JPH09210353A - Gas interruption apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatize opening of a valve by instructing the time, reconcile safety and convenience, and improve reliability of a gas interruption apparatus. SOLUTION: A valve opening time instruction signal B is outputted from a sensor monitoring part 1 through a communication receiver part 2, and a valve is opened with a valve opening/closing driving part 4 following a valve opening signal C when the time reaches a specific time set in association with the valve opening instruction time in a valve opening instruction part 3. Further, the existence of leakage is judged in a leakage detection part 6 based upon a flow rate signal of a flow rate detection part 5 whereby a gas use allowance signal or a gas use interruption signal is outputted. When the gas use interruption signal E is outputted, a valve closing instruction part 7 outputs a valve closing signal H and hence the valve opening/closing driving part 4 closes the valve.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas shutoff device for ensuring safety in using gas downstream of a gas meter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, a gas shutoff device of this type has a center monitoring unit 1 installed outside, and receives an instruction A from the center monitoring unit 1 to request a plug opening request signal I or a plug. Communication receiver 2 for outputting request signal J, communication receiver 2
Valve opening instruction signal 3 that outputs a valve opening signal C when the opening request signal I is received, and a valve closing instruction unit 7 that outputs a valve closing signal H when the closing request signal J from the communication receiving section 2 is received, When the valve opening signal C from the opening instruction unit 3 or the valve closing signal H from the valve closing instruction unit 7 is received, the valve opening / closing drive unit 4 drives the valve to open / close the valve.

[0003]

However, in such a gas shutoff device, since the opening function and the closing function are configured to function independently, complicated processing is difficult.

That is, in the conventional gas shutoff device, in a specific facility such as a resort facility which is used several times a year and is owned by an individual, the site where the gas shutoff device is installed according to the gas use request of the gas user. The gas shut-off device was opened and the center monitoring unit sequentially instructed the gas shut-off device to perform the gas open process procedure, and the gas shut-off device was opened immediately after the gas open (( Up to now, 30 days have been required to detect gas leaks.) It is not possible to prevent gas leaks because sufficient safety cannot be ensured, or gas users from resort facilities However, there was a problem that it was not possible to prevent the gas shutoff device from being unable to be closed again and going into an unmanaged state because it was not possible to detect the return home.

Therefore, in the gas shutoff device of the present invention, by detecting the use of a specific amount of gas, a gas user can detect a gas leak in a short time before using the gas, or the gas is not detected. A gas shutoff device that detects uncontrolled fluctuations in usage and gas usage patterns and closes the gas shutoff device to eliminate the uncontrolled state of the gas, ensuring higher safety and improving device reliability. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

A gas shutoff device according to the present invention comprises a center monitoring section installed outside, and a communication receiving section for receiving an instruction from the center monitoring section and outputting a signal for designating the opening and closing date. When receiving the signal to specify the opening date and time of the communication receiving unit, the date and time are monitored, and the valve opening signal and the leak detection start signal are output to open the valve when the specific date and time set in association with the specified opening date and time comes. When a valve opening instruction section, a valve opening / closing drive section that drives and opens the valve when a valve opening signal from the valve opening instruction section is received, and a specific amount of gas when a leak detection start signal from the opening instruction section is received The flow rate detection unit that detects whether the gas is used and outputs a flow rate signal when the gas is used, and monitors for the presence of the flow rate signal from the flow rate detection unit for a certain period of time to detect whether a gas leak has occurred. Leak detection that determines the existence and outputs a gas use stop signal if there is a leak And a valve closing instruction unit that outputs a valve closing signal to the valve opening and closing drive unit when receiving a gas use stop signal of the leak detection unit, in a privately owned resort facility etc. used several times a year, If the center user monitors the opening date and time specified by the gas user from the center monitoring unit, the gas leak inspection will be performed depending on whether a specific amount of gas was used within a certain period at the specific date and time set in relation to the opening date and time. By doing so, the gas leak determination, which used to take 30 days before, can be shortened and detected, and the gas leak inspection can be terminated when the gas user wants to use the gas by advancing the specific date and time earlier than the opening date and time. The safety is improved by opening the plug.

