JP7370447B2 - gas meter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter having a seismic sensor that detects earthquakes using acceleration values in three axial directions.

Conventionally, this type of seismic sensor installed in gas meters, etc. is equipped with an acceleration sensor in three axial directions, calculates an index value (for example, SI value) based on the acceleration value, and calculates a predetermined value or more than the calculated index value. It is now possible to determine that an earthquake is on the scale of , and cut off the gas supply.

However, since the seismic sensor uses a microcontroller, there is a problem that the current consumption increases due to calculation processing, and depending on the environment in which the gas meter is installed, noise from vehicle traffic, construction work, etc. may also be measured. There is a problem of erroneously determining that such environmental noise is an earthquake, and as a solution to this problem, methods have been proposed to prevent erroneously determining an earthquake due to environmental noise and to suppress the increase in power consumption of seismic sensors. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 9 shows a conventional gas meter equipped with a seismic sensor described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the gas meter 100 includes a seismic sensor 106, a cutoff section 101 such as a cutoff valve, a flow rate measurement section 102 that measures the flow rate of gas, a return operation section 103 such as a return switch, and an external device. It is composed of an external communication section 104 that communicates with the external communication section 104, and a control section 105 that controls each section.

The seismic sensor 106 includes, for example, an acceleration sensor 107 that measures acceleration in three axial directions, and a microcontroller 111 that acquires acceleration values of the acceleration sensor 107, performs predetermined calculations, and performs various controls such as earthquake determination. , an input unit 108 that communicates with the control unit 105 , an output unit 109 that outputs a cutoff signal, etc. when the microcontroller 111 determines that there is an earthquake, and a memory that holds various data of the seismic sensor 106 110.

When the seismic sensor 106 detects a vibration using the acceleration sensor 107, the microcontroller 111 shifts from the "power saving mode" to the "measurement mode" (not shown) and performs a predetermined earthquake determination. The earthquake determination is configured such that predetermined processing is performed using a determination period divided into a plurality of processing units, and when it is determined that there is no earthquake, the mode returns from the "measurement mode" to the "power saving mode." The "power saving mode" of the seismic sensor 106 lowers the acceleration measurement frequency (longens the measurement interval) and operates the microcontroller 111 in sleep mode compared to the "measurement mode". It is in an operating state that minimizes power consumption.

On the other hand, the "measurement mode" of the seismic sensor 106 increases the acceleration measurement frequency (shortens the measurement period) and operates the microcontroller 111 in the active mode, compared to the "power saving mode". (for example, SI value) is appropriately executed, and power consumption increases.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-151290

However, in the conventional configuration, if it is determined that the vibration is not due to an earthquake, the increase in power consumption can be suppressed for each environmental noise signal etc. by switching to the power saving mode. In the environment where the gas meter is installed, for example, in areas where vehicles are passing or near construction sites, it is assumed that vibrations similar to earthquakes will always occur, and the seismic sensor will determine whether an earthquake has been detected each time vibration occurs. This poses a problem in that earthquake detection by seismic sensors is frequently repeated, resulting in increased power consumption.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a gas meter that can stop earthquake detection by a seismic sensor depending on the installation environment of the gas meter.

In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the gas meter of the present invention includes a cutoff valve that shuts off gas, a flow rate measuring means that measures the flow rate of gas, and an earthquake sensor that detects vibration and uses the obtained vibration acceleration value. A seismic sensor for detecting an earthquake, a seismic cut-off determining means for instructing seismic cut-off when the seismic motion sensor detects an earthquake, a return means for restoring the cut-off, and an external communication means for communicating with an external device. and a control means for controlling each of the above-mentioned means, the gas meter having an earthquake detection stop means for stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor according to a predetermined stop condition.

This makes it possible to stop earthquake detection by the seismic sensor depending on the installation environment, and prevents an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring. be able to.

The gas meter of the present invention can stop earthquake detection by the seismic sensor when vibrations are constantly occurring in the installation environment of the gas meter, so that the power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor can be minimized. can.

