JPH0731552B2 - Gas shutoff device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas shutoff device that automatically shuts off a gas passage when an abnormality occurs to prevent an accident such as an explosion or poisoning caused by city gas or propane gas. Regarding

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional gas shutoff device of this type is as shown in FIG.
A flow rate measuring means 1 which emits a signal according to the amount of gas passing through a gas meter provided in the gas supply line, a use state detecting section 2 which detects a use state of gas by a flow rate signal sent from the flow rate measuring means, and a gas. An initial condition storage unit 3 that stores proper use conditions as initial values in advance, and a proper use condition determination unit 4 that intercepts an abnormal condition when a signal from the use state detection unit deviates from the gas proper use condition and outputs a cutoff signal. A shutoff means 5 for shutting off the gas passage in response to the shutoff signal; a shutoff means return signal generator 6 for detecting a state when the shutoff means is opened to restore the signal; A timer 7 for counting, a start signal applying means 8 for activating the timer, and a signal from the usage state detector for storing the gas use state during the timer operation and the stored use. Usage condition storage calculation unit 9 for calculating usage conditions based on conditions, and an appropriate usage condition setting change unit for comparing the output of the usage condition storage operation unit with the initial condition and changing the setting of a predetermined value as a new appropriate usage condition. It was composed of 10 and.

Here, the proper use conditions are the total flow rate (m ³ / h) set according to the capacity of each gas meter, the individual maximum flow rate (m ³ / h),
Indicates items such as safety continuous use time (minutes). The total flow rate is the total flow rate of the gas that passes through the gas meter within the specified measurement period.If the current total flow rate exceeds the specified value that was initially set when the gas hose was disconnected or the gas appliances burned out, it was judged as abnormal. Judgment is a use condition for operating the interruption device. With the individual maximum flow rate, how many kinds of gas appliances are currently used by detecting the change in gas flow rate every predetermined measurement period,
It identifies how much gas consumption each has, and when the maximum gas consumption in it exceeds the set value, it outputs a closing signal to the breaker, and when the gas hose is cracked or the gas plug is half-opened. Coping with gas leakage such as combustion extinction. In addition, the safe continuous use time is the continuous usable time set for each range from the statistical data of the time when the gas appliance in a certain combustion range is continuously used, and the data from the usage state detection unit is set as described above. When the time is exceeded, an operation signal will be sent to the circuit breaker to ensure safety even if you forget to turn off the gas appliance.

With the above-described configuration, when the activation signal is applied to the timer, counting of a predetermined time is started, and at the same time, the gas usage pattern during the time is measured by the operation of the usage status storage / calculation unit. That is, during this time, the above-mentioned measured values of the total flow rate, individual maximum flow rate, continuous use time, etc. are updated, and the final data stored and updated when the timer ends (for example, the total flow rate condition is 1.0 (m ³ / h)) is multiplied by a predetermined value in the usage state storage calculation unit (for example, 1.5 times 1.5 (m ³
h)) and then sent to the gas proper use condition setting change section.

In this gas proper use condition setting changing unit, the initial value of the gas proper use condition stored in advance in the initial condition storage unit 3, that is, the maximum limit value for each proper use condition described above (for example, the total flow rate is 2.6 (m ³ / h), the maximum individual flow rate is 2.1 (m ³ / h), and the safe continuous use time is 720 (min) in the combustion range of 500 (kcal / h) to 5000 (kcal / h)) The data is compared, and the smaller one is selected to newly set the gas proper use condition. Thereafter, the proper use condition determination unit compares the new setting condition with the signal from the use state detection unit, and if the condition is not satisfied, determines that the condition is abnormal and activates the shutoff means. The cutoff signal interrupts the data storage operation of the usage state storage operation unit when the timer is counting. After that, when the cutoff means return signal is input, the signal activates the activation signal application means. That is, the data of the timer and the usage state storage / calculation unit are cleared, the above-mentioned initial value as the proper use condition, that is, the maximum limit value for each proper use condition is set, and the timer count is started from the beginning to use the gas use pattern. Is remeasured.

The above-mentioned functions can be realized by using the calculation and judgment functions based on the program operation of a microcomputer or the like, and a schematic program flow is shown in FIGS.