In addition to the above, in addition to the above, when the valve is opened at the designated opening date and time, it is determined that there is no gas leak and the use of gas is permitted, a gas use permission signal is output from the leak detection unit. When the gas use permission signal is received and the flow rate signal from the flow rate detector does not occur during the specific period, it is determined that the gas user is absent and the gas use stop signal is closed. When a gas usage permission signal is received from the non-flow rate monitoring timer section that outputs to the instruction section or the leak detection section, the fluctuation of the flow rate signal pattern from the flow rate detection section is judged and if there is no fluctuation during the specific period, the gas user By providing a non-constant flow rate monitoring timer unit that outputs a gas use stop signal to the valve closure instructing unit when it is determined to be absent, a state in which gas is not used (when gas has never been used, or once Gas is used but the gas is unused again for a certain period of time, or the gas is always used in a certain pattern for a certain period of time (gas user uses gas). If there is a gas stove or water heater, the gas usage is not always constant but becomes a random gas usage pattern), and it is determined that the gas user is absent or the gas pilot fire is extinguished. By detecting the occurrence of a new gas leak that occurred during forgetting or using it and closing it, it is possible to escape from the unmanaged state and prevent gas accidents, fires and gas leaks and further improve safety. it can.

Alternatively, instead of an externally installed center monitoring section, a season management timer section for designating respective specific dates of spring, summer, autumn, winter and sequentially outputting a signal for designating the opening and closing date, and a non-flow rate monitoring timer section. By providing a facility, the facility can be opened at any resort facility that does not have any communication means, or even if there is communication means, such as during holidays such as Golden Week or Obon, according to the vacation season when the gas user is likely to use the resort facility. When the gas is used at resort facilities, which are used several times a year, by automatically setting the designated dates and opening the gas shutoff device once, and automatically closing the gas shutoff device when not in use. Only the cap can be opened and the cap can be closed at all times, which improves convenience and safety.

Thus, the reliability of the device is improved by improving the convenience without sacrificing the safety.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the gas shutoff device of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, 1 is a center monitoring unit installed outside,
Reference numeral 2 denotes an instruction A from the center monitoring unit 1 (for example, a public communication line that is used by demodulating a signal modulated by an NCU device that uses no ringing communication of a telephone line from a remote center). Receiving the instruction to open the gas at 9:00 am on August 10 by using the), and outputs a signal B for specifying the opening date and time of communication. When the signal B for opening and closing the plug is received, it is checked with the internal clock of the gas shutoff device whether a specific date and time (for example, one hour before 9:00 am on August 10 instructed by the center monitoring unit 1) has been reached. The valve opening instruction section 4 outputs the valve opening signal C for opening the valve and the leak detection start signal D when the deadline comes, and 4 receives the valve opening signal C of the valve opening instruction section 3. Then, the valve opening / closing drive unit that drives and opens the valve, 5
Is a flow rate detection unit that receives a leak detection signal D from the opening instruction unit 3 and detects whether a specific amount of gas is used, and outputs a flow rate signal T when the gas is used, 6 is from the flow rate detection unit 5 The presence or absence of the flow rate signal T of is monitored for a certain period (for example, August 1
Check the gas leak for 1 hour from 8:00 am to 9:00 am on the 0th and check the gas user at 9:00 am
Gas is used according to the flow rate), a leak detection unit that determines whether or not there is a gas leak based on whether or not there is a flow rate signal T, and outputs a gas use stop signal E if there is a leak, 7 is the gas of the leak detection unit 6 When the use stop signal E is received, the valve opening / closing drive unit 4
The valve closing instruction unit outputs a valve closing signal H to the valve closing instruction unit.

FIG. 2 shows a flow of a control program of the gas shutoff device having the above structure. Now, it is assumed that the flow from the start of processing to the end of processing is periodically processed by an interval calendar or the like. Process T1 (number in the upper left of each block)
The communication receiving unit 2 determines whether or not there is an instruction sent from the center monitoring unit 1. If there is an instruction, the process proceeds to T2, and if there is no instruction, the process proceeds to T3. Process T2 is to set the opening date and time according to the instruction from the center monitoring unit 1
Move to 3.

The process T3 monitors whether or not a specific date and time set in relation to the opening and closing date and time in the valve opening instruction section 3 has been reached and a specific date and time has passed, and when the specific date and time is reached, the process goes to the process T4 to specify. When it is less than the day and when it is past, the process proceeds to the process T11. In process T4, a gas leak detection mode flag is set and the process proceeds to process T5.

In process T5, the gas leak timer designating the period for detecting the gas leak is cleared, and the process proceeds to process T6. In process T6, a valve opening signal is issued and the process proceeds to process T7 in the valve opening / closing drive unit 4. In process T7, the presence or absence of the valve opening signal is determined. If there is a valve opening signal, the process proceeds to process T8, and if there is no valve opening signal, the process proceeds to process T9.

In process T8, the valve is opened to end the process.
In process T9, the presence or absence of the valve closing signal is determined. If there is a valve closing signal, the process proceeds to process T10, and if there is no valve closing signal, the process ends. In process T10, the valve is closed and the process ends.

