KR100332048B1 - Method and apparatus for gauging the amount used of gas - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a gas consumption metering method and apparatus capable of automatically notifying when a gas cylinder is to be replaced, and capable of automatically metering gas usage. The automatic changer detects the remaining amount of gas charged in the plurality of gas cylinders, and if there is no gas remaining in one gas cylinder, the gas supply valve is supplied to another gas cylinder so that the gas can be supplied to a plurality of users from the remaining gas cylinder. It switches to the side, and generates a switching signal indicating that there is a gas cylinder without remaining gas. The gas meter counts the gas usage of each of the plurality of users to generate respective counting signals. The transmitter generates a gas exchange signal informing the gas exchange time in response to the switching signal, receives a counting signal corresponding to each of the plurality of users based on preset meter reading date data, and receives subscriber data of each of the preset plurality of users. It reads out and outputs the metering signal which shows the gas usage of each of a plurality of users based on a counting signal and subscriber data. Therefore, the user can eliminate administrative hassles associated with gas orders.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAUGING THE AMOUNT USED OF GAS}

The present invention relates to the inspection of gas usage, and more particularly, to a gas usage meter reading method and apparatus capable of automatically notifying the exchange time of the gas cylinder and automatically reading the gas usage.

Recently, in the commercial area using liquid propane gas filled with gas cylinders, such as food industry, a gas volume trading system that uses a large number of gas cylinders connected to a common valve, and meter each user's usage individually is widely implemented. It is becoming.

Such a system can alleviate the difficulty of managing gas cylinders and the hassle of frequently changing the gas cylinders by each user ordering and using gas cylinders individually.

However, on the other hand, as a plurality of users share a plurality of gas cylinders on the other hand, even if there is no gas remaining in one of the gas cylinders can not confirm the existence of the empty gas cylinder, and to replace the empty gas cylinder, You must order a gas cylinder.

The present invention proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas consumption meter reading method that can automatically notify the exchange time of the gas cylinder, and can automatically read the gas usage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas usage meter reading device that can automatically notify the replacement time of the gas cylinder, and can automatically read the gas usage.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a gas consumption meter reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmitter of the gas consumption meter reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. And

Figure 3 is a flow chart for explaining the gas usage meter reading method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

20: automatic transfer machine

30, 40: gas cylinder

50: gas meter

60: transmitter

61: buffer unit

62: control unit

63: data storage unit

80: public line switching network

Gas consumption metering method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, (i) determining whether the transfer signal indicating that there is no remaining gas from the pressure sensor built in the gas cylinder is input to the automatic transfer machine, (ii) the When the transfer signal is inputted to the automatic changer, the transmitter outputs a gas exchange signal informing the time of exchange of the gas cylinder; Determining, (iv) returning to step (i) if the determination result of step (iii) is not a gas reading date, and (v) if the determination result of step (iii) is a gas reading date, a plurality of gas meters Receiving meter reading data from a buffer unit storing meter reading data inputted from the terminal; (vi) reading a plurality of subscriber data previously stored in a storage unit of the transmitter; And (vii) outputting a gas usage data signal indicating a gas usage amount for each subscriber based on the plurality of subscriber data and the plurality of meter data signals to a gas supplier's computer system through a public communication network.

Gas consumption meter reading apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the gas remaining in the plurality of gas cylinders, and if there is no gas remaining in any one of the plurality of gas cylinders, the gas remains A switching means for switching a gas supply valve to the other one of the gas cylinders to supply gas to a plurality of users from one of the other gas cylinders, and generating a switching signal indicating that there is a gas cylinder without remaining gas; Meter reading means for counting the gas usage of each of the plurality of users to generate a counting signal corresponding to each of the plurality of users, and a gas exchange signal for notifying the time of exchange of the gas cylinder in response to the switching signal from the switching means. The meter reading based on the preset meter reading date data A counting signal corresponding to each of the plurality of users is input from the terminal, the subscriber data of each of the preset plurality of users is read, and the meter reading indicating the gas usage of each of the plurality of users based on the counting signal and the subscriber data is read. And a transmitting means for outputting a signal.

