JPH10207533A - Gas flow rate monitor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely grasp an abnormal state of a gas instrument and to improve the safety by sending a flow-rate signal from a gas flow rate sensor provided on the instrument and monitoring the gas flow rate of the gas instrument on a meter side. SOLUTION: When the gas instrument 6 begins to be used, a valve 11 is opened with the signal of a valve control part 12 and the gas instrument 6 starts operating. The instrument gas flow rate sensor 8 in the gas instrument 6 sends a signal regarding a used gas flow rate to a signal processing part 9 for the instrument and the gas flow rate is calculated and transmitted from a signal transmission part 10. The gas meter 13 receives the used flow rate of the gas instrument 6. This used flow rate is compared with a previously set maximum flow rate. If gas flows to the gas instrument 6 at an abnormal flow rate, a cutoff valve 17 is closed with a signal from a cutoff valve control part 18 of the gas meter 13 to stop the gas from flowing from the gas meter 13. Namely, the gas flow rate of the gas instrument 6 can be monitored on the side of the meter 13 by sending the flow rate signal from the instrument gas flow rate sensor 8 to the gas meter 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas flow rate monitoring system for transmitting a flow rate detected by a gas flow rate sensor for a gas appliance mounted on a gas appliance to a meter side to monitor a use state of the gas appliance. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows a conventional gas flow monitoring system of this type.

[0003] 1 is a meter, and 2 and 3 are gas appliances. The meter 1 is provided with a flow rate measuring section 4 and a flow rate calculating section 5. The flow rate measuring unit 4 measures the total flow rate of the gas appliances 2 and 3 and calculates a change in the total flow rate by a flow rate calculating unit 5.
The algorithm was used to determine the type of gas appliance to be used and to monitor the abnormal use status based on that.

[0004]

However, in this case, in order to grasp the use condition of the gas appliance, the gas appliance is inferred only from the change in the total gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring section provided on the meter side. This leaves a problem in the certainty of the discrimination, and as a result, it is not always appropriate as a monitoring method of the abnormal state of the gas appliance.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to monitor the use condition of gas appliances and further improve safety.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in a gas flow monitoring system, a gas appliance has a gas flow sensor for measuring a consumption gas flow rate and a gas meter for measuring flow rate data measured by the gas flow sensor for the gas. An instrument signal transmitting unit that transmits to the gas meter, the gas meter, a meter signal receiving unit that receives the flow rate data transmitted from the gas appliance,
A meter signal processing unit for monitoring a usage state of the gas appliance based on the flow rate data. According to the present invention, the gas flow rate consumed by the gas appliance can be monitored on the meter side, and the abnormal state can be reliably detected.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, an instrument gas flow sensor mounted on a gas appliance, an instrument signal transmitting section, a meter signal receiving section mounted on a gas meter, The gas signal processing unit is configured to monitor a usage state of the gas appliance in the meter signal processing unit.

The gas signal sensor for an instrument mounted on the gas instrument, a signal transmitting section for the instrument, a signal receiving section for the meter mounted on the gas meter, and a signal processing section for the meter, wherein the signal for the meter is provided. The processing unit monitors the maximum flow rate of the gas appliance.

The gas signal sensor for an instrument mounted on the gas instrument, a signal transmitting section for the instrument, a signal receiving section for the meter mounted on the gas meter, and a signal processing section for the meter, the signal for the meter being provided. The processing unit monitors the maximum use duration of the gas appliance.

[0010] Also, an instrument gas flow sensor mounted on the gas appliance, an instrument signal processing section, an instrument signal transmitting section, a meter signal receiving section mounted on the gas meter, and a meter signal processing section. A synchronization signal is transmitted by the appliance signal processing unit and a synchronization adjustment is performed by the meter signal processing unit.

The gas signal sensor for an instrument mounted on the gas appliance, a signal transmitting section for the instrument, a signal receiving section for the meter mounted on the gas meter, and a signal processing section for the meter, wherein the signal for the meter is provided. The processing unit learns the maximum use duration during a predetermined period.