In Fig. 5, when the program starts, the initial conditions (initial values) are set as appropriate gas usage conditions at 19, and then
The flow rate is measured at 20 (), and the usage status of the gas as described above is detected at 21. Then, at 22, it is determined whether or not the timer for measuring the predetermined period is counting, and when counting, at 23, the usage state of the gas is stored. That is, the maximum value of the usage state of the gas corresponding to each usage condition is stored and updated. When it is not counting at 22 and after passing through 23, at 24, each gas proper use condition is judged. In 25, when the result of the judgment in 24 is abnormal,
It branches to 26, outputs a cutoff signal, and branches to. Also,
If not abnormal, branch to.

The branch contents in FIG. 6 will be described. At 27, it is judged whether the timer is counting, when it is counting, at 28, the operation of the use state storage operation unit is interrupted, and at 29 it is judged whether or not there is a return signal from the shutoff means return signal generation unit. If yes, 30 is used to determine whether or not the operation of the use state storage / calculation unit is suspended, and if it is being suspended, 31 is used to clear the timer, 32
Clears the use state storage calculation part with, sets the initial value as a proper use condition with 33, starts counting the timer with 34, and branches to. If the process is not suspended at 30, the process branches to to return to the original routine. While there is no return signal at 29, it is checked at 35 whether gas is flowing, and if so, at 36, the cutoff signal is output again and the program is processed. Also, when the gas is not flowing and when the timer is not counting at 27, 29
Branch to.

Next, the branch contents in FIG. 7 will be described. At 37, check whether or not the proper use condition setting change section has been operated by the output of the use state storage / calculation section.
If not activated, branch to 38. At 38, it is determined whether or not the timer count has ended. At the time of completion, at 39, the output of the use state storage / calculation unit is compared with the initial condition, the smaller one is selected, and at 40, the setting of the proper use condition is changed. Also,
If the timer count is not over at 38, branch to 41,
Determine if the timer is currently counting. If the counting is in progress, the counting is continued as it is in 42, and if it is not counting, the presence or absence of the start signal is determined in 43. When the activation signal is input, the timer count is started at 44. If there is no activation signal yet, and
After passing through 40, 42, 44, return to and continue the program processing from the flow rate measurement of 20. (For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 61-248690) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-described configuration, it is determined that the proper flow condition deviates from the proper use condition while the timer 7 is counting the predetermined period. When the judgment is made by the section 4, the cutoff signal is outputted to the cutoff means 5, the count of the timer 7 is cleared, the operation of the use state storage calculation section 9 and the proper use condition setting change section 10 is stopped, and the cutoff means return signal is outputted. When the signal from the generator 6 is input, the timer 7 is restarted to re-measure the gas usage state. Therefore, when the gas usage state changes after the timer 7 finishes timing, that is, a new gas appliance is purchased. If the gas appliance is replaced by a gas appliance that consumes a large amount of energy, and the appropriate operation condition is exceeded and the shutoff operation is performed, the proper gas usage condition cannot be changed. Cormorants had a problem.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem.When the timer terminates counting for a predetermined period and the new proper use condition is changed and the proper use condition determination unit determines that the operation is abnormal and the shutoff means closes, The proper use condition setting change section resets the proper use condition to the initial value, clears the count of the timer to stop the operation of the use state storage calculation section, and when the signal from the shutoff means return signal generation section is input. The timer is configured to accept the activation signal,
That is, even after the timer has finished operating, it constantly monitors the gas usage state to capture the gas consumption change in the meter-installed household,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safer gas shutoff device by automatically correcting to an optimum use condition even when shutoff operation is performed.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the gas shutoff device of the present invention is
A flow rate measuring unit that emits a signal according to the amount of gas passing through a gas meter provided in the gas supply line, a usage state detection unit that detects a gas usage state from a flow rate signal sent from the flow rate measuring unit, and a proper gas usage An initial condition storage unit that stores a condition as an initial value in advance, an appropriate use condition determination unit that outputs a cutoff signal when the signal of the use state detection unit deviates from the appropriate use condition, and outputs a cutoff signal. Accordingly, a shut-off means for shutting off the gas passage, a shut-off means return signal generating section for detecting a state when the shut-off means is opened and returning to generate a signal, a timer for counting a predetermined period, and the timer. Start signal applying means for starting,
Use to store and update the maximum value of the gas usage state during the timer operation by a signal from the usage status detection unit and to calculate and output the proper gas usage condition based on the stored maximum value at the end of the operation of the timer A state memory operation unit,
The setting content of the gas proper use condition is stored, a reference signal is sent to the proper use condition determining unit, and at the end of the timer counting, the initial value of the gas proper use condition stored in advance in the initial condition storage unit and the use state storage It has an appropriate use condition setting change unit that compares the output of the calculation unit and selects the one with a smaller value to newly set and change it as an appropriate use condition, and the timer finishes counting for a predetermined period and a new appropriate use condition is set. After the change, when the proper use condition determination unit determines that it is abnormal and the shutoff means closes, the proper use condition setting change unit resets the proper use condition to the initial value, clears the timer count, and stores the use state. When the operation of the arithmetic unit is stopped and the signal from the shutoff means return signal generation unit is input, the timer is set to a state in which the activation signal can be received. It is those with a.