According to the gas consumption metering method and apparatus thereof, if there is no gas remaining in any one of the plurality of gas cylinders, a gas exchange signal informing of this is automatically transmitted to the gas supplier. In addition, a metering signal indicating the gas consumption of each user is automatically transmitted in accordance with the preset gas metering date. Therefore, the user can eliminate administrative hassles associated with gas orders.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGS.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a gas consumption meter reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the gas consumption metering device according to the present invention includes a gas supply pipe 10 for supplying gas, first and second gas cylinders 30 and 40 filled with the gas, and a gas supply pipe 10. It is installed to switch the gas supply path, and check the remaining amount of gas in the first and second gas cylinders (30, 40) using a pressure sensor (not shown) built in itself, and if there is a gas cylinder without the remaining gas Automatic switching machine 20 for generating a switching signal 21 for notifying, gas meter 50 for generating a counting signal 51 by counting the amount of gas used, switching from the automatic switching machine 20 In response to the signal 21, a gas exchange signal 62b for informing the timing of the exchange of the first and second gas cylinders 30 and 40 is generated, and each of the plurality of users from the gas meter 50 is based on preset meter reading data. Receiving a counting signal 51 corresponding to A transmitter for reading the subscriber data 63a of each of the plurality of users and outputting the metering signal 62a indicative of the gas usage of each of the plurality of users based on the counting signal 51 and the subscriber data 63a ( 60), the Public Switched Telephone Network 80 through which the signal from the transmitter 60 is transmitted, the gas exchange signal 62b and the meter reading signal 62a input through the Public Switched Telephone Network 80; In response to the meter reading signal 62a and the gas exchange signal 62b transmitted through the decoder 85 and the public line switching network 80, the gas supplier is informed of the gas consumption and the gas exchange time. In response, the transmitter 60 has a computer system 90 for changing the preset meter reading data.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmitter of the gas consumption meter reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the transmitter 60 receives a counting signal 51 and a buffer unit 61 for storing data values representing gas consumption of each user, and a data storage unit for storing subscriber data 63a. (63) generates a gas exchange signal (62b) in response to the switching signal (21), receives a counting signal (51) from the buffer unit (61) based on the preset meter reading date data, and receives the data storage unit (63). Reads the subscriber data (62a) from, and outputs the metering signal (62a) based on the counting signal (51) and the subscriber data (63a), and optionally connected to the control unit (62). The control unit has a hand terminal 64 for changing the preset meter reading date data.

The operation of the gas consumption metering device is as follows. Here, it is assumed that all of the gases in the first gas cylinder 30 are used.

First, the automatic changer 20 always checks the remaining amount of gas in the first and second gas cylinders 30 and 40. At this time, the gas residual amount is detected by the gas discharge pressure of the first and second gas cylinders 30 and 40 detected by a pressure sensor (not shown) built in the automatic changer 20.

If all of the gases in the first gas cylinder 30 are used, the automatic switching machine 20 automatically switches the gas supply valve to supply the gas filled in the second gas cylinder 40 to the plurality of users.

Next, the automatic changer 20 provides a switching signal 21 to the controller 62 of the transmitter 60 indicating that all of the gases in the first gas cylinder 30 have been used and transferred to the second gas cylinder 40.

The control unit 62 reads the subscriber data 63 of the user whose transfer signal 21 is generated from the data storage unit 63 in response to the transfer signal 21, and reads the read subscriber data 63 and the gas cylinder. A gas exchange signal 62b indicating that it is time to exchange is provided to the gas supplier's computer system 90 via the public line switching network 80.

At this time, the gas exchange signal 62b input through the public line switching network 80 is decoded by the decoder 85 so as to be recognized by the gas company's computer system 90.

Accordingly, the gas supplier can monitor the computer system 90 to identify the user in need of replacement of the gas cylinders 30 and 40, and the gas may be filled in the first gas cylinder 30 even if the user does not order it separately. You can replace it with a gas cylinder.

Next, the operation of reading the gas consumption will be described.

First, a gas meter 50 is separately installed on a gas supply pipe (not shown) installed to supply gas to the plurality of users, respectively (only one is shown in the drawing).

Each gas meter 50 has a magnet 52 built in, and counts the gas consumption used by each user by the magnet 52 to generate a counting signal 51. The gas consumption data by this counting signal 51 is stored in the buffer unit 61 for each user.

The controller 62 checks the preset gas reading date based on its own preset date program. When the preset gas reading date is reached, the control unit 62 reads gas consumption data 61a of each user stored in the buffer unit 61 and reads subscriber data 63 of each user from the data storage unit 63. do.

Subsequently, the controller 62 provides the subscriber data 63 of each user and the meter reading signal 62a indicating the gas usage of each user to the gas supplier's computer system 90 through the public line switching network 80.

At this time, the meter reading signal 62a input through the public line switching network 80 is decoded by the decoder 85 so as to be recognized by the gas company's computer system 90.

