JP6447826B2 - Flow measuring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for discriminating an instrument that uses a fluid by detecting a change in the flow rate of the fluid.

  There is a gas meter device that detects a change in the flow rate of a fluid in a fluid piping system and discriminates an instrument that uses the fluid (for example, Patent Document 1). There are various types of gas appliances, such as fan heaters, gas tables, water heaters, floor heating, etc., but the characteristics of the gas flow rate change at the time of ignition etc. are different, so it is in use by grasping the characteristics of the flow rate change The gas appliance can be identified.

JP 2011-95200 A

  When the gas appliance is used, the manner in which the flow rate changes even with the same appliance varies depending on the manual operation and the ignition state at that time, but it is desirable that the appliance can be accurately identified even in such a case. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, by acquiring a flow rate indicating characteristics during the operation of the appliance from a stable flow rate or an intermediate stable flow rate, it is possible to absorb variations due to manual operation or the ignition state when using the appliance, and to determine the appliance discrimination accuracy. We are trying to improve. In the discrimination of such gas appliances, further improvement in accuracy is required.

  An object of this invention is to absorb the dispersion | variation by manual operation or an ignition state, and aim at the improvement of an instrument discrimination | determination precision.

  An exemplary flow rate measuring device according to the present specification includes a flow rate measuring unit that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a flow path at a constant time interval, and a plurality of devices that show the characteristics of the device from the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit. Appliance feature extraction means for extracting a feature flow rate, appliance specific feature information holding means for holding a plurality of characteristic flow states of a specific appliance as appliance unique feature flow rates, and a plurality of the feature features extracted by the appliance feature extraction means An appliance discriminating means for discriminating the specific appliance by comparing the appliance feature flow rate with a plurality of appliance-specific feature flow rates unique to the appliance held in the appliance-specific feature information holding means; When the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit continues for the first predetermined number of times within a predetermined range, the means stores the average value of the flow rate for the number of times as the first characteristic flow rate of the instrument characteristic flow rate. The appliance feature extraction means, after extracting the first feature flow rate, does not continue for the second predetermined number of times with the flow rate in the predetermined range, but if it continues for the first predetermined number of times again, the average of the flow rate for that number of times Save the value as the second feature flow of the instrument feature flow.

  According to the flow rate measuring device of the present invention, it is possible to absorb variations due to manual operation or ignition state, and to improve the appliance discrimination accuracy.

It is a block diagram of the flow measuring device in an embodiment of the invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the flow volume measurement means in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow volume division table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the code conversion using the flow volume division table | surface in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow volume characteristic at the time of gas appliance use in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transition of the code | cord | chord at the time of gas appliance use in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the code conversion using the flow volume division table | surface in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow volume characteristic at the time of gas appliance use in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transition of the code | cord | chord at the time of gas appliance use in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow volume measuring apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

  First, the inventions made by the present inventors are as follows.

  A flow rate measuring device according to a first invention of the present application includes a flow rate measuring unit that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a flow path at a constant time interval, and a plurality of instrument features that indicate the characteristics of the instrument from the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit. Appliance feature extraction means for extracting a flow rate, appliance-specific feature information holding means for holding a plurality of characteristic flow states of a specific appliance as appliance-specific feature flows, and a plurality of appliance feature flows extracted by the appliance feature extraction means And a device discriminating unit that discriminates a specific device by comparing a plurality of device-specific feature flow rates unique to the device held in the device-specific feature information holding unit. When the flow rate measured by the above is continuous for a first predetermined number of times within a predetermined range, the average value of the flow rate for that number of times is stored as the first feature flow rate of the appliance feature flow rate, and the appliance feature extraction means is After extracting the collected flow rate, when the second predetermined number of times is not continued at a predetermined range of flow rate, but when the first predetermined number of times is continued again, the average value of the flow rate is stored as the second characteristic flow rate of the instrument characteristic flow rate. .

  In the flow rate measuring apparatus according to the second invention of the present application, the second predetermined number of times is greater than the first predetermined number of times, and the instrument feature extracting unit is configured to perform the second predetermined number of times with a flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit within a predetermined range. When continuous, the average value of the flow rate for the number of times is stored as the second characteristic flow rate.

