JPS5872011A - Preventing device for accident by gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent accidents by gas and to assure the safety of gas supply systems by comparing the plural correct use conditions for gas and the current use status and interrupting the supply of the gas and displaying the reasons if the device decides that the current use status deviates from the correct use conditions. CONSTITUTION:Momental flow rate signals are kept fed from a flow rate measuring device 5 to a controller 6. The limit values which are judged to be correct as using methods for gas are beforehand stored in the controller 6. This device decides abnormality immediately when the current flow rate value of gas exceeds the instantaneous max. flow rate or in the case of said value below the instantaneous max. flow rate, when the max. duration time of the applicable flow rate segment is exceeded. If the device judges the abnormality, said device feeds an interrupting signal to an interruptor 3 so as to interrupt the supply of gas and feeds a display signal to a display device 7 so as to display the reasons for the judgement of the abnormality and the interruption.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gas accident prevention device for preventing explosion accidents and gas poisoning accidents caused by city gas, propane gas, etc., and is particularly intended for general household use.

Many gas accidents are caused by the release and leakage of unburned gas, but to prevent this it is necessary to make improvements to equipment and piping. Conventionally, gas cocks having an overflow prevention function called gas leak alarms or fuse cocks have been used for such purposes. However, depending on the location where the gas leak alarm is installed, it may tend to activate even in a dangerous situation, and it does not have the ability to detect gas leaks in any room in the house. Further, the fuse cock also does not have a cutoff function against gas release within the operating range. Furthermore, the device r) cannot be an effective first step in preventing intentional gas release.

The present invention is based on a flow measuring device and a shutoff device installed in the gas supply line into the house, and a plurality of gas proper usage conditions stored in the gas supply line. It is composed of a control device that emits a closing signal to the shut-off device when the proper usage conditions are violated, a control device that emits a display signal corresponding to the normal conditions, and a display device that displays a display corresponding to the signal received by people/jitters. When an excessive flow rate of gas flows, the flow is at LJ, Mochiro/N/, and Suitable. (Even if it is ■, if there is no change in the flow area for a long time, it is determined that there is an abnormality and the gas supply is stopped. In addition to shutting off the gas, it also displays the reason for the shutoff, 1, this, l +, f -, to prevent gas gJ ■ accidents, as well as to prevent improper use or carelessness by consumers Easily detects gas leaks in pipes inside the house and warns of the need for repair work - L-runa and comprehensive gas supply system safety It is an object of the present invention to ensure this.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on Examples.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention, in which gas passes through a meter cock 2 of a gas supply line 1, passes through a shutoff device 3, and enters a gas meter 4. The flow rate is integrated here before being supplied into the house. Since the gas meter 4 has a mechanical operating part that responds to the instantaneous flow rate, it is possible to obtain a flow rate signal by detecting this movement, and this is the flow rate measurement device 6.
It is.

The flow rate measurement device 5 continues to send an open side flow rate signal to the control device 6. Since this signal is sent in the form of pulses, the control device 6 can determine the current gas flow rate value from the number of pulses per unit time. On the other hand, the control device 6 stores in advance limit values that are determined to be appropriate for the gas usage method. Criteria for this judgment include the instantaneous maximum flow rate when a consumer uses multiple gas appliances at the same time, and the maximum duration of continuous use without any temporal change in gas flow rate.

In particular, since the latter differs depending on the purpose of the gas appliance used, a large number of flow rate sections are provided below the allowable instantaneous maximum flow rate, and the allowable maximum duration time of each flow M' section is memorized. Then, if the current gas flow meter value exceeds the instantaneous maximum flow rate, it will be immediately activated, and if it is less than the instantaneous maximum flow rate, it will be applied as an abnormal flow. It is to judge.

Of course, if the gas flow rate changes to less than the set condition during the process, it is determined that the usage is appropriate, the time that has been accumulated up to that point is reset to zero, and time accumulation is restarted from the beginning. If there is a significant change in flow 11 exceeding the flow rate classification, the maximum permissible duration to be applied will also be changed.

In this way, the control device 6 cuts off the current flowmeter value t1j using the flow rate signal sent from the diverted degree measuring device 1''16, and also compares it with the proper usage conditions fl that it has memorized. If it deviates from this, it is judged to be normal.

If it is determined that there is an abnormality, it sends a cutoff signal to the cutoff device 3 to cut off the gas supply, and displays on the friend device 7 the reason for determining that it is an abnormality and has already terminated it. send a signal. 8 is the power source of the Kowara device.

