JPS63108118A - Gas interruptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a dangerous condition, such as gas explosion, the poisoning of the gas or the like, by a method wherein the using condition of the gas is monitored at all times to compare it with a set allowable time condition of the continuous using of the gas and when the using condition is decided to be abnormal, an interrupting means is operated to stop the supply of the gas. CONSTITUTION:When a starting signal impressing means 12 or a push-button switch, for example, is operated, a starting signal is sent to a timer 11 and the timer starts the counting of a predetermined period of time. Simultaneously with the operation of the timer, a using condition storing unit 13 stores the maximum values of respective intermittent using times of respective divisions of calorific values. Upon finishing the counting, the maximum stored values of the using times in respective divisions are outputted to a continuous using allowable time changing unit 14 as data. The changing unit compares the data with the initial period allowable time conditions in every divisions of calorific values and selects a smaller value. The result of the selection is set again in a continuous using time deciding unit 9 newly as a continuous using allowable time condition and, thereafter, a signal from a division deciding unit 7 is decided based on the value whether it is abnormal or not. When it is decided abnormal, an interrupting means 4 is operated and the passageway of the gas is closed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention provides a gas shutoff device that automatically shuts off a gas passage in the event of an abnormality to prevent explosions, poisoning accidents, etc. caused by city gas, propane gas, etc. Regarding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional gas cutoff device of this type, as shown in FIG.
A gas meter 2, a flow rate measuring means 3 that emits a signal according to the amount of gas passing through the gas meter, and a cutoff means 4 that stops the supply of gas are provided in the gas supply line 1, and the flow rate signal of the flow rate measuring means 3 is provided. A hole that judges the usage condition and determines that there is an abnormality if the gas continues to be used for a longer time than the preset and stored permissible time condition, and issues a shutoff signal to the shutoff means 4.
It was equipped with 1 inverted part and 5 parts.

An example of the configuration of this conventional control section is shown in FIG. Components with the same numbers as those in FIG. 4 have the same functions. The control unit 5 includes a calculation unit 6 that calculates the calorific value per unit time of the amount of gas passing through the gas meter based on the signal from the flow rate measuring means, and a calculation unit 6 that calculates the calorific value per unit time of the amount of gas passing through the gas meter, and a gas calorific value classification obtained by dividing the calorific value into a plurality of parts in advance. A category determining unit 7 determines which category the category belongs to, an initial permissible continuous use time setting unit 8 sets a permissible continuous use time in advance corresponding to the category determined by the category determining unit, and the calculating unit calculates The continuous use time determining section 9 compares the continuous use time after gas with the specified calorific value starts flowing with the allowable continuous use time, and outputs a cutoff signal when the former exceeds the latter. Upon receiving the cutoff signal, the cutoff means 4 closes the gas passage.

Here, the continuous use time is the continuous use time set for each range based on the statistical data of the time when gas appliances in a predetermined calorific value range are continuously used, and the data from the classification determination section is This is a judgment condition that sends an activation signal to the cutoff means when the set time is exceeded to ensure safety even when the user forgets to turn off gas appliances.

The classification determination unit 7 divides the gas flow rate into a plurality of divisions from division 1 to division n, for example as shown in Table 1. (Qu
; kcal/h) Table 1 In other words, the gas flow rate pulse is converted into a calorific value to specify each flow rate category. This is because the calorific value per same flow rate pulse differs depending on the type of gas, so when considering the explosion limit of a gas accident as an evaluation item, it is easier to consider the calorific value. and,
When the flow rate pulse per unit time from the flow rate measurement means 3 changes by more than a predetermined value (for example, by more than 3%), it is determined that one of the installed gas appliances has started or stopped combustion. Then, it is registered in a predetermined category by comparing it with the table above.

By the way, the initial continuous use permissible time setting unit 8 determines the permissible time for each combustion amount category, as shown in Table 2, for example.

Table 2, Figure 6 is a graph of the contents of the above table, where the horizontal axis represents the calorific value category and the vertical axis represents the allowable continuous use time. L
l refers to a series of characteristic values.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, the permissible continuous use time condition is uniformly determined by the initial value only, depending on the capacity of the gas meter installed in the gas pipe. The problem was that special conditions such as these were not taken into account.