  A flow rate measuring device according to a third invention of the present application calculates a flow rate measuring unit that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a flow path at a constant time interval, and a difference value of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit for each fixed time. A calculation means, a flow rate classification table holding means for holding a flow rate classification table in which a plurality of difference value categories corresponding to the magnitudes of the difference values and codes representing each classification are associated, and a difference value calculated by the calculation means A difference value conversion means for converting the data into a code based on the flow rate classification table, a process for generating an instrument feature code string indicating the characteristics of the instrument from the code obtained at regular intervals by the difference value conversion means, and a measurement by the flow measurement means An appliance feature extraction means for executing at least one of a process of extracting a plurality of appliance feature flows indicating the appliance characteristics from the flow rate, and a characteristic flow state of a specific appliance. At least one of the device string and the plurality of device-specific feature flow rates is held in a plurality of device-specific feature information holding means, the device feature code string extracted by the device feature extraction means, and the device-specific feature information holding means. An appliance feature extraction means comprising: an appliance discriminating means for discriminating a specific appliance by comparing at least one of an appliance-specific appliance-specific feature code sequence and a comparison between a plurality of appliance feature flow rates and a plurality of appliance-specific feature flows; The means stores the average value of the flow rate for the number of times of the code obtained by the difference value conversion means as the first characteristic flow of the instrument characteristic flow when the code in the predetermined range continues for the first predetermined number of times, After extracting the first feature flow rate, the appliance feature extraction means does not continue for the second predetermined number of times with the code in the predetermined range, but when it continues for the first predetermined number of times again, It stores the value as the second characteristic flow rate of the instrument, wherein the flow rate.

  In the flow rate measuring device according to the fourth invention of the present application, the second predetermined number of times is greater than the first predetermined number of times, and the instrument feature extracting means includes a code within a predetermined range among the codes obtained by the difference value converting means. 2 When a predetermined number of times is continued, the average value of the flow rate for the number of times is stored as the second characteristic flow rate.

  Hereinafter, a flow rate measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, a gas meter is given as an example of the flow rate measuring device, and the process will be described. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the components already described is omitted. In addition, this invention is not limited by embodiment described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gas meter 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gas meter 100 includes a gas flow path 102, a flow rate measuring unit 104, a measured flow rate information storage unit 106, a calculation unit 108, a flow rate classification table holding unit 110, a difference value conversion unit 112, and an appliance feature extraction unit 214. , Device discriminating means 116 and device unique feature information holding means 218. Further, the gas meter 100 includes a blocking means 122 that is disposed in the gas flow path 102 and blocks gas in an emergency or the like.

  The gas meter 100 is connected to the gas pipeline 19 on the upstream side, and connected to various gas appliances 13, 14, 15 such as a gas table, a fan heater, and floor heating on the downstream side.

  The flow rate measuring means 104 is, for example, an ultrasonic flow meter. The ultrasonic flowmeter measures the flow rate by emitting ultrasonic waves to the gas as the fluid flowing in the flow channel 102 at regular time intervals. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the flow rate measuring means 104. The flow rate measuring means 104 has a measurement flow path 30 having a rectangular cross section communicating with the gas flow path 102. A pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 31 and 32 are disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the opposing channel walls of the measurement channel 30. These ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 31 and 32 are set so that the ultrasonic propagation path obliquely crosses the gas flow flowing through the measurement flow path 30, and the ultrasonic waves are alternately transmitted / received, so that the ultrasonic flow is sequentially transmitted and received. Propagation of ultrasonic waves in the opposite direction. The direction of gas flow is indicated by arrows in FIG.

  At this time, the distance between the ultrasonic transceivers 31 and 32, that is, the measurement distance is L, the angle of the ultrasonic propagation path with respect to the gas flow is φ, and the ultrasonic propagation time from the upstream to the downstream of the ultrasonic transceivers 31 and 32 is If t1, the ultrasonic propagation time from downstream to upstream is t2, and the sound velocity is C, the flow velocity V can be obtained by the following equation.

The propagation time t1 until the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 31 reaches the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 32 is expressed by the following equation.
t1 = L / (C + Vcosφ) (1)

The propagation time t2 until the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 32 reaches the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 31 is expressed by the following equation.
t2 = L / (C-Vcosφ) (2)

When the sound velocity C of the fluid is eliminated from the equations (1) and (2), the following equation is obtained.
V = (L / (2cosφ)) x ((1 / t1)-(1 / t2)) (3)

  The instantaneous flow rate of the gas flow is calculated from the flow velocity V and the cross-sectional area of the measurement channel 30. The time interval for measuring the instantaneous flow rate is arbitrary. For example, an interval of 0.5 seconds may be used, or an interval of 1 second or 2 seconds may be used.

