JP2000205920A - Gas meter control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device of a gas meter capable of detecting pressure within the passage of the gas meter by means of a small and simple arrangement. SOLUTION: An opening 19 is formed in the bottom wall 14 of a control device attached to a gas meter and a gas is introduced into the opening 19 from a gas conduit communicated to the gas passage of the gas meter. A circuit board 20 with a pressure sensor 11 mounted thereon is a glass/epoxy-resin board with a through hole 23 formed therein. The bottom wall 14 with the opening 19 formed therein is provided with a mounting part 15 encircling the opening 19 and the circuit board 20 is hermetically mounted on the mounting part 15 via a gasket 21. The pressure sensor 11 mounted on the circuit board 20 has a gas inlet and is mounted on the circuit board 20 in such a way that the gas from the circuit board 20 is guided to the gas inlet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a gas meter which is mounted on, for example, a large gas meter and controls a shutoff valve to shut off gas supply when a pressure in a gas passage of the gas meter reaches a set pressure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A control device of a gas meter is mounted on, for example, a large gas meter and provided with a pressure switch through which gas is guided from a gas passage in the gas meter. In the bottom wall of the control device, a gas passage for guiding gas from the gas passage is opened, and a pressure switch is provided on the opening. The pressure switch includes a bellows or a diaphragm, and is mechanically displaced by a differential pressure between the introduced gas pressure and the atmospheric pressure, and outputs a contact signal to the control unit when the pressure reaches a preset maximum pressure or minimum pressure. In response to the contact signal, the control unit outputs a shutoff signal for driving the solenoid of the shutoff valve, activates the shutoff valve, shuts off the gas passage, and stops gas supply.

[0003]

Since such a conventional pressure switch becomes large due to its mechanical structure, it can be downsized.
In order to improve the detection accuracy, a control device using an electronic pressure sensor that is small and capable of detecting pressure with high accuracy is desired.

An electronic pressure sensor uses, for example, a semiconductor strain gauge or a capacitance, and outputs, for example, an electric signal by replacing a displacement of a silicon diaphragm with an electric signal. Therefore, it is necessary to mount on a circuit board, and the gas from the gas meter must be guided to the pressure sensor, which complicates the configuration.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter control device that can detect the pressure in the gas passage of the gas meter with a small and simple configuration.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas passage extending from a supply port to a discharge port, a measuring means interposed in the gas passage and measuring a flow rate of gas passing therethrough, a measuring means and a supply port. The gas meter is provided with a shut-off valve that shuts off the gas passage in response to a shut-off signal, and an opening through which the gas in the gas passage is led to communicate with the gas passage. In the control device of the gas meter to be formed, a through-hole is formed, and a hard circuit board in which an outer peripheral portion of the through-hole and an outer peripheral portion of the opening of the wall portion are air-tightly connected has a gas passage hole, Pressure detection means for outputting a signal corresponding to the gas pressure introduced into the gas introduction hole, the pressure detection means being mounted on the circuit board so that gas is introduced from the through hole into the gas conduction hole, and the detection output of the pressure detection means Has reached the preset value A control device for gas meter and outputs a blocking signal to come.

According to the present invention, the pressure detecting means is mounted on a hard circuit board having a through hole formed therein, and the circuit board is air-tightly connected to a wall so as to cover an opening of the gas passage. By making the circuit board on which the pressure detecting means is mounted function as a partition as described above, the pressure detecting section can be made small and simple. The gas in the gas passage of the gas meter is guided to the introduction hole of the pressure detecting means via the through hole of the circuit board, and the gas pressure in the gas passage is detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rigid circuit board is made of a resin board.

According to the present invention, the circuit board on which high voltage acts is made of a resin board having high mechanical strength such as a glass epoxy board, so that the durability is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a vibration detecting means for outputting a signal corresponding to the vibration is mounted on the circuit board.

Since the control device needs to operate the shut-off valve not only by pressure but also by vibration such as an earthquake, vibration detection means is provided. In the present invention, since the vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration is mounted on the circuit board on which the pressure detecting means is mounted, it is possible to save space and reduce wiring work.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the circuit board is provided with signal processing means for converting output signals of the pressure detecting means and the vibration detecting means into signals of a predetermined form.

