JPS62261926A - Monitoring device for gas container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control a container and to monitor the remaining amount of gas closely through inexpensive constitution by providing one counter with both a gauge examining function and a remaining amount warning function. CONSTITUTION:A flow rate signal from a gas meter is inputted to a gas flow rate integrating and storing means 2 through a flow rate sensor input part 1, and integrated and stored. The stored gas flow rate integral value is sent out to a gauge examination center, etc., through the 1st transmission interface 13 and a telephone line when necessary to obtain the gauge examining function. Further, the stored up-to-date gas flow rate integral value is passed through a container replacement information input part 3 at the time of gas container replacement and the gas consumption is computed by a gas consumption calculating means 5 from the difference from the value stored in the gas flow rate integral value storage means 4 and utilized. Then, a gas rest calculating and storing means 8 calculates the remaining amount of gas in the container from the difference between the calculated gas consumption and the capacity of the container stored previously in a container capacity storage means 7 by a container capacity setting part 6 and a warning 12 is outputted when the calculated value decreases below the warning rest value which is stored 10 previously, thus obtaining the remaining amount warning function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a gas container monitoring device, which is particularly inexpensive and capable of reading gas meters and monitoring the remaining amount at any time, and also when the remaining amount of gas is below a set value. This invention relates to a gas container monitoring device that can immediately issue an alarm when

Conventional technology Conventionally, when gas such as LP gas is supplied in a container,
The biggest problem is how to reduce gas shortages, and various methods have been considered for this purpose. For example, there was a one-time replacement method in which containers were periodically replaced for each region, and an individual prediction method in which gas amounts were managed and replaced for each house. Furthermore, in addition to using telephone lines to automate gas meter reading, which is another issue, we have also installed a counter separate from the meter reading counter that can be reset when replacing containers, and a system that sends out an alarm when a certain amount of usage is reached. etc.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the case of the conventional bulk exchange method described above, there is a tendency for a large amount of residual gas to be left, resulting in poor delivery efficiency.In addition, in the case of the individual prediction method, various conditions must be combined and computers must be used. The problem was that it was very difficult to predict. A gas meter monitoring system using a telephone line can be said to be an ideal system from a delivery perspective, but it has problems in terms of cost, such as the need for two types of counters.

The present invention solves such conventional problems, and is a gas container monitoring device that uses an inexpensive configuration to monitor the remaining amount of gas by reading the gas meter, and also immediately sends an alarm when the remaining amount of the gas container falls below a certain amount. The purpose is to provide

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the gas container monitoring device of the present invention includes a flow rate sensor input section that inputs a flow rate signal from a gas meter, and a flow rate sensor input section that inputs a signal from the flow rate sensor input section. a gas flow rate integration/storage means for integrating and storing the gas flow rate; a container exchange information input section for inputting a switch signal operated at the time of gas container exchange; A gas flow rate integrated value storage means at the time of container replacement that stores the gas flow integrated value at the time of container replacement, and a gas flow rate integrated value at the latest point accumulated by the gas flow rate integration/storage means and the gas flow rate integrated value storage unit at the time of container replacement is stored. a gas usage amount calculation means for calculating the gas usage amount by calculating the difference from the gas flow rate integrated value at the time of container replacement; a container capacity setting section for presetting the capacity of the gas container; and the container capacity setting section. A container capacity storage means for storing a set container capacity, and a gas in the container is calculated by calculating the difference between the container capacity stored in the container capacity storage means and the gas usage amount calculated by the gas usage amount calculation means. A gas remaining amount calculation/storage means for calculating the remaining amount, an alarm remaining amount setting section for presetting an alarm remaining amount value of the gas container, and a memory for storing the alarm remaining amount value set by the alarm remaining amount setting section. an alarm remaining amount storage means for
a remaining amount comparison means for outputting a symbol when the remaining amount of gas in the container calculated by the remaining gas amount calculation/storage means is smaller than the alarm remaining amount value stored in the alarm remaining amount storage means; a remaining amount alarm output section that outputs a remaining amount alarm signal when a signal from the comparing means is input; a gas flow rate integrated value stored in the gas flow rate integration/storage means; and a container stored in the container capacity storage means. a first transmission interface unit that transmits the capacity, the remaining gas amount stored in the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means, and the alarm remaining amount value stored in the alarm remaining amount storage means to a telephone line when necessary; , and a second transmission interface section that immediately sends the remaining amount alarm signal outputted by the remaining amount alarm output section to the telephone line.