  The measured flow rate information storage unit 106 stores target data described in association with the measured flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring unit 104 and the measurement time when the measured flow rate value was measured.

  The computing unit 108 computes a difference value for each fixed time corresponding to the above-described ultrasonic wave emission interval of the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit 104. For example, when the flow rate (absolute flow rate) at a predetermined timing is 90 L / h (liters per hour) and the flow rate at the next timing is 120 L / h, the difference value at this time is 120−90 = 30 L / h Calculated.

  The flow rate classification table holding means 110 holds, for example, a flow rate classification table 110a in which a plurality of difference value categories corresponding to the magnitudes of the difference values and codes representing each category are associated as shown in FIG. The flow rate classification table 110a functions as a conversion table that classifies the absolute values of the measured difference values into predetermined categories and converts them into predetermined codes representing the categories. The number of segments in the flow rate classification table 110a is not particularly limited, but FIG. 3 shows an example of division into 16 codes. In addition, although the area | region where the flow volume was judged to be zero was mentioned, in the actual apparatus, since the flow volume measured has some dispersion | variation, it is not so much that it becomes completely zero. Accordingly, the flow rate becomes zero, including when the flow rate is substantially zero.

  In addition, the range of each section is subdivided with different flow rate intervals. For example, 10 L / h from code 1 to 5, 25 L / h from code 6 to B, 50 L / h from code C to D, 100 L / h from code E, etc. The smaller one is subdivided. Since there are many types of appliances in the region where the difference value is small, the discrimination accuracy can be increased by reducing the interval. Since codes A to F are 10 to 15 expressed in hexadecimal numbers, the codes can be used as numerical values for size comparison.

  The difference value conversion unit 112 converts the difference value calculated by the calculation unit 108 into a code representing a category into which the difference value for each predetermined time (ultrasonic emission) is classified based on the flow rate classification table 110a.

  The appliance feature extraction means 214 is an extracted code string indicating the characteristics of the appliance from the measurement code string, which is a string of codes obtained by actual measurement, based on the set of codes at regular intervals obtained by the difference value conversion means 112 Is generated. This measurement code string represents the fluid flow rate change in a pseudo manner. The appliance feature extraction means 214 records an extraction code string indicating the appliance features in a memory (not shown) as necessary. The appliance feature extraction unit 214 monitors the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit 104, and extracts a plurality of appliance feature flow rates indicating the appliance features such as a slow ignition flow rate of a fan heater from the flow rate transition. If necessary, it is recorded in a memory (not shown).

  The appliance discriminating means 116 discriminates a gas appliance using gas as a fluid based on the extracted code string extracted by the appliance feature extracting means 214 and the appliance feature flow rate. The appliance unique feature information holding unit 218 stores in advance, for each gas appliance, an appliance unique feature code sequence indicating a feature code sequence unique to the gas appliance and a plurality of appliance feature flow rates unique to the gas appliance. The appliance discriminating means 116 compares the extracted code string with the appliance unique feature code string stored in the appliance unique feature information holding means 218 and / or stores the measured gas flow rate and the appliance unique feature information holding means 218. A comparison is made with the instrument characteristic flow rate, and a gas instrument that uses gas is discriminated from the similarity or the like.

  The appliance feature extraction process in the flow rate measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  First, a flow rate (absolute flow rate) Q (n) and a previously measured flow rate Q (n−1) measured at a constant time interval (for example, 0.5 seconds) by the flow rate measurement unit 104 are measured flow rate information. It is temporarily stored in the storage means 106. Thereafter, the calculation means 108 calculates a difference value ΔQ (n) = Q (n) −Q (n−1), which is a difference between the flow rate Q (n) and the flow rate Q (n−1).

  The difference value conversion means 112 refers to the flow rate classification table 110a of FIG. 3 and uses the absolute value of the difference value ΔQ (n) calculated by the calculation means 108 as a code representing the classification into which the difference values for each fixed time are classified. Is converted into a division code. FIG. 4 shows an example of conversion using such a flow rate classification table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow characteristics when using the gas appliance, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transition of the code when using the gas appliance.

  When the gas appliance A (for example, a fan heater) corresponding to any of the gas appliances 13, 14, and 15 in FIG. 1 starts to start and a gas flow rate is generated, the measured flow rate is “flow rate value” in FIG. As shown in the graph of FIG. 5, the flow rate Q (n) = 0 to the flow rate Q (n) ≠ 0, and the flow rate changes according to the amount of gas used. Simultaneously with the measurement of the flow rate by the flow rate measuring unit 104, the calculation unit 108 calculates the difference value, and the conversion into the classification code is performed by the difference value conversion unit 112. The division codes obtained by converting the difference values are shown in the “Code” column of FIG.