Also, the apparatus comprises a gas flow sensor for an instrument mounted on a gas appliance, a signal transmitting section for the instrument, a signal receiving section for a meter mounted on the gas meter, a signal processing section for the meter, and a display section. The content processed by the meter signal processing unit is displayed on the display unit.

[0013] Further, a gas flow sensor for the instrument mounted on the gas appliance, a signal transmitting section for the instrument, a signal receiving section for the meter mounted on the gas meter, a signal processing section for the meter, an information storage section, And information stored in the information storage unit is displayed on the display unit.

According to the present invention, the flow rate of the gas appliance used is directly transmitted to the gas meter by the above-described configuration, whereby the gas appliance can be specified on the meter side and the abnormal use state of the gas appliance can be reliably monitored. Things.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 6 and 7 denote gas appliances such as a water heater. Reference numeral 8 denotes a gas flow sensor for the appliance built in the gas appliance 6, 9 denotes a signal processing unit for the appliance, and 10 denotes a signal transmission unit that sends a signal from the signal processing unit 9 for the appliance. Also, 11
Denotes a gas on / off valve of the gas appliance 6, and 12 denotes a valve control unit. Reference numeral 14 denotes a meter gas flow sensor built in the gas meter 13, reference numeral 15 denotes a signal receiving unit, and reference numeral 16 denotes a meter signal processing unit. Reference numeral 17 denotes a shutoff valve, and reference numeral 18 denotes a shutoff valve control unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the appliance signal processing unit 9 of the gas appliances 6 and 7. In FIG. 2, 19 is a start command, 20 is a device code transmission command, 21
Is a flow rate measurement command, and 22 is a flow rate signal transmission command. Reference numeral 23 denotes an appliance use end determination instruction, reference numeral 24 denotes an interval setting instruction, reference numeral 25 denotes a use end signal transmission instruction, and reference numeral 26 denotes an end instruction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the meter signal processing section 16 of the gas meter 13. In FIG. 3, 27 is a start command, 28 is a device code reception determination command, 29 is an interval setting command, and 30 is a device determination command. 31 is an end signal reception determination command, 32
Is a flow signal reception determination command, and 33 is an interval setting command. Reference numeral 34 denotes a flow signal reception instruction, reference numeral 35 denotes a maximum flow rate excess determination instruction, and reference numeral 36 denotes an interval setting instruction. Reference numeral 37 denotes a shutoff valve closing command, and reference numeral 38 denotes an abnormality determination unit.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 1, when the use of the gas appliance 6 is started, the valve 11 is opened by a signal from the valve control unit 12, and the operation of the gas appliance 6 is started. Along with this operation, the instrument signal processing unit 9 operates, and a series of programs from the start command 19 in FIG. 2 operates.

First, the identification code of the gas appliance 6 that has started to be used is transmitted by the appliance code transmission command 20. Next, a signal relating to the used gas flow rate is sent to the instrument signal processing unit 9 by the instrument gas flow rate sensor 8 in the gas instrument 6 according to the flow rate measurement command 21, and the gas flow rate is calculated. Next, this flow rate is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 10 according to the flow rate signal transmission instruction 22.

Next, an instrument use termination judgment command 23 is performed. If the closing signal of the valve 11 has not been received from the valve control unit 12, the determination is NO, and after the predetermined interval T1 determined by the interval setting command 24 has elapsed, the flow rate measurement command 21 is executed again. Is done. If the closing signal of the valve 11 is received from the valve control unit 12, the determination is YES.
, The signal is transmitted by the use end signal transmission instruction 25, and then the program is ended by the end instruction 26.

Next, the operation of the gas meter 13 will be described. In FIG. 3, a series of programs from a start command 27 is operated by starting the operation of the gas meter 13. First, it is determined whether or not a signal from the gas appliances 6, 7 or the like is coming from the appliance code reception determination command 28. If the appliance code has not been received, the determination is NO, and the predetermined interval T determined by the interval setting instruction 29 is set.
After elapse of 2, the appliance code reception determination command 28 is executed again. If the appliance code is received, the decision is Y
On the ES side, the gas appliance to be used is determined based on the code received by the appliance determination command 30.