The present invention has the above-described configuration, and by the use state storage calculation unit that stores and updates the actual gas consumption pattern within the timer operation period with the signal from the use state detection unit, the gas consumption pattern is calculated based on the gas consumption pattern at the end of the timer count. Proper use conditions are newly set. Then, after the timer finishes counting for a predetermined period and the new proper use condition is changed as described above, when the proper use condition determination unit determines that there is an abnormality and the shutoff means closes, the proper use condition setting change unit Resets the proper use conditions to the initial values, clears the count of the timer, stops the operation of the use state storage calculation unit, and when the signal from the shutoff means return signal generation unit is input, the timer can accept the start signal When the signal comes from the activation signal applying means, the timer restarts the clock, and the use state storage / calculation unit stores and updates the gas use state. In this way, the gas usage state within the predetermined period is stored again, and new proper usage conditions are reset again at the time when the timer count ends.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, those having the same numbers as those in FIG. 8 are components having the same function. A timer of 7A that counts a predetermined period, a start signal applying unit of 8A that starts the timer 7A, and a signal from the usage state detector 2 are used for the timer 7A.
A use state storage calculation unit for calculating and outputting a gas proper use condition based on the stored maximum value at the end of the operation of the timer 7A, and storing and updating the maximum value of the gas use state during operation; Memorize the setting contents of the usage conditions 4
At the end of counting by the timer 7A, the initial value of the gas proper use condition stored in advance in the initial condition storage unit 3 is compared with the output of the use state storage operation unit 9 when the timer 7A finishes counting. It has 10 appropriate use condition setting changing units for selecting a smaller value and newly changing the setting as a proper use condition. Then, after the timer 7A finishes counting for a predetermined period and the setting of the new proper use condition is changed, the proper use condition determining unit 4 determines that there is an abnormality, and the shutoff means 5
When is closed, the proper use condition setting changing unit 10 resets the proper use condition to the initial value, clears the count of the timer 7A, stops the operation of the use state storage computing unit 9 and generates a shutoff means return signal. When the signal from the section 6 is input, the timer 7A is in a state in which it can receive the activation signal.

According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the actual gas consumption pattern within the operation period of the timer 7A is stored and updated by the signal from the usage state detection unit 2, and the gas consumption pattern is calculated when the timer 7A finishes counting. The gas proper use condition is newly set based on the above. Then, after the timer 7A finishes counting for a predetermined period and the setting of the new proper use condition is changed, when the proper use condition determination unit 4 determines that there is an abnormality and the shutoff unit 5 closes, the proper use condition setting change unit 10 Is the initial value of proper use condition, that is,
Reset to the maximum limit value for each appropriate use condition. further,
The count of the timer 7A is cleared, the operation of the use state storage / calculation unit 9 is stopped, and at the same time, the shutoff means return signal generation unit 6 is activated.
When the signal from is input, the timer 7A becomes ready to accept the activation signal. Then, when the signal from the activation signal applying means 8A is input, the timer 7A restarts the clock, and the use state storing / calculating section 9 newly stores and updates the gas use state. In this way, if the gas usage status changes after the timer 7A has finished the clock and new proper usage conditions have been set, that is, if a new gas appliance is purchased or a gas appliance with a large consumption is consumed. If it is replaced with a new one, the proper operation condition is deviated, the shutoff operation is performed, and when the timer 7A is restarted after the shutoff means is restored, the gas use state when the gas use state changes is newly updated and updated. I will do it. Then, at the end of the count of the timer 7A, the newly stored and updated data from the use state storage operation unit 9 is compared with the initial value, that is, the maximum limit value for each appropriate use condition, and the smaller value is selected. The setting is changed as a new proper usage condition.