  The appliance feature extraction means 214 is used when the code converted by the difference value conversion means 112 continues within a predetermined range (for example, code 1 to code 2) for a first predetermined number of times (for example, 3 to 5 times). The average value of the flow rate at that time is calculated and stored as an intermediate stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the portion where the codes 1 and 2 are continued three to five times corresponds to the time 3 to the time 5, and the flow rate 54 L / h for the time 3 and the flow rate 50 L / h for the time 4 and time. An average value 52 L / h with a flow rate 52 of 5 L / h is stored as an intermediate stable flow rate.

  In addition, the appliance feature extraction unit 214 determines that when the code converted by the difference value conversion unit 112 continues for a second predetermined number of times (for example, 6 times) within a predetermined range (for example, code 1 or more and code 2 or less). The average value of the flow rate is calculated and stored as a stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, time 11 to time 16 are applied to a portion where the codes 1 and 2 are continued six times. The average value of the flow rate 180L / h at time 11, the flow rate 184L / h at time 12, the flow rate 182L / h at time 13, the flow rate 180L / h at time 14, the flow rate 180L / h at time 15, and the flow rate 184L / h at time 16. 181.67 L / h is stored as a stable flow rate.

  As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 5, the stored intermediate stable flow rate corresponds to the slow ignition flow rate (between the change point I and the change point II of the graph), and the stable flow rate is the stable flow rate immediately after ignition (change point III of the graph). It can be seen that the instrument characteristic flow rate is sufficiently extracted.

  Further, as can be seen from the graph showing the transition of the code shown in FIG. 6, the appliance feature extraction means 214 indicates that the code peaks and valleys represent the change points I, II and III in FIG. [05141] is extracted from the code string [0511134333111111] and stored as an instrument feature code string.

  An instrument-specific intermediate stable flow rate, a stable flow rate, and an instrument feature code string, which are individual rising characteristics for each gas instrument, are stored in advance in the instrument-specific feature information holding means 218, and the intermediate stable flow rate and stability of the used gas instrument are stored. By comparing and determining the flow rate and the instrument characteristic code string, it is possible to determine whether the used gas instrument is one of a plurality of registered instruments or a new instrument.

  For example, the appliance unique feature information holding unit 218 stores in advance information such as an intermediate stable flow rate of 45 to 60 L / h, a stable flow rate of 170 to 190 L / h, and an appliance feature code string [05141] as a specific fan heater. In this case, since the detection result matches the content of this information, it can be determined that the appliance used is the specific fan heater.

  Next, a method for determining a gas appliance when a stable flow rate cannot be obtained will be described. Depending on how the gas appliance is used, the time to ignition may vary even with the same appliance. It is also conceivable that a stable flow rate does not continue until a stable flow rate can be obtained due to fluctuations in the flow rate, and a plurality of intermediate stable flow rates are detected without obtaining a stable flow rate. Even in such a case, it is desirable that the gas appliance can be accurately identified.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of code conversion using the flow rate classification table. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the flow characteristics when the gas appliance is used in this example, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the transition of the code when the gas appliance is used in this example.

  When the gas appliance A (for example, a fan heater) starts to be activated and a gas flow rate is generated, the measured flow rate is the flow rate Q (n) = as shown in the “flow value” in FIG. 7 and the graph in FIG. From 0, the flow rate Q (n) ≠ 0, and the flow rate changes according to the amount of gas used. Simultaneously with the measurement of the flow rate by the flow rate measuring unit 104, the calculation unit 108 calculates the difference value, and the conversion into the classification code is performed by the difference value conversion unit 112. The division codes obtained by converting the difference values are shown in the “Code” column of FIG.

  The appliance feature extraction means 214 is used when the code converted by the difference value conversion means 112 continues within a predetermined range (for example, code 1 to code 2) for a first predetermined number of times (for example, 3 to 5 times). The average value of the flow rate at that time is calculated and stored as an intermediate stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the portion in which the codes 1 and 2 are continued three to five times corresponds to the time 3 to the time 5, and the flow rate 52 L / h for the time 3 and the flow rate 46 L / h for the time 4 and time. An average value of 49.33 L / h with a flow rate of 50 L / h is stored as an intermediate stable flow rate.