Effect: With the above-described configuration, the present invention can transmit the integrated gas flow rate value (meter reading value) integrated and stored by the gas flow rate integration/storage means to the meter reading center etc. via the first transmission interface and the telephone line when necessary. Instead, at the same time, the gas usage is calculated from the difference between this gas flow integrated value and the gas flow integrated value at the time of container replacement stored in the container replacement gas flow integrated value storage means when replacing the gas container, and this gas usage and The container capacity setting section and container capacity storage means can be used to set and
The remaining amount of gas in the container is calculated and stored from the difference between the stored container capacity and the remaining amount of gas and the remaining amount of alarm that has been set and stored in advance by the remaining amount setting section and the remaining amount of alarm storage means. The values are compared by the remaining amount comparing means, and when the remaining gas amount falls below the alarm remaining amount value, the remaining amount alarm output section immediately sends a remaining amount alarm signal to the meter reading center, etc. via the second transmission interface and telephone line. Therefore, both the meter reading and residual alarm functions are achieved with a single counter (gas flow rate integration means). Furthermore, in addition to the integrated gas flow rate value, the remaining amount of gas in the container stored by the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means, the container capacity stored by the container capacity storage means, and the alarm remaining amount storage means are stored. The alarm remaining amount value can be sent to the meter reading center etc. whenever necessary via the first transmission interface and telephone line, allowing for more detailed gas container management compared to the conventional method that only sends the meter reading value and alarm. It can be performed.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a flow rate sensor input unit that inputs the flow rate signal from the gas meter, 2 is a gas flow rate integration/storage unit that inputs the signal from the flow rate sensor input unit 1, and integrates and stores the gas flow rate, and 3 is a gas container. 4 is a container exchange information input section into which a switch signal operated during exchange is input; 4 is a container exchange gas flow rate integrated value storage means for storing an integrated gas flow rate when a signal from the container exchange information input section 3 is input; 5; is calculated by calculating the difference between the latest gas flow rate integrated value accumulated by the gas flow rate integration/storage means 2 and the gas flow rate integrated value at the time of container replacement stored in the gas flow rate integrated value storage means 4 for the gas flow rate integrated value at the time of container replacement. a gas usage amount calculation means for calculating the usage amount; 6 a container capacity setting unit for presetting the capacity of the gas container;
7 is a container capacity storage means for storing the container capacity set by the container capacity setting section 6; 8 is a difference between the container capacity stored in the container capacity storage means 7 and the gas usage amount calculated by the gas usage amount calculation means 5; 9 is an alarm remaining amount setting unit for presetting the alarm remaining amount value of the gas container; 10 is an alarm remaining amount An alarm remaining amount storage means 11 stores the alarm remaining amount value set by the setting unit 9, and an alarm remaining amount storage means 10 stores the remaining amount of gas in the container calculated by the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means 8. 12 is a remaining amount comparison means that outputs a signal when the remaining amount is smaller than the alarm remaining amount value; 12 is a remaining amount alarm output unit that outputs a remaining amount -g miscellaneous signal when the signal from the remaining amount comparing means 11 is input; 13 is a gas flow rate integration unit・Gas flow rate integrated value stored in the storage means 2 and container capacity and gas remaining amount calculation stored in the container capacity storage means 7 ・Gas remaining amount stored in the storage means 8 and alarm remaining amount storage means 10 a first transmission interface section, 14, which transmits the alarm remaining amount value stored by the controller to the telephone line when necessary;
is a second transmission interface section that immediately sends the remaining amount alarm signal outputted by the remaining amount alarm output section 12 to the telephone line.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

First, the flow rate signal from the gas meter is inputted to the gas flow rate integration (counter)/storage means 2 via the flow rate sensor input section 1, and is stored after integration processing. This integrated and stored gas flow integrated value is sent to a meter reading center or the like via the first transmission interface 13 and the telephone line when necessary. This is the first function, the meter reading function. The above gas flow rate integration value (meter reading value) matches the gas meter's mechanical guideline value, and although not shown, the gas flow rate integration/storage means 2 contains the gas meter's mechanical guideline value and the original value. It has a gas flow rate integrated value setting section for adjusting the values.