Next, an end signal reception determination instruction 31 is executed. If the end signal is received, the determination is YES, and the process returns to the appliance code reception determination command 28 again to wait for the use of the gas appliance. If the end signal is not received, the determination is NO, and the flow signal reception determination command 32 is executed. If the flow rate signal has not been received, the determination is NO, and after the predetermined interval T3 determined by the interval setting instruction 33 has elapsed, the end signal reception determination instruction 31 is executed again. . If a flow signal is received, the decision is Y
On the ES side, the flow rate signal reception command 34 receives the used flow rate (Q) of the gas appliance 6.

This used flow rate is determined by a maximum flow rate excess judgment command 3
5 is compared with a preset maximum flow rate (Qmax). As a result, if Q ≦ Qmax, the determination is NO, and after the predetermined interval T4 determined by the interval setting instruction 36 has elapsed, the end signal reception determination instruction 31 is executed again. If Q> Qma
If it is x, the determination is YES, and it is determined that the abnormal flow has flowed into the gas appliance 6, and the shutoff valve 17 is closed by a signal from the shutoff valve control unit 18 of the gas meter 13 according to the shutoff valve closing command 37, and the gas meter The flow of gas from 13 stops.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the flow rate signal from the gas flow rate sensor for the instrument provided to the instrument is sent to the gas meter 13 so that the gas flow rate of the gas instrument can be monitored on the meter side. Therefore, it is possible to reliably catch an abnormal state in which an unnecessarily high gas flow rate flows, and to enhance safety.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, only the portion of the abnormality determination section 38 in FIG. 3 is different from that in the first embodiment, and this portion is shown in FIG. Others are the same as FIGS. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 39 denotes a flow signal reception instruction, reference numeral 40 denotes an elapsed time measurement instruction, and reference numeral 41 denotes a maximum elapsed time determination instruction.

Next, the operation will be described. The signal transmission from the gas appliance 6 is the same as in the first embodiment. Gas meter 13
When the flow signal reception determination command 32 shown in FIG. 3 is executed and the YES side is selected, the processing flow shown in FIG. 4 is performed. In FIG. 4, the used flow rate (Q) of the gas appliance 6 is received by the flow signal reception instruction 39, and the elapsed usage time (t) of the gas appliance 6 is measured by the elapsed time measurement instruction 40.

This elapsed time is the maximum elapsed time (tma) preset by the maximum elapsed time over determination command 41.
x). As a result, if t ≦ tmax, the determination is NO and the interval setting instruction 3
6 is executed. If t> tmax, the determination is YES, and the shutoff valve closing command 37 is executed assuming that the gas appliance 6 has been used abnormally long.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the flow signal from the instrument gas flow sensor provided on the instrument is sent to the gas meter, so that the usage elapsed time of the gas instrument can be monitored on the meter side. Therefore, it is possible to reliably catch an abnormal state in which the use time is longer than a preset value, and to enhance safety.

(Embodiment 3) Next, Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in a part of the processing flow in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 5 shows a portion different from FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a portion different from FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 42 denotes a synchronization signal transmission command.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 43 denotes a synchronization signal reception determination instruction, 44 denotes an interval setting instruction, and 45 denotes a synchronization adjustment instruction.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 5, after the flow measurement command 21 in the gas appliance 6 is executed,
According to the synchronization signal transmission command 42, a synchronization signal for synchronizing reception in the gas meter 13 is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 10. After that, the flow value is transmitted by the flow signal transmission command 22.

On the other hand, on the gas meter 13 side, as shown in FIG.
The synchronization signal reception determination command 43 is executed. If the synchronization signal has not been received, the determination is NO, and after the predetermined interval T5 defined by the interval setting command 44 has elapsed, the synchronization signal reception determination command 43
Is executed. If a synchronization signal is received, the determination is YES and the synchronization adjustment command 45 is executed.

The adjustment of the synchronizing signal is based on the synchronizing signal output immediately before the flow rate signal is transmitted from the gas appliance 6 as shown in FIG.
The intervals T3 and T4 in the interval setting commands 33 and 36 are adjusted so that the flow rate signal can be received efficiently.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in measuring the flow rate of the gas appliance, a synchronization signal is transmitted to the meter side, so that the reception timing on the meter side is adjusted and the flow rate is monitored efficiently. Things that can do things.