As described above, according to the gas shutoff device of the present invention, even after the proper use condition is set once, that is, the gas use state is constantly monitored even after the timer ends, and the meter installation home is performed even when the shutoff operation is performed. New change in gas consumption of
There is an effect that it is possible to provide a safer and more convenient gas shutoff device by automatically correcting the optimum gas proper use condition again.

The above contents can be easily realized by using the calculation and judgment functions by the program operation of the microcomputer or the like. A part of the program is the same as that described in the conventional example, that is, the same as in FIGS. 5 and 7. Below, FIG. 3 shows the flow of the branch of FIG.

The parts with the same numbers as in FIG. 6 represent the processing. When the return signal is input in 29, the process waits until the start signal is input in 45, and after the input, the processing of 31 and below is performed.

By executing this program flow, the function of the gas shutoff device of the present invention can be realized.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Blocks having the same numbers as in FIG. 1 are components having the same function. Reference numerals 11 and 12 are first and second timers provided corresponding to two kinds of proper use conditions. Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote first and second activation signal applying means for the respective timers. 15,16
Is a first and a second usage state memory calculation unit, and for each of the appropriate usage conditions, that is, under the condition of safe continuous usage time, each gas combustion amount region (for example, 500 to 5000 (kcal / h)
The usage time is memorized and updated for each area of (1) and area exceeding 5000 (kcal / h). That is, the gas combustion amount currently used is recognized from the signal from the usage state detection unit 2, and if the corresponding combustion amount is observed, the corresponding usage state storage calculation unit continues to be used within the operation period of the corresponding timer. The time data is stored and updated. The proper use condition determination unit 17 checks the gas use state for each proper use condition, and
Alternatively, when it is determined that the condition is abnormal under either one of the second conditions, the cutoff output is sent to the cutoff means. As blocking information,
The first condition or the second condition is distinguished and transmitted to each timer and the appropriate use condition setting changing unit of 18. In the appropriate use condition setting change unit 18, the applicable condition is reset to the initial value based on the blocking information. Further, the interrupting means return signal is input to each timer, and after setting the standby state of the timer, the occurrence of each corresponding start signal is detected and checked again. That is, only the gas use state of the proper use condition determined to be abnormal is observed again for a predetermined period, and a new proper use condition is reset based on the result.

FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the program flow for realizing the contents of FIG. This figure shows the difference from 21 usage condition detection to 24 proper usage condition determination in FIG.
After the usage state is detected at 21, the first or second state determination is made at 46. Next, at 47, the first usage state storage / calculation unit 15 determines whether or not the flow rate of the corresponding gas combustion amount is flowing, that is, whether or not there is the first usage state. Then, it is checked whether or not the first timer is counting, and when counting, the first usage state is stored at 49. When it is not 47 and when it is not counted at 48, the following processing 51 is performed. 47,48,49 together
50, 51 performs the same processing as that of 50 with respect to the second use state.

Although not illustrated, the processing of FIGS. 3 and 7 described above is programmed in the order of the first and second use states in the same way as in FIG.

By the way, it is also effective to apply the generation of a predetermined gas flow rate as the activation signal applying means.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the gas cutoff device of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) Gas leakage and combustion extinction can be detected by constantly monitoring the gas usage status and comparing it with the set appropriate usage conditions and usage conditions. If the conditions are exceeded, it is judged as abnormal. If this happens, the shut-off means operates to stop the gas supply, so that there is an effect that a dangerous state such as gas explosion or gas poisoning can be prevented. Also, the actual signal of the gas supply system in which the gas meter is installed is observed by the activation signal for a predetermined time, and the data processing value is compared with the initial value to reset the predetermined value as the proper usage condition. Therefore, compared with only the condition that is uniformly determined by the capacity (number of items) of the gas meter, the determination is made taking into account individual special conditions as well, so that the safety level against a gas accident can be further increased. Furthermore, the data is constantly monitored even after the timer has finished counting for a predetermined period of time, and if the appropriate usage conditions are exceeded, the shutoff means is activated and the actual usage pattern of the gas supply system is observed again to determine the appropriate usage conditions. Since the setting is reset, even if the gas appliance is replaced or newly installed, there is an effect that the usability can be further improved by automatically correcting to the optimum appropriate usage condition.