It is advantageous when a battery is used as a power source if the interrupting device 3 is of a self-holding type so as not to consume power in the open state, and is of an instantaneous current operation type in which current is supplied only for the moment when the shutting device 3 is closed. The flow measuring device 6 has a simple method of detecting the mechanical operation of the gas meter 4, and uses a reed switch,
A semiconductor sensor 2 is a power generation type element, etc. 3. In this case as well, low power consumption is advantageous when configured as a device. A low power consumption microcomputer is suitable for the control device 6. Furthermore, the display device 7 is an LED, L
The reason for the abnormality can be displayed by number using a numerical display such as a CD. Furthermore, if it is desired to reduce the consumption of the battery 8 and to maintain the display even after the life of the battery 8 has expired, a self-holding and non-volatile display such as a magnetic reversal element is suitable. For example, it is necessary to perform a non-volatile display when the voltage of the battery 8 itself drops below a set value.
3. This 11. 'l, cutoff device 3
You can shut off and stop the jl! ! , Cut-11-
1. You can stop just the function without doing anything. If the cutoff is -1 out of 17, the function as a safety device will be lost, but there will be no problem with normal gas use. Another example of non-volatile display is when a slight gas leak inside a house is detected. An example of this judgment method is IrF, a certain +1'L IRI
During this period, it is determined whether the flow-pulse signal is zero, and this is continued for a certain amount of time3, and during that period, the flow is continuous; j1 pulse (4! is sent) If this happens, it is determined that gas is leaking from somewhere in the piping, which is related to the use of gas appliances.Of course, if gas appliances are used, the
If it is f, the continued use of the flow meter category described above +1. 1 hour is applied to shut it off, but if the amount is so small that the pilot bar two will not ignite, the limit of continuous use I + 1 hour will be set to infinity, and instead, there is a possibility that there is a leak in the piping. It is considered to be large and is only displayed.

In this case, although it is not an emergency situation that could lead to an accident, the sign must continue to be displayed at the trench where repair work is to begin. Therefore, a non-volatile display that consumes no power and remains visible even if the battery dies is suitable.

Next, an embodiment in which the gas meter 4 and each of these devices are provided in an integrated structure will be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the gas meter 4 equipped with a gas accident prevention device, and FIG. 3 is a left side view of the same. The gas meter 4 is mainly formed of a main case 9 and an upper case 10, and in the center of the front of the upper case 1o there is a counter case 11 containing a counter mechanism for displaying the cumulative flow rate of gas by mechanical means.

In addition, there are four measuring chambers partitioned by two diaphragms in the main body case 9, and the measuring chambers on both sides are connected to the belly plate 12.
and is sealed by the controller case 13. The case 10 has a mechanism inside which converts the reciprocating motion of the diaphragm into rotational motion and transmits it to the aforementioned counter mechanism, and also drives a timing pulp that sequentially supplies gas to the aforementioned four measuring chambers in order to continue the reciprocating motion of the diaphragm. The gas enters through the inlet 14 and exits through the outlet 15. Furthermore, 16 is a counter window for reading a counter. Since the above gas meter configuration is well known, detailed explanation will be omitted.

The controller case 13 seals the chamber 11″f on one side, and the flow rate measuring device 6, the control device 69, and the display device 7 on the other side.
A control lid 17 houses a battery 8 as a power source, and a control lid 17 protects this device from wind and rain.In the upper center of the control lid 17, there is a display window 18 for viewing the display device 7 inside the rL. A battery cover 19 for battery replacement is provided at the bottom. .

FIG. 4 is a joint cross-sectional view showing the inside of the controller case 13, in which a reed switch 5 is provided on the side of the two printed circuit boards 20 near the d-chamber, and is fixed in advance to the diaphragm side. It functions as a current Ld measurement device that generates on/off signals in response to the proximity and separation of the magnets. 1 Printed circuit board 20 has 6 control devices (1 included) with R1 microcomputer as the main character, and magnetic reversal type display element 21 and LCD display element 22 are also included in the print basics 20. has been done. This image display element is already;
The display device 7 is configured by being used properly like rI. The display device 7 corresponds to a display window 18 sealed with a glass plate 23. Next, below is the battery case 24.
is attached to store the battery 8, and a decorative screw 25 is attached.
The battery can be replaced from the battery cover 19, which can be removed by loosening the battery cover 19.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of the shutoff device 3.