In the leak detecting section 6, the process T11 determines whether the mode is the leak detecting mode or not depending on whether or not the gas leak detecting mode flag is set. If the leak is being detected, the process shifts to the process T12 to detect the leak. If the mode is not the medium mode, the process ends. In process T12, the gas leak timer is counted up, and the process proceeds to process T13. In the process T13, the gas leak timer reaches the specified number of times and the time is over (for example, 8:00 am
It is determined whether it is 1 hour from 0 minutes to 9:00 am). If it is over, the process goes to T17, and if it is not over, the process goes to T14. In the process T14, it is acquired whether or not a specific gas has flown in the flow rate detection unit 5, and the process proceeds to process T15. In the process T15, the leak detection unit 6 determines whether the gas has flowed. If the gas does not flow, the process moves to the process T7. If the gas flows, the gas is used despite the absence of the gas user. Since the only situation is gas leakage, it is determined to be gas leakage and the process proceeds to step 16.

In the valve closing instruction section 7, the process 16 outputs a valve closing signal and the process proceeds to a process T17. In the leak detection unit 6, the process T17 is a process T after clearing the gas leak timer.
Move to 18. In the process T18, the gas leakage detection period is over, the gas leakage detection mode flag is cleared, the gas leakage detection mode is released, and the process goes to the process T7.

As described above, according to this embodiment, at a privately owned resort facility or the like that is used several times a year, the gas user may say, "The gas of the resort facility is used so that it can be used. If you want to use the gas, you can simply send an opening instruction communication when you receive a message that you want to use it. When it becomes possible to end the leak inspection), it is possible to end the gas leak inspection and leave the stopper open, and it is possible to easily and safely open the stopper in a short period of time.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same components as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. The difference of this embodiment is that when the valve is opened at the specified date and time and it is determined that there is no gas leak, and the gas is permitted to be used, the leak detection unit 6 determines that there is no gas leak. When the output gas use permission signal F is received and the flow rate signal T from the flow rate detection unit 5 is not generated even once during a specific period (for example, 5 days), it is determined that the gas user is absent, and the gas user is absent. The point is that a non-flow rate monitoring timer unit 8 for outputting the use stop signal E to the valve closing instruction unit 7 is provided.

FIG. 4 shows a flow of a control program of the gas shutoff device having the above structure. However, since the processes T1 to T18 correspond to the program flow described in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. Note that the process T11 goes to the process T21.
The process T13 shifts to the process T19 based on each determination process.

In process T19, the leak detection unit 6 sets the remote unsealing mode, and the process proceeds to process T20. Process T
20 clears the gas unused timer that designates the gas unused period, and proceeds to processing T17.

In the process T21, the unflow rate monitoring timer unit 8 determines whether the mode is the remote cap opening mode. If it is the remote cap opening mode, the process proceeds to process T22. If it is not the remote cap opening mode, the process is started. finish.

In process T22, it is determined whether a specific amount of gas has flowed in the flow rate detector 5, and the process proceeds to process T23.
In the process 23, it is determined whether or not the gas flows in the non-flow rate monitoring timer unit 8. If the gas does not flow, it is determined that the gas is not used because the gas user is absent, and the process proceeds to the process T24. If the gas is flowing, the process proceeds to process T28.

In process T24, the gas unused timer is counted up and the process proceeds to process T25. Process T25 determines whether or not the gas unused timer has reached a prescribed number of times and has timed out (for example, the unused period has continued for 5 days). If it is timed out, the process proceeds to process T26, and if not, to process T7. Transition.

In process T26, the valve closing instruction section 7 outputs a valve closing signal, and the process proceeds to process T27. Process T27
In the flow rate monitoring timer unit 8, the remote unplugging mode is released, and the process proceeds to T28. In process T28, the gas unused timer is cleared and the process proceeds to process T7.

According to the present embodiment, the state in which the gas is not used (when the gas has never been used, or when the gas has been used but has not been used again) is detected. The gas user is judged to be absent when the gas is not used for a certain period (for example, 5 days), and the gas user is closed to escape from the unmanaged state and further improve the safety.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same components as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. The difference between the present embodiment is that the gas use permission signal F output from the leak detection unit 6 in the state where the use of the gas is permitted after the valve is opened at the specified date and time and it is determined that there is no gas leakage. When it receives the information, it judges the fluctuation of the pattern of the flow rate signal T from the flow rate detection unit 5, and during the specific period (for example, three consecutive days), the gas usage pattern is continuous with a constant rhythm without any fluctuation. In this case, if the gas user uses a gas stove or water heater gas, the usage pattern will be random, so the gas flow due to forgetting to put out the pilot fire of the gas appliance or a gas leak newly generated during use continues for a certain period. Therefore, it is determined that the gas user is absent, and the non-variable flow rate monitoring timer unit 9 that outputs the gas use stop signal E to the valve closing instruction unit 7 is provided.