  Next, the time 11 to the time 13 are detected as a portion in which the codes 1 and 2 are continued 3 to 5 times, but the portion in which the codes 1 and 2 are continued 6 times are not detected. That is, in this example, the stable flow rate cannot be detected due to the fluctuation of the flow rate, and the intermediate stable flow rate is detected twice.

  As described above, when the stable flow rate is not detected and the intermediate stable flow rate is detected twice, the appliance feature extraction unit 214 averages the flow rate of the portion (time 11 to time 13) detected as the second intermediate stable flow rate. Calculate the value and save it as a stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the average value 178 L / h of the flow rate 178 L / h at time 11, the flow rate 180 L / h at time 12, and the flow rate 176 L / h at time 13 is stored as a stable flow rate.

  Moreover, the appliance feature extraction means 214 extracts the peak value [05141] of the valley and valleys using the codes up to time 13 stored as the stable flow rate from the code sequence [0511134333111321], and stores them as the appliance feature code sequence. The instrument feature code string [05141] is the same as the instrument feature code string [05141] in the example described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, and the second detected portion as the intermediate stable flow rate is processed as the stable flow rate. By doing so, the instrument can be correctly identified.

  For example, the appliance-specific feature information holding unit 218 stores in advance information such as an intermediate stable flow rate of 45 to 60 L / h, a stable flow rate of 170 to 190 L / h, and an appliance feature code string [05141] as a specific fan heater. Since the above detection result matches the content of this information, it can be determined that the appliance used is the specific fan heater.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to specify the flow rate indicating the feature during the operation of the appliance and the flow rate indicating the stable feature even when there is a variation due to manual operation or the ignition state, and the accuracy is high. Instrument discrimination is possible.

  In addition, although the average value of the flow when the code of the predetermined range continued as the calculation method of the intermediate stable flow and the stable flow was shown, the average value was calculated by adding the previous flow that becomes the code of the predetermined range. Also good.

  In the above example, the characteristics of the gas appliance are extracted using the code. However, the characteristics of the gas appliance may be extracted from the value of the gas flow rate without using the code. For example, the appliance feature extraction unit 214 has the flow rate difference value ΔQ continuously within a predetermined range (for example, within a range of 0 L / h to 20 L / h) for the first predetermined number of times (for example, 3 to 5 times). In this case, an average value of the flow rate at that time may be calculated and stored as an intermediate stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the portion where the difference value ΔQ that is 0 L / h or more and 20 L / h or less continues from 3 to 5 applies from time 3 to time 5, and the flow rate 54 L / h at time 3 and time 4 The average value 52 L / h of the flow rate 50 L / h and the flow rate 52 L / h at time 5 is stored as an intermediate stable flow rate.

  In addition, the appliance feature extraction unit 214 determines that when the flow difference value ΔQ continues for a second predetermined number of times (for example, 6 times) within a predetermined range (for example, within a range of 0 L / h to 20 L / h), The average value of the flow rate is calculated and stored as a stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, time 11 to time 16 apply to a portion where the difference value ΔQ that is 0 L / h or more and 20 L / h or less continues six times. The average value of the flow rate 180L / h at time 11, the flow rate 184L / h at time 12, the flow rate 182L / h at time 13, the flow rate 180L / h at time 14, the flow rate 180L / h at time 15, and the flow rate 184L / h at time 16. 181.67 L / h is stored as a stable flow rate.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, the portion where the difference value ΔQ that is 0 L / h or more and 20 L / h or less continues from 3 times to 5 times corresponds to time 3 to time 5 and the flow rate of time 3 is 52 L / h. The average value 49.33 L / h of the flow rate 46 L / h at time 4 and the flow rate 50 L / h at time 5 is stored as an intermediate stable flow rate.

  Next, time 11 to time 13 are detected as a portion where the difference value ΔQ that becomes 0 L / h or more and 20 L / h or less continues from 3 to 5 times, but the difference value that becomes 0 L / h or more and 20 L / h or less. A portion where ΔQ continues six times is not detected. As described above, when the stable flow rate is not detected and the intermediate stable flow rate is detected twice, the appliance feature extraction unit 214 averages the flow rate of the portion (time 11 to time 13) detected as the second intermediate stable flow rate. Calculate the value and save it as a stable flow rate. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the average value 178 L / h of the flow rate 178 L / h at time 11, the flow rate 180 L / h at time 12, and the flow rate 176 L / h at time 13 is stored as a stable flow rate.