Furthermore, the gas flow rate integrated value at the latest point in time integrated and stored as described above is simultaneously stored in the container exchange gas flow rate integrated value storage unit 4 via the container exchange information input unit 3 when the gas container is replaced. It is also used when the gas usage amount calculation means 5 calculates the amount of gas used from the difference between the two values.

Then, the remaining gas amount in the container is determined by the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means 8 based on the difference between the calculated gas usage amount and the container capacity previously set and stored in the container capacity setting section 6 and the container capacity storage means 7. Finally, the residual amount comparison means 11 compares this remaining amount of gas with the alarm remaining amount value set and stored in advance in the alarm remaining amount setting section 9 and the alarm remaining amount storage means 10.
If the remaining gas amount is smaller than the alarm remaining amount value, a signal is output to the remaining amount alarm output section 12, and the remaining amount alarm signal is sent from the remaining amount alarm output section 12 to the second transmission interface 14 and the telephone. It is immediately sent to a meter reading center etc. via a line. This is the second function, the remaining amount warning function.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the two functions of meter reading function and remaining amount alarm function are performed by only one counter, it can be realized with an inexpensive configuration.

In addition, the data sent to the meter reading center etc. via the first transmission interface when necessary includes not only the above-mentioned integrated gas flow rate value but also the container capacity stored in the container capacity storage means 7 and the alarm remaining amount storage means 10. Since it includes the alarm remaining amount value stored by the system and the remaining gas amount in the container stored by the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means 8, the remaining amount of gas in the container is stored in advance. Information on the progress of the amount can also be obtained, allowing more detailed container management and monitoring of the remaining amount.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the gas container monitoring device of the present invention provides the following effects.

(1) Combine the two functions of gas meter reading and remaining amount alarm into one
It is inexpensive because it is done using individual counters.

(2) Not only the remaining amount alarm, but also data such as the remaining amount during the process can be obtained at any time, so more detailed container management and remaining amount monitoring can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a block diagram of a gas container monitoring device showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Flow rate sensor input section, 2...Gas flow rate integration/storage means, a...Container replacement information input section, 4...Gas when replacing the container Flow rate integrated value storage means, 5...Gas usage amount calculation means, 6...
Container capacity setting section, 7...Container capacity storage means, 8
... Gas remaining amount calculation/storage means, 9...
Alarm remaining amount setting section, 10... Alarm remaining amount storage means,
11...Remaining amount comparison means, 12...Remaining amount alarm output section, 13...First transmission interface, 14...Second transmission interface .

Claims (1)

[Claims] A flow rate sensor input section that inputs a flow rate signal from a gas meter, a gas flow rate integration/storage means that inputs a signal from the flow rate sensor input section and integrates and stores the gas flow rate, and a switch signal that is operated when replacing a gas container. a container exchange information input section to input, a container exchange gas flow rate integrated value storage means for storing the gas flow integrated value when the signal from the container exchange information input section is input, and the gas flow rate integration/storage means integrated The gas usage amount calculating means calculates the difference between the gas flow rate integrated value at the latest point in time and the gas flow integrated value at the time of container replacement stored in the container replacement gas flow integrated value storage means. a container capacity setting section for setting in advance the container capacity, a container capacity storage means for storing the container capacity set by the container capacity setting section, and a container capacity stored in the container capacity storage means and the gas usage amount calculation means. a gas remaining amount calculation/storage means that calculates the remaining amount of gas in the container by calculating the difference between the gas consumption amount calculated by and an alarm remaining amount storage means for storing the alarm remaining amount value set by the alarm remaining amount setting section; a remaining amount comparing means that outputs a signal when the remaining amount is smaller than a stored alarm remaining amount value; a remaining amount alarm output section that outputs a remaining amount alarm signal when the signal from the remaining amount comparing means is input; and the gas flow rate. The gas flow rate integrated value stored in the integration/storage means, the container capacity stored in the container capacity storage means, the remaining gas amount stored in the gas remaining amount calculation/storage means, and the alarm remaining amount storage means a first transmission interface section that transmits the alarm remaining amount value stored by the controller to the telephone line when necessary;
A gas container monitoring device comprising a second transmission interface section that immediately sends a remaining amount alarm signal outputted by the remaining amount alarm output section to a telephone line.