The present invention solves such conventional problems, and aims to measure the usage pattern of each household and provide a much safer gas cutoff device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the gas cutoff device of the present invention has the following features:
a flow rate measuring means for emitting a signal according to the amount of gas passing through a gas meter provided in a gas supply line; and a calculating section for calculating the calorific value per unit time of the amount of gas passing through the gas meter based on the signal from the flow rate measuring means; a classification determination unit that determines which of the gas calorific value classifications obtained by dividing the calorific value in advance into a plurality of gas calorific value classifications; The initial permissible continuous use time setting section compares the continuous use time after the calorific value of gas calculated by the calculation section starts flowing with the permissible continuous use time, and outputs a cutoff signal when the former exceeds the latter. a continuous use time determination section for counting a predetermined period of time; a start signal applying means for starting the timer; a use state storage section for storing the maximum value of each continuous use time for each heat generation category while the timer is operating; a control section consisting of a continuous use allowable time changing section that changes the allowable time in the continuous use time determining section according to information in a storage section; and a cutoff means that cuts off the gas passage in response to a cutoff signal from the control section. It has the following configuration.

According to the above-described configuration, the present invention starts counting for a predetermined period when a start signal is applied to the timer, and during the counting period, the continuous use time of each calorific value category is determined by the operation of the usage state storage unit. The maximum value is stored and updated. Then, at the same time as the timer ends, the final data is compared and judged with the initial value in the allowable continuous use time changing section, and a predetermined value is selected and sent to the continuous use time determining section, where new conditions are reset. Thereafter, this determining section compares the above-mentioned new set conditions with the signal from the classification determining section, and when the conditions are deviated from, it is determined that there is an abnormality and the shut-off means is activated.

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

In FIG. 1, the same numbers as in FIG. 5 indicate components having the same functions. The control unit 10 includes a calculation unit 6 that inputs a flow rate signal from a flow rate measuring means 3 similar to the conventional one and calculates the calorific value per unit time, and a gas calorific value classification obtained by dividing the calorific value into a plurality of parts in advance. a category determining section 7 that determines to which category the above-mentioned operation belongs; an initial permissible continuous use time setting section 8 that sets an allowable continuous use time in advance corresponding to the category determined by the category determining section; Continuous use time determination section 9 compares the continuous use time after the gas with the calorific value calculated by the section starts flowing and the allowable continuous use time, and outputs a cutoff signal when the former exceeds the latter; A timer 11 for counting, a start signal applying means 12 for sending a start signal to start counting to the timer, and a start signal applying means 12 for sending a start signal to start counting to the timer; It is comprised of a usage state storage section 13 that stores values, and a continued use allowable time changing section 14 that changes the allowable time in the continued use time determination section according to the information in the storage section.

In the above configuration, when the activation signal applying means (for example, a push button switch, external signal transmission means, etc.) is activated, an activation signal is sent to the timer, and the timer receives the signal and starts counting a predetermined period. The predetermined period may be set in advance or may be set arbitrarily, and is, for example, a span of one week or one month. Simultaneously with this timer operation, the usage state storage section stores the maximum value of each continuous usage time for each heat generation category. When the count ends, the maximum value of the usage time in each category stored above is sent as data to the allowable continuous usage time changing section. The changing unit compares the data with the initial allowable time condition for each calorific value category and selects the smaller one. This result is reset as a new continuous use permissible time condition in the continuous use time determination section, and thereafter, based on this value, it is determined whether the signal from the classification determination section is abnormal or not. Here, the maximum value of the actually measured usage time in each calorific value category was used as data for comparative study, but it may be multiplied by a predetermined coefficient and used as comparative data. That is, the reset value may be selected taking into consideration the safety factor in terms of usability.

By the way, until the aforementioned timer count ends,
The continuous usage time determination section compares the current gas usage status with preset initial conditions to determine abnormal conditions, but new conditions are set based on the actual measurement results of the gas usage pattern while the timer is operating. After that, the abnormal state is determined by comparing it with the reset value. Here, when it is determined that there is an abnormality, the shutoff means is activated and the gas passage is closed.

FIG. 2 shows an example L2 of actual measurement results of usage time.

Each axis and Ll are the same as in FIG. In the same figure, L
2 takes less time than Ll, and L2 is selected as the reset value in the operation of the change unit described above.