Block diagram of a gas meter in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic flowchart in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic flowchart in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic flowchart in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Block diagram of a gas meter in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Schematic flowchart in Embodiment 4 of the present invention Block diagram of a gas meter in Embodiment 5 of the present invention Schematic flowchart in Embodiment 5 of the present invention Block diagram of gas meter in conventional technology

The first invention provides a shutoff valve that shuts off gas, a flow rate measuring means that measures the flow rate of gas, a seismic sensor that detects vibration and detects an earthquake based on the acceleration value of the vibration obtained, and the seismic sensor. A seismic cut-off determination means that issues a seismic cut-off instruction when the sensor detects an earthquake, a return means that restores the cut-off, an external communication means that communicates with an external device, and a control means that controls each of the above-mentioned means. The gas meter has an earthquake detection stop means that stops earthquake detection by the seismic sensor under a predetermined stop condition, whereby the earthquake detection stop means stops earthquake detection by the seismic sensor under the predetermined stop condition. Therefore, in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring, it is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor.

In a second invention, particularly in the first invention, the predetermined stop condition is a stop command from the external device by the external communication means, and the external device can cause the earthquake detection stop means to be activated as necessary. Since earthquake detection by the seismic sensor is stopped, an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor can be prevented in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the first aspect, the predetermined stop condition is set by disabling the seismic cutoff determining means, and by setting the seismic cutoff determining means to be invalid. Since the earthquake detection stop means automatically stops earthquake detection by the seismic sensor, in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring, the seismic cutoff determination means is disabled to avoid false shutoffs. , it is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is particularly based on the first aspect, further comprising a vibration detection frequency counting means for counting the number of vibration detections by the seismic sensor, and determining the predetermined stop condition as a frequency of the vibration detection frequency counting means. The device stops when the count value reaches a predetermined number of times or more, and when the number of vibration detections by the vibration detection number counting means reaches a predetermined number or more, the earthquake detection stop means automatically stops earthquake detection by the seismic sensor. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the seismic sensor without making any settings using an external device and in accordance with the frequency of actual vibration detection even in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring. can do.

In a fifth invention, particularly in the fourth invention, the vibration detection frequency counting means counts the number of earthquake detections.

A sixth invention, particularly in any one of the first to fifth inventions, further comprises earthquake detection state display means for displaying that earthquake detection of the seismic sensor has been stopped by the earthquake detection stop means, It becomes easier to visually see that the seismic sensor has stopped detecting earthquakes, and it becomes easier to understand the setting status of the gas meter, allowing for efficient on-site inspection work.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a gas meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a gas meter 1 includes a seismic sensor 2 that detects vibration and performs earthquake detection based on the acceleration value of the vibration obtained, and a seismic cutoff determination based on settings from an external communication means 9. When it is possible to select whether or not the seismic cutoff is possible, the seismic cutoff determination means 6 determines the seismic cutoff based on the earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2, the cutoff valve 4 cuts off the gas supply, and the A return means 3 such as a switch, an earthquake detection stop means 5 that stops earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 under predetermined stop conditions, a flow rate measurement means 8 that measures the flow rate of gas, and an external device (not shown). It is comprised of an external communication means 9 for communicating with each other, and a control means 7 for controlling each of the above means.

Next, the operation of stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 of the gas meter 1 will be explained using FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

The control means 7 in FIG. 1 determines whether a predetermined stop condition in FIG. 2 is satisfied (step S1 in FIG. 2). If the stop condition is satisfied (YES in step S1), the seismic sensor 2 stops detecting an earthquake (step S2 in FIG. 2).

Further, if the stop condition is not satisfied (step S1 is NO), it is determined whether the start condition is satisfied (step S3 in FIG. 2). If the start condition is met (YES in step S3), the earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 is started (resume) (step S4 in FIG. 2).

In FIG. 1, when the control means 7 determines that a predetermined stop condition has been met, the seismic sensor 2 stops earthquake detection, and sends an earthquake detection stop instruction to the earthquake detection stop means 5. Then, the earthquake detection stop means 5 causes the seismic sensor 2 to stop earthquake detection.

For example, when detecting an earthquake in an operation mode that detects vibrations (e.g., "measurement mode"), the seismic sensor 2 can be stopped in an operation mode that does not measure acceleration (e.g., "measuring mode"). , ``stop mode or sleep mode'' with the lowest current consumption, or ``another operation mode that does not detect vibrations (operation mode other than earthquake detection, etc.)'').

When the seismic sensor 2 stops detecting an earthquake, the power consumption of the seismic sensor 2 itself is minimized and it no longer detects vibrations, so the earthquake detection signal is also output to the seismic cutoff determination means 6. Therefore, seismic isolation does not occur.