The figure is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper case 10, but the mechanical components for converting the reciprocating motion of the diaphragm into rotational motion are omitted to avoid cluttering the diagram. A valve seat 26 is formed at the lower end of the inlet 14 of the soil case 10, a self-holding solenoid 27 is provided just below the central axis -42, and a valve rubber 28 is inserted into the top of the movable iron core. The valve rubber 28 is fixed to the movable iron core so that it can swing freely, and the solenoid 27 and the valve seat 2
The slight inclination caused by the installation of No. 6 can be absorbed and closed. On the other hand, a return shaft 29 connected to the movable iron core projects downward from the solenoid 27, and an engagement plate 30 is provided at the end thereof. The figure shows the valve in the open state, but in the closed state, the engagement plate 3o is in a position close to the renoid 27.
When the return lever 31 operates the return knob 32, it rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the return shaft 29 can be pushed down at position 1 in the figure and returned to the open P state.

Since the solenoid 27 is in gas, a cut-off current is supplied from the cable 34 via the vermetically ink-sealed airtight terminal 33. 36iJH terminal cover.

The solenoid 2 has a permanent magnet and a spring inside, and normally the magnetic attraction force overcomes the spring reaction force and holds the solenoid in place. Even when the current is flowing, the spring reaction force is greater than the current.The movable iron core is separated, and even if the current is cut off, the attractive force of the permanent magnet itself has significantly decreased.1
11 There is no risk of the valve opening due to adsorption. That is, since it is sufficient to flow current only when the valve is desired to be closed, wasteful power consumption can be avoided and the Y1 battery can be made smaller.

Although it is convenient that the return operation can be easily performed by hand, there are reasons why it had to be shut off, such as accidentally opening a cock that is not connected to a device. For example, if the rubber hose is aging and gas is leaking, there is a risk that it will return to normal and emit unburned gas again without removing the cause. For this case, the control device 6
If a flow rate pulse signal is sent within a certain period of time after the return operation, it is recommended to add a determination function that determines that the cause of the shutoff has not been resolved and performs the shutoff operation again. It's safe. At this time, the display signal provides a different indication than the reason for the previous shutoff, indicating that the cause or defect has not been corrected.

In addition, when a separately installed sensor connected to a separate gas alarm, CO detector, or earthquake sensor is manually shut off, a number corresponding to each is displayed to inform the customer of the reason for the shut off. I can tighten it.

In addition to the method shown in the embodiment, the gas flow rate measuring device 6 can also detect rotational motion, and the shutoff device 3 can also mechanically restrict the movement of the previously described mechanical parts. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figure, as it is conceivable to provide a solenoid valve completely separate from the gas meter 4. Compare the usage conditions with the current usage situation, and if it is determined that the usage conditions have deviated from the appropriate market usage conditions, the gas 11 (gas supply) will be cut off and the reason will be displayed, so it is possible to prevent gas 1r accidents. Of course, even in the case of recovery, it becomes easy to accurately deal with the cause, which contributes to preventing recurrence.Also, by displaying the cause, it is possible to inform the gas consumer of the dangerous usage situation. It can also be expected to have the effect of reducing usage itself.Furthermore, depending on the reason for the judgment, only displaying or non-volatile display will be used. It is possible to continue displaying a warning display for a long period of time when a small amount of gas leakage continues for a long period of time. As described above, the present invention has remarkable effects in terms of both direct prevention of gas accidents in ordinary homes and the elimination of preventive action.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a system of a gas accident prevention device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment in which the gas accident prevention device of the present invention is integrated with a gas meter, and FIG. The figure is a left side view, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the controller case in the same device, and FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the upper case of the tank showing the shutoff device in the same device. 1...Gas supply line, 3...Shutoff device, 4...Gas meter, 5...Flow rate measuring device, 6...Control device , 7...Display device, 8...Power source (battery), 21...
Non-volatile indicator. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person C+
”) I Ward Eagle? Trunk

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A flow rate measuring device and a shutoff device installed in the gas supply line and a plurality of proper gas usage conditions are stored in advance, and the actual usage status is determined based on the flow rate signal sent from the flow rate measuring device, and one of the conditions is determined. The control device is comprised of a control device that determines that there is an abnormality if the proper usage conditions are violated and issues a closing signal to the shutoff device and/or a display signal according to the reason for the abnormality, and a display device that displays a display signal in response to the display signal. Gas accident prevention device. (2) The gas accident prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the signal sent from the control device is transmitted even when an abnormality occurs in the power supply of the control device and the cutoff device. (3) The gas accident prevention device according to claim 2, wherein the power source is a battery and only transmits a display signal when the battery voltage drops below a set value. (4) The gas accident prevention device according to claim 1, wherein all or part of the display device is constituted by a non-volatile display device that maintains the display regardless of the power supply voltage. (5) The gas accident prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate measuring device, the shutoff device, the control device 2 display device, and the power source are integrated into a gas meter provided in the gas supply line.