JP4200310B2 - Gas shut-off device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas shut-off device for ensuring safety in using a gas after use of a gas meter.

  A conventional gas shut-off device is composed of a shut-off valve for closing a gas flow path, a gas shut-off control unit for driving the shut-off valve, and a battery as a power source (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional gas cutoff device.

In FIG. 3, the gas shut-off device 18 detects a battery voltage in a depleted state in which the capacity of the battery power source 25 that can operate the gas shut-off device 18 within a predetermined operation guarantee time is detected, and the voltage drop signal f When the voltage drop signal f is input, the shut-off valve 24 is received from the time when the voltage drop signal f is input, and an opening request is received (by an opening request switch or an input of an opening signal by communication). And a timer unit that counts a predetermined guaranteed operation time and outputs an opening completion signal h from when the voltage drop signal f is input. 21, a plug-opening function cutoff valve drive signal stop unit 22 that outputs a plug-stop signal i that stops plug-opening by the plug-open request signal g when the plug-open end signal h is input, and the voltage drop signal f or the closure stop signal a gas shut-off control unit 23 that closes the shut-off valve 24 when i is input and opens the shut-off valve 24 when the opening request signal g is input before the input of the stop-stop signal i. Configured.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-103546

  However, in the configuration of the conventional gas shut-off device, when the shut-off valve drive circuit that drives the shut-off valve fails, it becomes impossible to shut off the shut-off valve by the shut-off valve drive signal in an emergency, and the safety function Had the problem that could be damaged.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and when the shut-off valve circuit fails, the shut-off valve can be driven by a pseudo load drive circuit having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit, and until the gas shut-off device is replaced, The purpose is to enable the use of gas with safety functions.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a gas shut-off device according to the present invention includes a shut-off valve provided in a gas flow path of a gas meter, a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a gas flow rate passing through the gas flow path, and a power source. A shut-off valve drive circuit for driving the shut-off valve, a pseudo load having a resistance value equivalent to that of the shut-off valve, and having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit, A pseudo load drive circuit for measuring battery voltage, a shut-off function confirmation unit for detecting a circuit abnormality of the shut-off valve drive circuit, and switching the energization by the pseudo load drive circuit to the shut-off valve when the shut-off valve drive circuit is abnormal By having a shut-off valve output switching unit, when it is necessary to replace the gas shut-off device due to a shut-off valve drive circuit failure, the safety function is maintained even during the period from the shut-off valve drive circuit failure to the start of replacement work. gas An object of the present invention is to enable the use.

  The gas shut-off device of the present invention substitutes the shut-off valve drive signal from the pseudo load drive circuit having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit even when the shut-off valve drive signal is not output to the shut-off valve due to the shut-off valve drive circuit failure. By outputting a pseudo load signal, the shutoff valve can be driven, and the gas can be used in a state of having a safety function until the gas shutoff device is replaced.

  In addition, the safety function can be enhanced without circuit duplication due to the provision of a spare shut-off valve drive circuit.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shutoff valve provided in a gas flow path of a gas meter, a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a gas flow rate passing through the gas flow path, a battery as a power source, and a shutoff driving the shutoff valve. A valve drive circuit, a pseudo load having a resistance value equivalent to that of the shut-off valve, a pseudo load drive circuit having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit and energizing the pseudo resistor to measure a battery voltage; A shut-off function confirmation unit that detects a circuit abnormality of the shut-off valve drive circuit, and a shut-off valve output switching unit that switches the energization by the pseudo load drive circuit to the shut-off valve when the shut-off valve drive circuit is abnormal. Even if the shut-off valve drive signal is not output to the shut-off valve due to a valve drive circuit failure, a pseudo load signal can be supplied as a substitute for the shut-off valve drive signal from the pseudo load drive circuit having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit. The shut-off valve to be driven, until gas cutoff device replacement, and an object thereof is to enable gas used in the state that holds the safety function.

  In addition, the safety function can be enhanced without circuit duplication due to the provision of a spare shut-off valve drive circuit.