(Embodiment 4) Next, Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the part of the abnormality determination unit 38 in FIG. 3, and this part is shown in FIG. Others are the same as FIGS. In FIG.
46 is an elapsed period measurement command, and 47 is a fixed period elapsed determination command. Reference numeral 48 denotes a replacement instruction for replacing the initial setting time Tm with Tmax. 49 is the current use duration T
Is a judgment command for comparing Tmax with Tmax, and 50 is
And 51 is a judgment command for comparing T with Tm.

Next, the operation will be described. The signal transmission from the gas appliance 6 is the same as in the first embodiment. Gas meter 13
When the flow signal reception determination command 32 shown in FIG. 3 is executed and the YES side is selected, the processing flow shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

In FIG. 7, the use flow rate (Q) of the gas appliance 6 is received by the flow rate signal reception command 34, and it is determined by the predetermined period elapse determination command 47 whether it is time to correct the initial value of the use duration time. You. If the time has not come, the predetermined period elapse determination command 47 is on the NO side. Next, the usage duration time T of the gas appliance 6 this time
The magnitude of the maximum use continuation time Tmax set before that is compared with the magnitude of the maximum use continuation time Tmax by the judgment command 49.

If T> Tmax, the decision is YE
S, and the maximum usage duration T
max is replaced by T, and a new Tmax is set. If T ≦ Tmax, the determination is NO and Tmax is not replaced by T.

If the time has come, the predetermined period elapse determination command 47 is set to YES. In this case, replace instruction 4
8, the initial setting time Tm is replaced with Tmax. After these processes, the determination command 51 compares the current use duration time T with the set time Tm to determine whether or not an abnormal gas use state is present.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the learning algorithm is such that the maximum use duration of the gas appliance is reviewed after a certain period of time, and it is possible to set an abnormal state monitoring condition suitable for the user's use situation. You can do it.

(Embodiment 5) Next, Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the meter 13 in FIG. 1 and the abnormality determination unit 38 in FIG.
Only these differences are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 52 denotes a display unit connected to the signal processing unit 16. In FIG. 9, 53 is a gas appliance flow rate display instruction, 54 is a maximum flow rate excess determination instruction, and 55 is an abnormality display instruction.

Next, the operation will be described. The signal transmission from the gas appliance 6 is the same as in the first embodiment. In FIG.
When the used flow rate (Q) of the gas appliance 6 is received by the flow signal reception command 34 in the process of the gas meter 13, the current used flow rate is displayed on the display unit 52 by the gas appliance use flow rate display command 53.

The used flow rate is the maximum flow rate excess judgment command 5
4 is compared with a preset maximum flow rate (Qmax). As a result, if Q ≦ Qmax, the determination follows the NO side. If Q> Qmax, the determination is on the YES side, meaning that an abnormal flow is flowing to the gas appliance 6. In this case, an abnormal condition is displayed on the display unit 52 by the abnormal display command 55. Thereafter, the shut-off valve 17 is closed by the shut-off valve closing command 37, and the gas meter 1 is closed.
The gas flow from 3 stops.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the abnormal state of the gas appliance is displayed on the display section of the meter, the user can know the cause of the gas stoppage, and the cause is unknown. Compared to the case where it is possible to increase the sense of security.

(Embodiment 6) Next, Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is similar to Embodiment 1 and FIG.
3 differs from the configuration of the meter 13 only immediately after the start instruction 27 of the processing flow in FIG. 3, and these portions are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In FIG.
Is an information storage unit connected to the signal processing unit 16, and 57 is a display unit also connected to the signal processing unit 16. In FIG. 11, 58 is a history display determination command, and 59 is a display command.