The above-mentioned control section can be easily realized by using calculation and judgment functions based on program operations of a microcomputer or the like. The outline of the program flow is shown in FIG. 3 below.

When the program starts, the initial allowable time is set at A, and then the calorific value is calculated from the flow rate pulse at B.
Next, at step C, the corresponding calorific value is classified and the usage time is measured.

Then, at D, it is determined whether or not the timer for a predetermined time is counting, and when it is counting, at E, the gas usage status, that is, which calorific value category is continuously used and for how long, is memorized. Then, update the maximum value. Thereafter, in the same way as when the timer is not operating, the allowable continued use time set in F is compared with the signal from the classification determination section.

As a result of this comparison, if there is an abnormality, that is, if the allowable time has been exceeded, the process branches at G and jumps to the H cutoff signal output. If there is no abnormality, it is checked in step (3) whether the changing means has been activated or not, and if it has been activated, the process returns to hl, that is, to the calorific value calculation of A.

If the timer has not been activated, use ■ to determine whether the timer count has ended or not. When finished, press K to compare the usage status and initial setting conditions, select a predetermined value, and press L to reset the allowable time. . Thereafter, in F, the reset value is treated as the gas continuous use permissible time condition, and is compared and contrasted with the detected value.

Further, if the timer count is not completed at (2), the process branches to M and it is determined whether or not counting is currently in progress. If counting is in progress, the count continues with N, and if it is not counting, with 0, the presence or absence of the activation signal is determined. When the activation signal is input, the timer count is started with P. If there is still no signal, it returns to A again.

By executing the above program flow, the functions of the control section of the gas cutoff device of the present invention can be realized.

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

(1) By constantly monitoring the gas usage status and comparing it with the set permissible continuous usage time conditions, it is possible to detect abnormal continuous usage of gas appliances due to forgetting to turn them off, and when the conditions are exceeded. In other words, if it is determined that there is an abnormality, the shutoff means is activated and the gas supply is stopped, which has the effect of preventing dangerous situations such as gas explosions and gas poisoning.

(2) Observe the actual usage pattern of the gas supply system in which the gas meter is installed for a predetermined period of time based on the activation signal, and use the smaller of the maximum actual continuous usage time of the gas appliance and the initial conditions as the final result. Since the setting is based on the gas meter capacity (number), the individual special conditions are also taken into account when determining the conditions, and the system can be used to prevent gas accidents without interfering with actual use. Safety can be further increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a gas cutoff device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a calorific value classification diagram showing the actual measurement results of the continuous use time of the device, and Fig. 3 is a schematic program of the control section of the device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional gas cutoff device, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional control section, and FIG. 6 is a calorific value classification diagram showing initial conditions of allowable continuous use time. 2...Gas meter, 3...Flow rate measuring means, 4...Shutoff means, 6...Calculating unit, 7...
... Classification determination section, 8 ... Initial continuous use allowable time setting section, 9 ... Continuous use time judgment section, 1
0...Control unit, 11...Timer, 1
2...Start signal application means, 1a...Usage state storage section, 14...Continuous use permissible time changing section. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure L--J 2nd Figure 7 23 ------- Le calorific value 2 minutes Qα Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 L J6
Diagram T Opening of a used fir pestle / 2 3 ------- Le fever! Category Q Ward

Claims (1)

[Claims] a flow rate measuring means for emitting a signal according to the amount of gas passing through a gas meter provided in a gas supply line; and a calculating section for calculating the calorific value per unit time of the amount of gas passing through the gas meter based on the signal from the flow rate measuring means; a classification determination unit that determines which of the gas calorific value classifications obtained by dividing the calorific value in advance into a plurality of gas calorific value classifications; The initial permissible continuous use time setting section compares the continuous use time after the calorific value of gas calculated by the calculation section starts flowing with the permissible continuous use time, and outputs a cutoff signal when the former exceeds the latter. a continuous use time determination section for counting a predetermined period of time; a start signal applying means for starting the timer; a use state storage section for storing the maximum value of each continuous use time for each heat generation category while the timer is operating; a control unit including a continuous use permissible time changing unit that changes the permissible time in the continuous use time determining unit according to information in a storage unit; and a cutoff means that cuts off the gas passage in response to a cutoff signal from the control unit. Gas cutoff device with.