(2) The usage condition is detected for each gas proper usage condition, and only the condition that leads to the cutoff by the judgment is initialized,
Since the data observation is performed again for the predetermined period, it is possible to continue to keep the proper use conditions that have already been obtained without breaking them.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a gas shutoff device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a gas shutoff device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a program flow, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a schematic program flow in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are schematic program flows in a conventional example. FIG. 8 and FIG. 8 are functional block diagrams of a conventional gas shutoff device. 1 ... Flow rate measuring means, 2 ... Usage state detecting section, 3 ... Initial condition storing section, 4 ... Proper use condition determining section, 5 ... Breaking means, 6 ... Breaking means return signal generating section, 7A ... ... Timer, 8A ... Starting signal applying means, 9 ... Usage state storage / calculation unit, 10 ... Appropriate use condition setting changing unit.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Horii 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinzo Kato 2-16-4 Tadao Machida, Tokyo Inside the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Laboratory (72) Inventor Mitsuo Namba 2-16-4 Tadao, Machida-shi, Tokyo High-pressure gas Inside the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Institute (72) Inventor Reihei Uematsu 2-chome, Tadao Machida, Tokyo No. 16-4 High Pressure Gas Safety Association Liquefied Petroleum Gas Laboratory (56) Reference JP-A-1-308575 (JP, A) JP-A-63-127018 (JP, A) JP-A-63-101619 (JP, A) JP 63-127020 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate measuring means for emitting a signal in accordance with an amount of passing gas of a gas meter provided in a gas supply line, and a usage state detecting section for detecting a gas usage state by a flow rate signal sent from the flow rate measuring means. And an initial condition storage unit that stores gas proper use conditions as initial values in advance, and a proper use condition determination unit that outputs a cutoff signal by determining that the signal from the use state detection unit is abnormal when the signal deviates from the gas proper use conditions. When,
A shutoff means for shutting off the gas passage in response to the shutoff signal;
A shut-off means return signal generator that detects a state when the shut-off means is opened and returns to generate a signal, a timer that counts a predetermined period, a start signal application means that starts the timer, and the use state. A use state storing operation for storing and updating the maximum value of the gas use state during the timer operation based on a signal from the detection unit and for calculating and outputting the gas proper use condition based on the stored maximum value at the end of the operation of the timer Section and the setting contents of the gas proper use condition are stored, a reference signal is sent to the proper use condition determining unit, and the initial value of the gas proper use condition stored in advance in the initial condition storage unit and the above-mentioned value at the end of counting of the timer. And a proper use condition setting changing unit that compares the output of the use state storage / calculation unit and selects a smaller value to newly change the setting as a proper use condition. When the appropriate use condition determination unit judges that the appropriate use condition determination unit is abnormal after the immers have finished counting for the predetermined period and the new proper use condition setting is changed, the proper use condition setting change unit initializes the proper use condition. A gas that resets the value, clears the timer count to stop the operation of the use state storage / calculation unit, and when the signal from the shutoff means return signal generation unit is input, the timer becomes the state in which the activation signal can be received. Breaking device. 2. An initial condition storage section for pre-storing initial values respectively corresponding to one or more gas proper use conditions, and one or more corresponding to each gas proper use condition for independently counting a predetermined period. Timer and start each timer 1
One or more starting signal applying means, and one or more means for storing the corresponding gas use state during the operation of each timer by a signal from the use state detector and calculating the use condition based on the stored use state. And a usage state storage / calculation unit,
When the timer corresponding to the gas proper use condition finishes counting for a predetermined period and the corresponding new proper use condition is changed and the proper use condition determination unit determines that there is an abnormality and the shut-off means closes, the proper use is determined. The condition setting changing unit resets the appropriate use condition to the initial value, clears the corresponding timer count to stop the operation of the corresponding use state storing / calculating unit, and outputs the signal from the shutoff means return signal generating unit. The gas shutoff device according to claim 1, wherein when input, the timer is in a state capable of accepting a start signal.