  The second invention has a shut-off valve drive signal stop section for stopping the output of the shut-off valve drive signal of the shut-off valve drive circuit, particularly in the first invention. If the output stops, the shut-off valve drive signal is forcibly stopped to prevent battery consumption.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching detection unit for detecting that the shut-off valve output switching unit or the pseudo load output switching unit has been switched to the first invention, and communication for transferring a switching signal from the switching detection unit to the centralized monitoring center. By transferring the switching signal to the central monitoring center, the switching signal can be promptly sent to the site after the circuit failure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas cutoff device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gas shut-off device is built in the shut-off valve 3 provided in the gas flow path 2 of the gas meter 1, the flow rate measuring unit 4 for measuring the gas flow rate passing through the gas flow path 2, and the gas meter 1. The power supply battery 5, the shut-off valve drive signal a is output, the shut-off valve 3 is driven, and the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 that closes the gas flow path 2 by driving the shut-off valve 3 has the same resistance value as the shut-off valve 3. A pseudo load signal b is output to the simulated load 7 at regular intervals, the pseudo load drive circuit 8 having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit 6, and the battery 5 when the pseudo load signal b is output to the pseudo load 7. The battery voltage determination unit 9 that outputs a battery voltage determination signal c that determines whether the voltage of the battery is within a predetermined voltage range, and the battery voltage determination signal c are received, and the battery voltage determination signal c is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage If so, a battery that outputs a voltage drop signal d to the shut-off valve drive unit 6 The pressure decrease detection unit 10, a blocking function confirmation unit 11 for detecting the more the cutoff valve driving circuit 6, consisting of the pseudo load signal output b a shutoff valve output switching unit 12 for switching the shut-off valve 3 from the dummy load 7.

  In this embodiment, when the shutoff valve 3 is driven, the shutoff function confirmation unit 11 detects that the shutoff valve drive circuit 6 outputs the shutoff valve drive signal a. When the shut-off valve drive signal a cannot be detected by the shut-off function confirmation unit 11, it is determined that the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 has failed, and the pseudo load signal b is output from the pseudo load drive circuit 8, and at the same time, the shut-off valve output switching unit 12 Switching is performed, and the pseudo load signal b is output to the shut-off valve 3.

  Here, the cutoff valve drive circuit 6 and the pseudo load drive circuit 8 have the same configuration, and the cutoff valve 3 can be driven by the pseudo load signal b.

  Thus, even if the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 fails and the shut-off valve drive signal a cannot be output, the shut-off valve 3 can be driven by supplying the pseudo load signal b to the shut-off valve 3 from the pseudo load drive circuit 8. The safety function can be enhanced before the gas shut-off device is replaced.

  In addition, the safety function can be enhanced without circuit overlap by installing the spare shut-off valve drive circuit 6.

  Further, it has a shut-off valve drive signal stop unit 13 for stopping the output of the shut-off valve drive signal a of the shut-off valve drive circuit 6, and when the shut-off function confirmation unit 11 detects the shut-off valve drive signal a for a certain time or more, The shut-off valve drive signal a is stopped by the shut-off valve drive signal stop unit 13, so that the battery 5 can be prevented from being consumed at an early stage. If the output continues, the battery 5 will not be consumed quickly.

  Further, when the shut-off valve drive signal a is stopped by the shut-off valve drive signal stop unit 13, the shut-off valve 3 is driven by operating the pseudo load drive circuit 8 and the shut-off valve output switching unit 12 and the pseudo load signal b. It becomes possible to drive the shut-off valve 3 using.

  Furthermore, the present embodiment has a switching detection unit 14 that detects that the cutoff valve output switching unit 12 has been switched, and a communication unit 15 that transfers a switching signal e from the switching detection unit 14 to the centralized monitoring center. By transferring the switching signal e to the centralized monitoring center via the communication unit 15, it is possible to notify that the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 has failed, so that the operator immediately heads for the site after the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 has failed. Can do.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a gas shut-off device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the thing of the same code | symbol as Embodiment 1 has the same structure, and abbreviate | omits description.

  A shutoff valve 3 provided in the gas flow path 2 of the gas meter 1, a flow rate measuring unit 4 for measuring a gas flow rate passing through the gas flow path 2, a power source battery 5 built in the gas meter 1, and a shutoff valve A pseudo-load is output to the shut-off valve drive unit 6 that closes the gas flow path 2 by driving the shut-off valve 3 by outputting a drive signal a and a pseudo load 7 having a resistance value equivalent to that of the shut-off valve 3 at regular intervals. The voltage of the battery 5 when the signal b is output and the pseudo load driving circuit 8 having the same configuration as the shut-off valve driving circuit 6 and the pseudo load signal b is output to the pseudo load 7 is within a predetermined voltage range. The battery voltage determination unit 9 that outputs a battery voltage determination signal c that determines whether or not the battery voltage determination signal c is received, and if the battery voltage determination signal c is outside the specified range, the voltage drop signal is sent to the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 battery voltage drop detection unit 10 for outputting d, and shut-off valve drive signal The output from the shut-off valve 3 is a gas cutoff apparatus having a dummy load output switching unit 16 to switch the dummy load 7.