Next, the operation will be described. The signal transmission from the gas appliance 6 is the same as in the first embodiment. In the process of the gas meter 13 in FIG. 11, a history display determination command 58 is provided after the start command 27. If there is no history display instruction, the determination follows the NO side, and the same sequence as in the first embodiment is performed. If there is a history display instruction, the determination becomes YES, and the history stored in the information storage unit 56 is called by the signal processing unit 16 and displayed on the display unit 57. The history mentioned here is a history in which an abnormal state has occurred.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by displaying the history of the abnormal state of the gas appliance on the display unit of the meter, it is possible to grasp the occurrence state of the abnormality of the gas appliance in time series. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a larger unsafe situation from occurring.

The signal processing in the present invention can be realized by software using a microcomputer such as a one-chip microcomputer.

[0049]

As apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by the gas flow monitoring system of the present invention.

(1) By sending a flow signal from an instrument gas flow sensor provided on an instrument to a gas meter, the gas flow rate of the gas instrument can be monitored on the meter side, so that an abnormal state of the gas instrument can be reliably determined. To improve safety.

(2) By sending a flow signal from the gas flow sensor for the instrument provided to the instrument to the gas meter, the gas flow rate of the gas instrument can be monitored on the meter side. Such an abnormal state can be reliably caught and safety can be improved.

(3) By transmitting a flow signal from the gas flow sensor for the instrument provided to the instrument to the gas meter, the elapsed time of use of the gas instrument can be monitored on the meter side, so that the use time is set in advance. Abnormal condition that is longer than the set value can be reliably detected, and safety can be improved.

(4) In measuring the flow rate of the gas appliance, by transmitting a synchronization signal to the meter side, the reception timing on the meter side can be adjusted and the flow rate can be monitored efficiently.

(5) By adopting a learning algorithm for reviewing the maximum use time of the gas appliance after a lapse of a certain period, it is possible to set an abnormal state monitoring condition suitable for the use situation of the user.

(6) By displaying the abnormal state of the gas appliance on the display section of the meter, the user can know the cause of the gas stoppage and feel more secure than when the cause is unknown. Can be increased.

(7) By displaying the history of the abnormal state of the gas appliance on the display unit of the meter, it is possible to grasp the abnormal occurrence state of the gas appliance in a time-series manner, so that the occurrence of a larger unsafe situation can be anticipated. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas flow rate monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a processing flow diagram on the gas appliance side in the same system.

FIG. 3 is a processing flow diagram on the gas meter side in the same system.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow chart on the gas meter side in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow chart on the gas appliance side in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart on the meter side in the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a processing flowchart on the meter side according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a gas meter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a processing flowchart on the meter side in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a gas meter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a processing flowchart on the meter side in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a conventional gas flow monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 gas appliance 8 appliance gas flow sensor 10 appliance signal transmitter 13 gas meter 15 meter signal receiver 16 meter signal processor

Claims (7)

[Claims] A gas meter and a gas appliance connected to the gas meter, wherein the gas appliance transmits a gas flow sensor for an appliance for measuring a flow rate of consumed gas and flow data measured by the gas flow sensor for the appliance. An instrument signal transmitting unit that transmits to the gas meter, the gas meter receives a flow rate data transmitted from the gas instrument, a meter-side signal receiving unit, and a meter that monitors a use state of the gas instrument based on the flow rate data Gas flow monitoring system provided with a signal processing unit. 2. The gas flow monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing section for the meter monitors an over state of the maximum flow value of the gas appliance. 3. The gas flow monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the meter signal processing unit monitors a maximum use duration time of the gas appliance. 4. The gas appliance has an appliance signal processing unit for transmitting a synchronization signal before transmitting flow rate data to the gas meter via the appliance signal transmission unit, and performs synchronization adjustment in the meter signal processing unit. Item 2. A gas flow monitoring system according to Item 1. 5. The gas flow monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the meter signal processing unit learns a maximum use duration during which the gas appliance has been used during a predetermined period. 6. The gas flow monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a display unit is provided on at least one of the gas meter and the gas appliance, and the content processed by the signal processing unit for the meter is displayed on the display unit. 7. The gas meter, when an abnormal condition occurs,
7. The gas flow monitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising an information storage unit for storing the contents thereof, wherein the information stored in the information storage unit is displayed on a display unit.