Accordingly, the gas supplier can monitor the computer system 90 to know the gas consumption of each user, and collect a gas charge for each user based on the gas consumption.

Meanwhile, the gas supplier may change the meter reading date data preset in the controller 62 using the computer system 90. The method is as follows.

First, the gas supplier calls the subscriber's home and hangs up once the phone rings. Next, after about 5 to 10 seconds from the gas supplier's on-hook state, when the subscriber's home is called, the subscriber becomes available to talk with the transmitter 60. In this state, the gas supplier enters a preset password. The meter reading date data preset in the transmitter 60 may be changed.

The control operation of the controller 62 shown in FIG. 2 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a gas consumption metering method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 62 determines whether the transfer signal 21 is generated from the automatic transfer machine 20 (step S100).

When the switching signal 21 is generated, the control unit 62 outputs the gas exchange signal 62b indicating the timing of the exchange of the first gas cylinder 30 to the computer system 90 together with the subscriber data 63a (step S110). ).

If the transfer signal 21 is not generated, the controller 62 determines whether it is a gas reading date based on the date program preset to itself (step S120).

If it is not the gas reading day, the control unit 62 returns to step S100.

On the date of gas reading, the controller 62 receives gas consumption data 61a indicating the gas consumption of each of the users from the buffer unit 61 (step S130).

Next, the control unit 62 reads subscriber data 63a of each of the plurality of users previously stored from the data storage unit 63 (step S140).

The control unit 62 outputs to the gas supplier's computer system 90 together with the meter reading signal 62a indicating the gas consumption of each of the plurality of users and the subscriber data 63a (step S150).

According to the gas consumption metering method and apparatus as described above, if there is no gas remaining in any one of the plurality of gas cylinders, a gas exchange signal informing of this is automatically sent to the gas supplier.

In addition, the meter reading signal indicating the gas consumption of each user is also automatically transmitted in accordance with the preset gas meter reading date. Therefore, the user can eliminate administrative hassles associated with gas orders.

While the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be variously modified and changed within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand that you can.

Claims (5)

(i) determining whether a switching signal indicating that there is no remaining gas is input to the automatic changer from a pressure sensor built into the gas cylinder; (ii) when the transfer signal is inputted to the automatic changer, the transmitter outputting a gas exchange signal informing the time of exchange of the gas cylinder; (iii) if the transfer signal is not input to the automatic changer, determining whether a control unit configured in the transmitter is a gas reading date; (iv) returning to step (i) if the determination result of step (iii) is not a gas reading date; (v) receiving the metering data from a buffer unit storing the metering data inputted from a plurality of gas meters if the gas metering date is determined as the result of step (iii); (vi) reading a plurality of subscriber data previously stored in a storage unit of the transmitter; And (vii) outputting a gas usage data signal indicating gas usage for each subscriber based on the plurality of subscriber data and the plurality of meter data signals to a gas supplier's computer system through a public communication network; Usage metering method. In order to sense the remaining amount of gas filled in the plurality of gas cylinders, and if there is no remaining gas in any one of the plurality of gas cylinders, the gas is to be supplied to the plurality of users from any other gas cylinder remaining gas A switching means for switching a supply valve to the other gas cylinder and generating a switching signal informing that there is a gas cylinder without remaining gas; Meter reading means for counting gas usage of each of the plurality of users to generate a counting signal corresponding to each of the plurality of users; And In response to the switching signal from the switching means, a gas exchange signal for informing a gas exchange time is generated, and a counting signal corresponding to each of the plurality of users is received from the meter reading means based on preset meter reading date data. And a sending means for reading the subscriber data of each of the plurality of users and outputting a metering signal indicating the gas usage of each of the plurality of users based on the counting signal and the subscriber data. . The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting means, A buffer unit for receiving the counting signal and storing the data value; A data storage unit for storing the subscriber data; And Generating a gas exchange signal in response to the switching signal, receiving the counting signal from the buffer unit based on preset meter reading date data, reading the subscriber data from the data storage unit, and counting the signal and the subscriber data And a control unit for outputting the metering signal based on the gas usage meter reading device. According to claim 3, Gas consumption meter reading device characterized in that it further comprises a hand terminal for changing the reading date data preset in the control unit. According to claim 2, in response to the gas exchange signal and the metering signal from the transmitting means to check the gas exchange time and gas consumption of each of the plurality of users and to display to the controller, the transmission in response to the key operation of the controller And a control system for changing the metering date data preset in the means.