JPH07106230B2 - Gas shutoff valve controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The present invention particularly relates to a control device for a gas cutoff valve, which is provided with a mechanism capable of avoiding a danger when a manual return switch is continuously pressed. Regarding

(Prior Art) A gas meter with a gas cutoff valve mechanism has a valve body driven by a self-holding bidirectional solenoid in the flow path, and the flow rate of the metering unit is detected by a sensor, causing an abnormal flow rate. In this case, for example, when gas continues to be sent due to a gas leak, etc., even though the gas equipment is not operating, the cutoff valve is cut off by sending a cutoff pulse to the solenoid by manually inputting the manual cutoff switch. An increase in the flow rate is detected inside the gas meter, and when this value is equal to or greater than a certain reference value, a cutoff pulse is applied to the solenoid to close the flow path.

In order to reopen the flow path, a manual return switch is manually input to apply a return pulse to the solenoid to release the flow path.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart thereof, and FIG. 6 is a time chart. When it is judged that the flow rate is abnormal, the control unit, that is, the CPU, outputs one pulse cutoff pulse “+1” to perform the cutoff operation of the cutoff valve. . The shutoff valve is provided with a sensor for detecting the opening / closing operation, and when the shutoff operation is detected, the sensor is maintained in that state (steps 1 to 3). Further, even when there is no flow rate abnormality, the shutoff operation is performed by manually operating the manual shutoff switch (steps 4 to 6).

In the cutoff state, the solenoid is self-holding and the output of the controller is "0". When the return switch is pressed in this state, it is determined that there is no abnormality, and the control unit outputs one pulse of the valve return signal “−1”, and as a result, the solenoid is driven to the release side of the valve body, and the control unit Even if the output of the signal returns to "0", it is held in its released state by itself (steps 7 to 9).

In other words, a gas meter with a shutoff valve having an abnormal configuration can shut off the flow path manually, and automatically shuts off the flow path when a gas leak occurs, and then the repair of the gas leak portion is surely performed. On the premise of this, a manual restoration method is adopted.

In this configuration, even if the manual return switch is input while the gas leakage state is not repaired, the flow path is once released, but the sensor value immediately exceeds the reference value, so the cutoff pulse is output again, Immediately after input operation, it will be closed again to ensure safety.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, even if the gas leakage still occurs, the return switch continues to be pressed as shown in FIG. 5 when mistakenly mistaken for a normal return or due to bad faith or mischief. There are cases.

In this case, the control unit outputs a return pulse "-1" as shown in FIG. This state continues for a while from the point where there is no gas flow on the terminal side at the beginning of output, and then the sensor detects an abnormality and a cut-off pulse “+1” is output.

Therefore, the cutoff and the return state are repeated alternately for a predetermined time while the return switch is being pressed, and as a result, the solenoid alternately repeats the flow path release and the cutoff, ensuring the gas cutoff. Can't do
There is a risk of accidental self-injury.

Further, the flow rate sensor, the control unit and the solenoid are driven by a lithium battery built in the meter as a power source,
The battery life is set based on the assumption that the gas meter should be replaced, that is, about 5 years after the gas meter has been installed.

Therefore, in the case where the above-mentioned interruption and restoration are repeated alternately, the battery may be unnecessarily consumed and the battery life may end before the meter replacement time.

The present invention solves the problem of abnormality, and when the manual return switch is kept pressed for a certain judgment reference time or longer, the input is prohibited to prevent the aforementioned accidental accident and shorten the battery life. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for a gas cutoff valve that is to be prevented in advance.

[Means for Solving the Problems] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a valve body that opens and closes a gas passage, a self-holding bidirectional solenoid that drives the valve body to open and close, and a gas. A means for detecting an abnormality in the flow path, a determination means for determining the presence or absence of an abnormal situation by receiving a detection output from the abnormality detection means, a manual return switch for releasing the flow path, and a state in which the abnormal situation occurs. In a gas cutoff valve control device comprising a solenoid control means for outputting a cutoff pulse to a solenoid and outputting a return pulse to the solenoid in response to an input of the manual return switch: The detection means is provided with a prohibiting means for prohibiting the input of the manual return switch when the input time exceeds the determination reference time.

(Operation) With the above configuration, if the manual return switch is kept pressed in an abnormal state, the output of the return pulse will stop,
It is self-maintained in the cutoff state.

(Embodiment of the Invention) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a gas meter with a built-in shutoff valve according to the present invention.

The gas meter in FIG. 1 has a gas inlet 2a and a gas outlet 2b forming a flow path on both sides inside the meter housing 1, and is provided with a metering unit 2 for converting this motion into a rotary motion as the gas flows. At the same time, a shut-off valve mechanism including a self-holding type bidirectional solenoid 5 having a valve body 4 projecting from a nozzle 3 provided near the gas inlet 2a and a motion detecting sensor 5a attached to the solenoid 5 is provided. .

Further, a rotary disk 6 that rotates in synchronization with the internal rotary motion of the metering section 2 projects above the metering section 2, and the rotation of the rotary disk 6 is detected by a flow sensor 7.

Further, the housing 1 is provided with a manual return switch 8a for returning the flow path, a manual cutoff switch 8b, and a display section 9 for both flow rate measurement and abnormality display.

These solenoid 5, operation detection sensor 5a, flow rate sensor 7, manual reset and shutoff switches 8a, 8b, display unit 9
Are connected to the CPU 11 via the input / output interface 10, and these are driven by a battery (not shown) incorporated in the housing 1 as a power source.

