. Reference numeral 30 is a coil, which is formed by winding an electric wire around a magnetic core 32. The coil 30 is electrically connected to the modulator 14 or the demodulator 22. A diaphragm 34 is made of a magnetic material. The diaphragm 34 is attached to the lower part of the housing 28 so as to be capable of vibrating. The mounting structure of the housing 28 to the gas pipe 10 has a mounting hole 5 on the wall surface of the gas pipe 10.
6 is provided, and the housing 28 is mounted so that the vibration plate 34 enters the gas pipe 10 in the mounting hole 56. Further, in the present application, prior to the mounting of the housing 28 in the mounting hole 56, the mounting hole 56 is first filled with the metal fiber 60 as the extinguishing means. As a result, the diaphragm 34 has a structure covered with the metal fibers 60. The combustible gas in the gas pipe 10 is the metal fiber 60.
Also reaches the lower surface of the diaphragm 34 through a plurality of small gaps. In the case of the transmitter 18, the sound wave is sent to the gas pipe 10 by the vibration of the diaphragm 34, and in the case of the receiver 24, the sound wave propagating through the gas pipe 10 is vibrated when the diaphragm 34 receives the sound wave. The diaphragm 34 is made of a magnetic material in the case of the transmitting device 18, and is made of a permanent magnet in the case of the receiving device 24. In addition, as the flame-extinguishing means, glass fiber,
It may be rock fiber, ceramic fiber, or a composite thereof.

In the case of the transmitter 18, the modulation signal output from the modulator 14 is input to the coil 30, and the coil 30 is excited according to the modulation signal. As a result, the diaphragm 34 made of a magnetic material vibrates according to the modulation signal, and the gas pipe 1
Sound waves can be sent to 0. On the other hand, in the case of the receiving device 24, when the diaphragm 34 formed of a permanent magnet receives the sound wave propagating through the gas pipe 10, and the diaphragm 34 vibrates,
Induction voltage is generated in the coil 30. By detecting this induced voltage, the sound wave can be converted into a modulation signal.

Next, the schematic structure of the modulator 14 will be described with reference to FIG. A protocol unit 36a receives data from the gas meter 12 (identification of the gas meter 12, measurement data such as the amount of gas used, etc.) and converts the data into a predetermined format in accordance with the protocol with the demodulation unit 22. Reference numeral 38 denotes an encoding unit that encodes the data converted into a predetermined format. In the case of this embodiment,
Convert to binary code. 40 is a waveform generator,
The coding unit 38 converts the binary coded data into a modulated digital signal. A D / A converter 42 converts the digital signal generated by the waveform generation unit 40 into an analog signal. 44a is an amplifier, D
The analog signal converted by the / A converter 42 is amplified to an analog signal having a predetermined voltage level. The amplified analog signal is sent to the transmission unit 16, and the sound wave can be transmitted from the transmission unit 16 to the gas pipe 10.

Next, the schematic configuration of the demodulation unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 44b denotes an amplifier, which is a sound wave transmitted from the transmission unit 16 via the gas pipe 10, and which is received by the reception unit 20 and appears as an induction voltage of the coil 30 into an analog signal of a predetermined voltage level. Amplify. 46
Is an A / D converter, which digitally converts the analog signal amplified by the amplifier 44b. A detection unit 48 includes a multiplication circuit and detects the signal digitally converted by the A / D converter 46. 50 is a filter,
In this embodiment, four frequency filters 50 (each filter 5
0 filtering frequencies are different from each other) are arranged in parallel. Each filter 50 filters the signal detected by the detector 48 at a predetermined frequency (band). A decoding unit 52 integrates the output voltage of each frequency (band) filtered by each filter 50, performs a predetermined algebraic process, and transmits to the transmitting unit 16
The data (identification of the gas meter 12, measurement data such as the amount of gas used, etc.) transmitted from is decoded. Filter 5 above
The detection signal is filtered by 0, and the decoding unit 52 decodes it to perform the spread spectrum processing.
A well-known method is adopted for the processing in the spread spectrum method (for example, “Latest spread spectrum communication method (published by Jatec Publishing)” by RC Dixon).
reference). Reference numeral 36b denotes a protocol unit, which restores the data decoded according to the protocol with the modulation unit 14. The restored data is sent to the data terminal 26, and the data such as the amount of gas used is collected.