  When the voltage drop of the battery 5 is detected, the battery voltage determination signal c is determined that the voltage of the battery 5 is out of the predetermined voltage range, the voltage of the battery 5 is actually decreased, and the battery voltage determination unit 9 May mistakenly determine the voltage of the battery 5.

  Therefore, the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 outputs the shut-off valve drive signal a and simultaneously outputs it to the pseudo load 7 to output the voltage of the battery 5 to the battery voltage determination unit 9 to detect the battery voltage.

  Here, when the battery voltage determination unit 9 outputs the battery voltage determination signal c that the voltage of the battery 5 is low, the pseudo load drive circuit 8 is operating normally and there is no problem, but the voltage of the battery 5 is normal. If, however, the battery voltage determination unit 9 outputs the battery voltage determination signal c, it is determined that the pseudo load drive circuit 8 has failed, and the previous battery voltage drop detection history is reset. It is possible to prevent the battery voltage drop from being determined by the determination, and to use the gas in convenience.

  In addition, a pseudo load signal stop unit 17 that stops the output of the pseudo load signal b of the pseudo load drive circuit 8 is provided, and when the battery voltage drop detection unit detects the battery voltage determination signal c for 10 fixed time or more, the pseudo load signal stop unit 17 By stopping the load signal b by the pseudo load signal stop unit 17, it is possible to prevent the battery 5 from being consumed at an early stage, and the pseudo load signal b continues to be output due to a failure of the pseudo load drive circuit 8 as in the prior art. In this case, the battery 5 is not exhausted quickly.

  When the battery voltage drop detection unit 10 stops the pseudo load signal b, the voltage of the battery 5 is detected by operating the shut-off valve drive circuit 6 and the pseudo load output switching unit 16 to the pseudo load 7. The voltage of the battery 5 can be detected by sending the drive signal a.

  Furthermore, the present embodiment has a switching detection unit 14 that detects that the pseudo load output switching unit 16 has been switched, and a communication unit 15 that transfers a switching signal e from the switching detection unit 14 to the centralized monitoring center. Since the switching signal e is transferred to the centralized monitoring center via the communication unit 15, it can be notified that the pseudo load driving circuit 8 has failed. Can head to.

  As described above, the gas shut-off device according to the present invention can be applied to a use related to a gas shut-off device that ensures safety in use of gas when using gas after a gas meter.

The block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the gas cutoff device in Embodiment 2 of this invention Configuration diagram of conventional gas shut-off device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas meter 2 Gas flow path 3 Shut-off valve 4 Flow rate measurement part 5 Battery 6 Shut-off valve drive circuit 7 Pseudo load 8 Pseudo load drive circuit 9 Battery voltage determination part 11 Shut-off function confirmation part 12 Shut-off valve output switching part 13 Shut-off valve drive signal stop Unit 14 switching detection unit 15 communication unit 16 pseudo load output switching unit 17 pseudo load signal stop unit

Claims (3)

A shutoff valve provided in a gas flow path of a gas meter, a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a gas flow rate passing through the gas flow path, a battery as a power source, a shutoff valve drive circuit for driving the shutoff valve, A pseudo load having a resistance value equivalent to that of the shut-off valve, a pseudo load drive circuit having the same configuration as the shut-off valve drive circuit and energizing the pseudo resistor, a battery voltage determination unit for measuring the voltage of the battery, A gas shut-off device comprising a shut-off function confirmation unit that detects a circuit abnormality of the shut-off valve drive circuit, and a shut-off valve output switching unit that switches energization by the pseudo load drive circuit to the shut-off valve when the shut-off valve drive circuit is abnormal . The gas shut-off device according to claim 1, further comprising a shut-off valve drive signal stop unit that stops the output of the shut-off valve drive circuit. The gas according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching detection unit that detects that the shut-off valve output switching unit or the pseudo load output switching unit has been switched; and a communication unit that transfers a switching signal from the switching detection unit to the centralized monitoring center. Shut-off device.

Images