FIG. 6 shows a flow of a control program of the gas shutoff device having the above configuration. However, since the processes T1 to T28 correspond to the program flow described in the second embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. The process T20 goes to the process T29.
It is assumed that the process T24 shifts to the process T30 after each process is completed.

In process T29, the leak detection unit 6 clears the abnormal gas timer, and the process proceeds to process T17.

Process T30 is the constant flow rate monitoring timer unit 9
At, the abnormal gas timer is cleared and the process goes to T25.

In process T31, the gas flow rate pattern is monitored, and if it is constant, the process proceeds to process T32, and if not constant, the process proceeds to process T28. In process T32, the abnormal gas timer is counted up, and the process proceeds to process T33. Process T33 determines whether the abnormal gas timer has reached a prescribed number of times and has timed out (for example, 3 days). If timed out, the process proceeds to process T26, and if not timed, process T28.
Move to.

According to the present embodiment, it is detected that the gas is always used in a certain pattern (for example, 3 days) in a certain pattern (a pilot fire and a gas leak show a certain amount of gas consumption). By determining that the gas user is absent and closing the cap (when the gas user uses gas, the gas use is not always constant due to use of the gas stove or water heater, etc.). It becomes possible to detect a gas use pattern), forgetting to extinguish the gas pilot fire, and a gas leak newly generated during use, which can further improve safety.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same components as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. The difference between the present embodiment is that the center monitoring unit 1 does not automatically open the cap during the vacation season even if there is a resort facility without any communication means or even if there is communication means.
In place of the communication receiving unit 2 and the communication receiving unit 2, a seasonal management timer unit 10 for designating respective specific dates of spring, summer, autumn, winter and sequentially outputting an opening date and time designation signal Z is provided, and an unflow rate monitoring timer unit in the second embodiment. 8 is provided.

FIG. 8 shows a flow of a control program of the gas shutoff device having the above configuration. Although the processes T3 to T37 are included, the description of the processes T3 to T28 corresponds to the program flow described in the embodiment of the present invention 2 and is omitted, and the numbers T29 to T33 are omitted. Further, the processing T5 shifts to the processing T37.

In process T34, the season management timer unit 10 determines whether or not there is a season change process request. If there is a season change process request, the process moves to process T35, and if there is no season change process request, the process moves to process T3. The processing T35 is an instruction of opening date and time (for example, if this time is opened on May 1st in the Golden Week of spring, the next opening and setting time is August 13th of summer vacation, and the holiday season of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and consecutive holidays). (By automatically updating the gas in the vicinity, the gas can be automatically used in the resort facility for a specific period) and the process T36 is performed. In process T36, the season change process request is cleared and the process proceeds to process T3.

In process T37, a season change process request is set in order to set the next opening time and date in the valve opening instruction section 3, and the process proceeds to process T6.

According to the present embodiment, the gas user is likely to use the resort facility such as a holiday such as Golden Week or Obon for a resort facility without any communication means (or even if there is a communication means). The gas shut-off device automatically sets the specified opening dates according to the vacation season, and opens and automatically closes the unused days, so that resort facilities that are used only a few times a year use gas. The convenience and safety can be improved because it is possible to open the cap only at certain times and keep the cap closed at all times.

[0037]

According to the gas shutoff device of the present invention, the center monitoring unit outputs a signal for designating the opening date and time through the communication receiving unit, and the specification set in association with the designated date and time for opening is performed by the opening instruction unit. When it reaches the date and time, the valve opening / closing drive unit opens the valve by the valve opening signal, and the leak detection unit determines whether there is a leak from the flow rate signal of the flow rate detection unit and outputs a gas use stop signal if there is a leak. When the gas use stop signal is output, the valve closing instruction unit outputs the valve closing signal and the valve opening and closing drive unit closes the valve.Therefore, such as for privately owned resort facilities that are used several times a year. The center monitoring unit sends a gas opening instruction communication to the gas shut-off device in response to a gas user's request, and the gas leak inspection is completed by the date and time specified for opening, and the gas is opened at the specified date and time of opening. Can leak gas that previously took 30 days It is possible to detect by shortening the constant, reliability of the device is improved that the safety of unplugging after confirming gas leakage can be expected.

Further, by providing a non-flow rate monitoring timer unit and judging that the gas user is absent because the gas has not been used for a certain specific period (for example, 5 days), the gas is closed. It is possible to get out of the management state, further improve safety, and expect improvement in device reliability.