Note that the stop conditions and start conditions can be set from the outside using the external communication means 9, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, a control command is received by the external communication means 9 (step S5 in FIG. 3), and instead of step S1 in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not this control command is a stop command (step S6 in FIG. 3). By determining whether this control command is a start command instead of step S3 (step S7 in FIG. 3), it is possible to stop or start earthquake detection by the seismic sensor from the outside.

As described above, in this embodiment, by receiving a predetermined stop condition (for example, a stop command from an external device (not shown)) and stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2, The sensor 2 no longer performs vibration detection or calculation processing, and current consumption due to the operation of the seismic sensor 2 can be minimized.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 shows a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the system configuration is the same as that in FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the seismic isolation determining means 6 receives the earthquake detection signal from the seismic sensor 2 and determines seismic isolation. When the seismic isolation determining means 6 determines the seismic isolation, the control means 7 Shut off the shutoff valve 4. This seismic cutoff determining means 6 can set whether or not seismic cutoff can be determined by, for example, an external device (not shown) such as a monitoring center or a setting device.

Next, the operation of setting the seismic cutoff determination means 6 to determine whether seismic cutoff is possible and setting the conditions for stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 will be described.

In FIG. 4, a control command is received by the external communication means 9 (step S5 in FIG. 4).

Next, the control means 7 determines whether the control command is a command to invalidate (stop) the seismic isolation (step S8 in FIG. 4).

Next, when the control means 7 determines that the command is to disable (stop) the seismic cutoff (step S8 is YES), the control means 7 issues a judgment stop command to the seismic cutoff determination means 6, and the seismic cutoff judgment is performed. The means 6 stops the determination of seismic isolation (step S9 in FIG. 4).

Then, the control means 7 instructs the earthquake detection stop means 5 to stop earthquake detection, and the earthquake detection stop means 5 stops the seismic sensor 2 from detecting an earthquake (step S2 in FIG. 4).

The above is the procedure for stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 in conjunction with stopping the seismic cutoff determining means 6.

On the other hand, in step S8, if the control means 7 determines that the command is not to disable (stop) the seismic cutoff (step S8 is NO), the control means 7 determines that the command is not to disable (start) the seismic cutoff. It is determined whether or not (step S10 in FIG. 4).

Next, when the control means 7 determines that the command is to enable (start) the seismic cutoff (step S10 is YES), the control means 7 issues a judgment start command to the seismic cutoff determination means 6, and the seismic cutoff is determined. The means 6 starts (restarts) the determination of seismic isolation (step S11 in FIG. 4).

Then, the control means 7 issues an instruction to start earthquake detection to the earthquake detection and stop means 5, and the earthquake detection and stop means 5 causes the seismic sensor 2 to start (restart) earthquake detection (step S4 in FIG. 4).

The above is the procedure for starting earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 in conjunction with starting the seismic cutoff determining means 6.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, upon receiving a seismic cutoff stop command from an external device (not shown), the seismic cutoff determination means 6 stops the seismic cutoff determination. By setting this as a condition for stopping the earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2, the earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 can be automatically stopped, and the seismic sensor 2 will not perform vibration detection or calculation processing. Current consumption due to the operation of the seismic sensor 2 can be minimized.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a gas meter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

5, the difference from FIG. 1 used in Embodiment 1 is that vibration detection frequency counting means 10 is added, and those with the same reference numerals have the same structure, and the explanation will be omitted.

Further, in this embodiment, the predetermined stop condition of Embodiment 1 is that the cumulative number of times vibrations have been detected by the seismic sensor 2 has exceeded a predetermined number.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the stop condition will be explained using FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, the number of vibration detections of the seismic sensor 2 is counted by the vibration detection frequency counting means 10 (step S12 in FIG. 6).

Next, the control means 7 determines whether the number count value by the vibration detection number counting means 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of determination times (step S13 in FIG. 6). When it is determined that the number of times counted by the vibration detection number counting means 10 is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of determinations (YES in step S13), the control means 7 issues an instruction to stop the earthquake detection to the earthquake detection stop means 5, and stops the earthquake detection. The means 5 stops the seismic sensor 2 from detecting an earthquake (step S2 in FIG. 6).

The above is the procedure for stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 when the count value of the vibration detection frequency counting means 10 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined determination number of times.

It should be noted that the fact that the vibration detection frequency count value of the vibration detection frequency counting means 10 has exceeded a predetermined determination frequency may be displayed on a display means (not shown), or the external communication means 9 may be used to communicate with an external device (for example, a monitoring center). ) may be notified. Further, the shutoff valve 4 may be closed to allow the gas company to conduct a safety inspection or the like.