In the embodiment described above, the communication device is
An example having one transmitting device 18 and one receiving device 24 has been described. Next, in the case of an apartment house as shown in FIG. 5, the electronic gas meter 12 and the transmitting device 18 are installed in each house and each transmitting device 18 is installed. One receiving device 2 receives the sound wave sent from the device 18.
4 is a communication device that receives and collects data. In this case, the communication device serves as a system for centrally measuring the amount of gas used in each house. The gas pipes 10 (pipe lines) are provided with the transmitters 18a of the respective houses in series (or in parallel) in the housing complex 54. A gas meter 12a is connected to each transmitter 18a. Further, each floor is provided with a gas meter 12b for detecting the total amount of gas used on the floor, and a transmitter 18b for transmitting data such as the gas amount of the gas meter 12b. The gas meters 12a and 12b, the transmitter 1
The configurations of 8a, 18b, etc. are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

One receiving device 24 is provided and receives data such as the identification of each gas meter 12a, 12b and the amount of gas used, which are transmitted from each transmitting device 18a, 18b via the gas pipe 10. The receiving device 24 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. In the receiving device 24, the data of each gas meter 12a, 12b is organized for each meter based on the identification of each gas meter 12a, 12b. The data of each of the gas meters 12a and 12b detected by the receiving device 24 is sent to the centralized meter reading device 26a (corresponding to the data terminal 26 of the previous embodiment), and the centralized meter reading device 26a displays the data in a meter or a terminal box 58.
It is possible to send out to the telephone line via (via wireless).

In the structure for mounting the electronic equipment on the conduit, and the structure for mounting the vibration plate 38 with the metal fiber 60 as the flame-extinguishing means, the communication device temporarily fails and the gas pipe 10
Even if a spark is generated in the transmitter 16 or the receiver 20 attached to the mounting hole 56 of the, or if the gas is ignited and the gas is ignited, the combustion of the gas is limited to a small-scale explosion in the metal fiber 60. A large-scale explosion that ignites the entire tube 10 can be prevented. If one transmitter 16 or receiver 20 fails, a small-scale explosion will occur in the metal fiber 60. The explosion sound is received by the receiver 20 and data indicating that an abnormality has occurred is sent to the center. It is also possible to send. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the modulator 14
Has a demodulation function similar to that of the demodulation unit 22.
If the transmission unit 16 and the reception unit 20 are formed in the transmission / reception unit by providing a modulation function similar to that of the modulation unit 14 to each other, mutual communication between the electronic gas meter 12 and the center becomes possible, and the electronic gas meter 12 moves from the center to the center. In addition to the one-way transmission of data to the electronic gas meter 12, the data can be sent from the center into the electronic gas meter 12. Although not shown as another example of the electronic device, a detection device including a sensor that detects the pressure, temperature, and the like of the combustible fluid may be used, and in this case, the sensor is covered with the metal fiber 60. And Moreover, this mounting structure is not limited to the conduit for flammable gas, and is also applicable to the case where electronic equipment is mounted on piping such as flammable liquid (gasoline, kerosene, etc.), which has a high risk of explosion. It is possible. As described above, various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0019]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By using the structure for mounting an electronic device on a conduit according to the present invention, a part of the electronic device which is exposed to or inserted into the conduit through which the flammable fluid flows is covered by the extinguishing means. Therefore, even if the electronic device fails and a part of the electronic device in the pipeline catches fire, the combustion of the flammable fluid stops at the extinguishing means, and it is possible to prevent ignition to other parts of the pipeline. It has the remarkable effect of preventing a large-scale explosion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a transmission unit or a reception unit and a structure for attaching to a conduit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a demodulation unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a centralized meter-reading system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Gas Pipes 12, 12a, 12b Electronic Gas Meter 14 Modulator 16 Transmitter 18, 18a, 18b Transmitter 20 Receiver 22 Demodulator 24 Receiver 60 Metal Fiber

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A structure for mounting an electronic device on a conduit, at least a part of which faces or is inserted in a conduit through which a flammable fluid flows, wherein the part of the electronic device is covered with a quenching means. A structure for attaching electronic equipment to a pipeline, which is characterized in that 2. The electronic device is attached to a conduit so that an output device faces the inside of the conduit, and a modulator that generates a modulated signal by modulating a signal indicating data. A transmitting section for converting into a sound wave through the output means and transmitting the sound wave into the conduit, and a sound wave propagating through the conduit arranged so that the input means faces the inside of the conduit apart from the transmitting section. Is a communication device comprising a receiving unit for receiving via the input unit and converting into a modulated signal, and a demodulating unit for demodulating a signal indicating data from the modulated signal, wherein the part covered by the quenching unit is 2. The structure for mounting an electronic device on a conduit according to claim 1, wherein the structure is at least one of the output unit and the input unit. 3. The electronic device is a detection device including a sensor that detects the pressure, temperature, and the like of the flammable fluid, and the part covered by the quenching means is the sensor. The structure for attaching the electronic device to a pipeline according to claim 1. 4. The extinguishing means is glass fiber, rock fiber,
The structure for mounting an electronic device on a conduit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the structure is a ceramic fiber, a metal fiber or a composite thereof. 5. The structure for attaching an electronic device to a conduit according to claim 1, wherein the combustible fluid is a combustible gas.