  In this way, the characteristics of the gas appliance may be extracted from the value of the gas flow rate without using a code, and the flow rate indicating the characteristics during the operation of the appliance even when there are variations due to manual operation or ignition conditions, and the characteristics at the time of stability. It is possible to specify the flow rate to be shown, and it is possible to accurately determine the appliance.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the gas meter 100. The gas meter 100 includes a central processing circuit (CPU) 210, a memory 220, a flow rate measuring unit 104, and a blocking unit 122.

  The CPU 210 executes a computer program 230 stored in the memory 220. The computer program 230 describes the various processes described above. The CPU 210 executes various processes of the calculation means 108, the difference value conversion means 112, the appliance feature extraction means 214, and the appliance determination means 116 shown in FIG. The memory 220 is controlled by the CPU 210 and operates as the measured flow rate information storage unit 106, the flow rate classification table holding unit 110, and the appliance unique feature information holding unit 218. In this way, the various processes described above are executed using the CPU 210 and the memory 220, and the appliance can be discriminated with high accuracy.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The above description of the embodiment is an exemplification of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In addition, an embodiment in which the components described in the above-described embodiments are appropriately combined is also possible. The present invention can be modified, replaced, added and omitted within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  The present invention is particularly useful in the technical field of discriminating an instrument that uses a fluid.

13, 14, 15 Gas appliance 19 Gas pipe line 100 Gas meter 102 Gas flow path 104 Flow rate measurement means 106 Measurement flow rate information storage means 108 Calculation means 110 Flow rate division table holding means 112 Difference value conversion means 116 Appliance discrimination means 122 Shut off means 214 Appliance Feature extraction means 218 Instrument-specific feature information holding means

Claims (4)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path at regular time intervals;
Appliance feature extraction means for extracting a plurality of appliance feature flow rates indicating the characteristics of the appliance from the flow rate measured by the flow measurement means;
Device-specific feature information holding means for holding a plurality of characteristic flow states of a specific device as device-specific feature flows;
The plurality of appliance feature flows extracted by the appliance feature extraction unit and the plurality of appliance specific feature flows held by the appliance-specific feature information holding unit are compared to determine the specific appliance. Instrument discrimination means;
With
When the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit continues for a first predetermined number of times within a predetermined range, the appliance feature extraction unit stores an average value of the flow rate for the number of times as the first characteristic flow rate of the appliance feature flow rate. And
After the first feature flow rate is extracted, the appliance feature extraction means does not continue for the second predetermined number of times with the flow rate within the predetermined range. Is stored as the second characteristic flow rate of the instrument characteristic flow rate. The second predetermined number of times is greater than the first predetermined number of times,
When the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit continues for the second predetermined number of times within the predetermined range, the appliance feature extraction unit stores an average value of the flow rate for the number of times as the second characteristic flow rate. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1. A flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path at regular time intervals;
A calculation means for calculating a difference value of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement means for every predetermined time;
A flow rate classification table holding means for holding a flow rate classification table in which a plurality of differential value categories according to the magnitude of the difference value and a code representing each division are associated;
Difference value conversion means for converting the difference value calculated by the calculation means into the code based on the flow rate classification table;
A process of generating an appliance feature code string indicating the appliance feature from the code obtained at regular intervals by the difference value conversion means, and a plurality of appliance feature flow rates indicating the appliance features from the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement means Appliance feature extraction means for performing at least one of the processes of extracting
Device-specific feature information holding means for holding a plurality of characteristic flow states of a specific device as at least one of the device-specific feature code string and the plurality of device-specific feature flows;
A comparison between the appliance feature code string extracted by the appliance feature extraction means and an appliance-specific appliance feature code string held in the appliance-specific feature information holding means, and a plurality of appliance feature flow rates and a plurality of appliance specifics A device discriminating means for discriminating the specific device by performing at least one of comparison with a characteristic flow rate;
With
The appliance feature extraction means, when codes in a predetermined range among the codes obtained by the difference value conversion means continue for the first predetermined number of times, the average value of the flow rate for that number of times is the first characteristic of the appliance feature flow rate. Save as flow rate,
The appliance feature extraction means, after extracting the first feature flow rate, does not continue for the second predetermined number of times with the code of the predetermined range, but when the first predetermined number of times continues again, the average value of the flow rate for that number of times Is stored as the second characteristic flow rate of the instrument characteristic flow rate. The second predetermined number of times is greater than the first predetermined number of times,
The appliance feature extraction means, when the code in the predetermined range among the codes obtained by the difference value conversion means continues for the second predetermined number of times, calculates an average value of the flow rate for that number of times as the second characteristic flow rate. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 3, stored as

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