Further, by providing a constant flow rate monitoring timer section,
When the gas is always used in a certain pattern for a certain period of time, it is determined that the gas user is absent and the gas is closed, so that the gas pilot forgets to turn off the gas fire It is possible to detect a gas leak that has occurred, further improve safety, and expect improvement in device reliability.

Gas is shut off for resort facilities that do not have any communication means, or for vacation seasons when gas users are likely to use the resort facilities, such as holidays such as Golden Week and Obon even if there are communication means. When the device automatically sets the designated dates for opening the caps and opens the caps once, and if they are not used, the caps are automatically closed.
In resort facilities that are used only a few times a year, it is possible to open the cap only when using gas, which can improve convenience and safety, and it can be expected that the reliability of the equipment will be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a gas shutoff device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a program flow of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the gas shutoff device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a program flow of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a third embodiment of the gas shutoff device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a program flow of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the gas shutoff device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a program flow of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a conventional gas shutoff device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Center Monitoring Unit 2 Communication Reception Unit 3 Opening Indication Unit 4 Valve Opening / Closing Drive Unit 5 Flow Rate Detection Unit 6 Leakage Detection Unit 7 Valve Closure Indication Unit 8 Unflow Rate Monitoring Timer Unit 9 Constant Flow Rate Monitoring Timer Unit 10 Seasonal Management Timer Unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hirosumi Okamatsu 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Keiichi Goto, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazumi Onui 9-10, Misonodai, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Isao Kaneko 4-13-21 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo B-807 (72) Inventor, Kazuya Fujisawa 4-13-21 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku A-408

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A center monitoring unit installed outside,
A communication receiving unit that outputs an opening date and time designation signal in response to an instruction from the center monitoring unit, and a date and time when the opening date and time designation signal of the communication receiving unit is received, and a specification set in association with the opening and closing designation date and time When the date and time comes, the valve opening instruction signal that outputs the valve opening signal and the leak detection start signal that opens the valve, and the valve that opens the valve when the valve opening signal from the valve opening instruction portion is received When the leak detection start signal from the opening / closing drive unit and the opening instruction unit is received, it detects whether a specific amount of gas is used and outputs a flow rate signal when the gas is used. The presence / absence of a flow rate signal is monitored for a certain period of time, the presence / absence of a gas leak is determined based on whether there is a flow rate signal, and if there is a leak, a leak detection section that outputs a gas use stop signal and a gas use stop signal of the leak detection section Valve closure signal that outputs a valve closure signal to the valve opening / closing drive Gas cutoff apparatus and a radical 113. 2. A configuration in which a leak detection unit outputs a gas use permission signal in a state in which the valve is opened at a specified opening date and time and it is determined that there is no gas leak and the use of gas is permitted, When this gas use permission signal is received, if the flow rate signal from the flow rate detection unit is not generated during the specified period, it is determined that the gas user is absent and a gas use stop signal is output to the valve closing instruction unit. The gas shutoff device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-flow rate monitoring timer unit. 3. The gas detector is configured to output a gas use permission signal from the leak detection unit when the valve is opened at the designated opening date and time and it is determined that there is no gas leak and the use of gas is permitted. When this gas use permission signal is received, the flow rate signal pattern from the flow rate detection unit is judged to have fluctuated, and if there is no fluctuation during a specific period, it is judged that the gas user is absent, and the gas use stop signal is sent to the valve closing instruction unit. The gas shutoff device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-fluctuation flow rate monitoring timer unit for outputting to the. 4. A season management timer section for sequentially designating a specific date for each season of spring, summer, autumn, and winter and outputting a signal for designating the opening and closing date.
When a signal to specify the opening date and time from the season control timer is received, the date and time is monitored, and a valve opening signal and a leak detection start signal are opened to open the valve when a specific date and time set in relation to the opening and closing date and time comes. A specific amount when the valve opening instruction unit that outputs and the valve opening and closing drive unit that drives and opens the valve when receiving the valve opening signal of the valve opening instruction unit and the leak detection signal of the valve opening instruction unit Gas is detected depending on whether or not the gas is used, and the flow rate detector outputs the flow rate signal when the gas is used. If there is no leak, a gas use permission signal is output.If there is a leak, a gas use stop signal is output.A leak detection unit outputs a gas use permission signal. Stop gas use if no flow signal is generated Signal is output to the valve opening / closing drive unit when the gas usage stop signal from the leak detection unit or the gas usage stop signal from the unflow rate monitoring timer unit is received. Equipped with a gas shutoff device.