In the normal state, the solenoid 5 keeps the valve body 4 in an open state, flows to the gas equipment side through the gas metering section 2, and the metering section 2 rotates according to the usage state of the gas apparatus, so that the rotating disk 6 rotates. The flow rate sensor 7 detects accordingly.

The CPU 11 receives the detection signal of the flow rate sensor 7 and sequentially displays the integrated value according to the flow rate on the display section 9 and has the function shown in FIG.

That is, the abnormality detection means 11a corresponding to the output of the flow rate sensor 7 described above, the manual switches 8a and 8b, the operation detection sensor 5a.
Opening / closing operation means that judges the opening / closing of the flow path by receiving the signal from the
11b, a shutoff valve driving means 11c for outputting valve opening / closing by pulse output by each of these means 11a, 11b, and timing means 11d for monitoring the opening operation duration by the opening / closing operation means 11b.
And a shutoff valve opening operation prohibiting means 11e based on the time measurement result.

Then, various abnormal states are discriminated and the following FIG.
The processes shown in the flowchart of (b) and the time chart of FIG. 4 are sequentially executed.

FIG. 3 (a) shows a main processing program. When an abnormal state such as a gas leak occurs from the normal state, the rotation speed of the rotary disk 6 becomes faster than usual. As a result, the detection output of the flow sensor 7 increases,
The CPU 11 compares this detected value with the upper limit value of the pre-programmed output, and when this value exceeds the upper limit value, applies a shutoff pulse "+1" to the solenoid 5 to shut off the valve body 4. The gas supply to the measuring unit 2 is cut off. In this state, the solenoid 5 is self-held and keeps the cutoff state. That is, the states of steps 111 to 113 are repeated (fourth
See figure).

In addition, it is determined whether the interruption in step 112 is performed by the motion detection sensor 5a.
It is confirmed by the output state of.

When the flow path is blocked, the flow rate sensor 7 does not detect any abnormality, so that the CPU 11 determines in step 111 that there is no abnormality.

When the manual shutoff switch 8b is turned on in step 114 in the normal state or in the state where it is determined that there is no abnormality due to the above processing result, the shutoff operation is performed after the shutoff state of the solenoid 5 is confirmed, and the steps are performed again through steps 115 and 116. Return to 111 and monitor for any anomalies.

In step 117, the manual return switch 8a is manually
If NO, and if the flow path is released in step 118, the flow returns to step 111 to monitor the presence / absence of abnormality.

Further, in steps 118 and 119, the flag F1 = 0, that is, in a state where the interrupt processing result described later is not output, the valve is released after a predetermined time delay after the return switch 8a is input, and the flow returns to step 111 again to monitor the presence or absence of abnormality. (See FIG. 4).

The processes up to the above are similar to the conventional example.

However, when the valve opening prohibition process is performed by the interrupt process in step 119 and the flag F1 is set to 1, it is confirmed whether or not the manual return switch 8a remains in the ON state, and the manual return switch 8a is turned off. Flag F
1 ← 0, that is, the valve opening prohibition process is cleared, and the process returns to step 111 again.

FIG. 3B shows an example of the interrupt processing program,
The process is performed once at a predetermined time during the execution of the main program (a), and if the return switch 8a is turned off during the interrupt process, the process returns to the main program (a) (steps 211 to 21).
3). When the ON state continues, the timer is set in the initial state F2 = 0, and the timer count state is entered by inserting F2 ← 1.
F1 ← 1 is set and the prohibition process is performed, the initial state becomes F2 ← 0 again, and the process returns to the main program (a) again (step 214).
~ 219).

In other words, in this interrupt process, if the return switch 8a is continuously pressed for more than the set time T seconds, the valve is kept in the closed state even if it is determined that there is no abnormality as a result of the flow rate being exhausted. The prohibiting means is released by turning off the return switch 8a.

In addition, the set time T of the timer is the detection delay of the abnormality, the return pulse from the CPU 11 after pressing the return switch 8a is "-1".
Considering the output delay time of the above, as shown in FIG. 4, it is set to the minimum necessary time for performing one cycle of shutoff-return-re-shutdown, and it is preferable to set it to about 30 seconds for practical use. .

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, in the control device for a gas cutoff valve according to the present invention, when the manual return switch is continuously pressed in an abnormal state, the output of the return pulse is stopped and the return pulse is cut off. Since it is self-maintained as it is, it has the advantage that it can prevent self-damage due to negligence or malicious intent, mischief, etc., and it can also prevent excessive consumption of the built-in battery. The safety and durability of can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the overall configuration of a gas meter with a built-in shutoff valve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a CPU, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control method, FIG. 4 is the same time chart, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a conventional control method, and FIG. 6 is a time chart in the case of repeating the conventional recovery and cutoff operation at the time of abnormality. 1 …… Meter housing 2 …… Measuring section 4 …… Valve disc 5 …… Self-holding type bidirectional solenoid 7 …… Sensor 8a …… Manual reset switch 11 …… CPU (prohibition means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A valve body for opening / closing a gas flow path, a self-holding bidirectional solenoid for driving the valve body to open / close, a means for detecting an abnormality in the gas flow path, and a detection output from the abnormality detection means. Means for determining whether or not there is an abnormal situation, a manual return switch for releasing the flow path, and a cutoff pulse output to the solenoid when an abnormal situation occurs, and the solenoid is returned to the solenoid by the input of the manual return switch. In a control device for a gas cutoff valve equipped with solenoid control means for outputting a pulse: Detecting the input time of the manual return switch at the time of abnormality, and manually returning when this input time exceeds the judgment reference time A control device for a gas cutoff valve, comprising a prohibiting means for prohibiting input of a switch.