Further, the count value of the vibration detection frequency counting means 10 is the cumulative number of vibration detections, but it may also be the frequency of vibration detections, that is, the number of vibration detections per unit time.

The count value of the vibration detection count means 10 is cleared periodically, or if no vibration is detected for a predetermined period of time, or cleared by an external clear command from the external communication means 9. It may be configured.

On the other hand, in step S13, when it is determined that the number count value by the vibration detection number counting means 10 is less than the predetermined number of determinations (NO in step S13), the control means 7 determines whether or not a predetermined starting condition is satisfied. (Step S3 in FIG. 6). Here, the predetermined start condition may be, for example, a start command from an external device, or an earthquake caused by the vibration detection caused by the cancellation of the state in which the number of times the vibration detection number counting means 10 has reached a predetermined number of times or more. It may also be an instruction to restart earthquake detection by the sensor 2.

When the control means 7 determines that the predetermined start condition is satisfied (YES in step S3), it issues an instruction to the earthquake detection and stop means 5 to start earthquake detection, and the earthquake detection and stop means 5 detects the earthquake detected by the seismic sensor 2. Detection is started (resume) (step S4 in FIG. 6).

As described above, after the earthquake detection of the seismic sensor 2 is stopped in conjunction with the number of times counted by the vibration detection number counting means 10 becoming equal to or more than the predetermined judgment number, the earthquake detection of the seismic sensor 2 is performed according to the predetermined start condition. This is the procedure for starting (resuming).

Note that the target of the frequency count by the vibration detection frequency counting means 10 may be not the number of vibration detections but the number of earthquake detections, or may be related to the time during which vibration detection continues. , the above may be counted in combination.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of vibration detections of the seismic sensor 2 is counted by the vibration detection number counting means 10, and when the number of times the number count value becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined number of judgments is set as a stop condition, automatic By temporarily stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2, the sensor can be adjusted according to the frequency of actual vibration detection, without having to configure settings using an external device, and even in an environment where vibrations are constantly occurring. It is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption due to earthquake detection by the earthquake sensor.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a gas meter in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

7, the difference from FIG. 1 used in Embodiment 1 is that an earthquake detection state display means 11 is added, and those with the same reference numerals have the same structure, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in this embodiment, the state in which earthquake detection of the seismic sensor 2 has been stopped and the state in which it has started is displayed on the earthquake detection state display means 11 according to the predetermined stop condition of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. The display operation will be explained using FIG. 8 based on the differences from the schematic flowchart of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 8, steps S1 to S4 are processed in the same way as in FIG. Then, the earthquake detection state display means 11 executes a display according to the stop/start state of earthquake detection of the seismic sensor 2 (step S14 in FIG. 8).

Note that the display of the earthquake detection state display means 11 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an LED display.

As described above, in this embodiment, by displaying the stop/start state of earthquake detection by the seismic sensor 2 on the earthquake detection state display means 11, it is possible to indicate that the seismic sensor has stopped detecting an earthquake. By making it easier to visually check and understand the setting status of the gas meter, on-site inspection work can be carried out more efficiently.

As described above, the gas meter according to the present invention can stop the seismic sensor from detecting earthquakes in an installation environment where there is constant vibration. It can also be applied to other uses.

1 Gas meter 2 Seismic sensor 3 Restoration means 4 Shutoff valve 5 Earthquake detection stop means 6 Earthquake detection shutoff judgment means 7 Control means 8 Flow rate measurement means 9 External communication means 10 Vibration detection frequency counting means 11 Earthquake detection status display means

Claims (2)

A shutoff valve that shuts off the gas, a flow rate measuring means that measures the flow rate of the gas, a seismic sensor that detects vibration and detects an earthquake based on the acceleration value of the vibration obtained, and the seismic sensor detects an earthquake. a seismic cutoff determination means for issuing an instruction to seismic cutoff, a return means for restoring the cutoff, an external communication means for communicating with an external device, the flow rate measuring means, the seismic cutoff determination means, and the external A gas meter comprising: a control means for controlling a communication means,
comprising an earthquake detection stop means for stopping earthquake detection by the seismic sensor according to a predetermined stop condition,
The predetermined stop condition is that a control command input by the external communication means stops the seismic cutoff determination by the seismic cutoff determination means;
gas meter. 2. The gas meter according to claim 1, further comprising earthquake detection state display means for displaying that earthquake detection by said seismic sensor has been stopped by said earthquake detection stop means.

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