According to the present invention, it is necessary to perform signal processing such as A / D conversion in order to input each output of the pressure detecting means and the vibration detecting means to a control unit having a microcomputer or the like. In the present invention, since the signal processing means for performing such signal processing is mounted on the circuit board together with the pressure detecting means and the vibration detecting means, it is possible to save space and reduce wiring work.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a gas meter 2 having a gas meter control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gas meter 2 is a large gas meter capable of measuring a gas flow rate of, for example, 90 m ³ / h, and has a gas passage 5 extending from a supply port 3 to which gas is supplied to an outlet 4 for discharging gas. Is provided with a measuring means 6 for measuring the flow rate of gas passing therethrough. A shut-off valve 7 is provided between the measuring means 6 and the supply port 3.
Is interposed. The shut-off valve 7 is operated by a solenoid,
When a shutoff signal for driving the solenoid is input, the gas passage 5 is shut off and the supply of gas is stopped.

A control device 1 for the gas meter is mounted above the gas meter 2. The control device 1 is provided with a vibration sensor for detecting vibration and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure. A gas passage 8 for guiding gas in the gas passage 5 is provided between the shutoff valve 7 and the gas passage 5 between the measuring means 6 and the control device 1, and a pressure sensor provided in the control device 1 is provided with a gas passage 8. The pressure in the gas passage 5 is detected by detecting the pressure derived from the pressure. When the pressure in the gas passage 5 detected by the pressure sensor becomes equal to or more than a predetermined upper limit value or equal to or less than a lower limit value, the control device 1 outputs a shutoff signal for driving the shutoff valve 7, and the cutoff valve 7 controls the gas passage. Block 5 Also, when the occurrence of an earthquake is detected by the seismic sensor, a shutoff signal is output to shut off the gas passage 5.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the control device 1 with the cover removed, and FIG.
FIG. The control device 1 is mounted on and mounted on the gas meter 2, and a pressure sensor 1 is mounted on a circuit board 20 in the center.
The sensor 1 and the seismic sensor 12 are mounted, the detection unit 10 which is covered with a cover 25 and is configured as one package is provided, and the control unit 16 is provided on one side. FIG. 2
In FIG. 2, the cover 25 of the detection unit 10 is cut away to show the inside of the detection unit 10. The control unit 16 has a microcomputer 17 and receives detection outputs from the pressure sensor 11 and the seismic sensor 12, and outputs a cutoff signal based on the detection outputs. The gas flow rate measured by the measuring means 6 of the gas meter 2 is displayed as an integrated value by a counter (not shown) provided in front of the gas meter 2, is converted into an electric signal, and is input to the microcomputer 17. . Further, a signal from a flow rate sensor 11 (not shown) is input to the microcomputer 17.

The pressure sensor 11 is, for example, a semiconductor strain gauge type, a metal strain gauge type or a capacitance type electronic pressure sensor. The semiconductor strain gauge type pressure sensor is formed by forming a strain gauge in a silicon single crystal plate shape. A pressure diaphragm and a strain gauge are integrated, and a silicon single crystal plate, which is a material excellent as an elastic body, is used as a diaphragm, and a silicon crystal plate having excellent electrical characteristics as a semiconductor is used as a strain gauge. The resistance of the strain gauge changes due to the distortion of the pressure-sensitive diaphragm that is distorted by the change in pressure, so that an electric signal proportional to the pressure can be obtained. In addition, a metal strain gauge type pressure sensor is formed by bonding or vapor-depositing a metal strain gauge on the diaphragm surface of a pressure-sensitive diaphragm made of a highly elastic metal. The change in the resistance value of the semiconductor strain gauge utilizes a piezo effect, and the change in the resistance value of the metal strain gauge utilizes a change in resistance due to a change in shape. The capacitance-type pressure sensor converts pressure into a primary displacement into a displacement of a diaphragm, captures this displacement as an electric capacitance, and performs a secondary conversion into an electric signal.

The seismic sensor 12 is constituted by a single crystal silicon capacitance type acceleration sensor, and outputs a signal corresponding to the acceleration. The microcomputer 17 determines, based on the signal waveform from the seismic sensor 12, whether the vibration is a vibration due to an earthquake or a temporary impact when a person or an object is hit, and shuts down when it is determined that the vibration is due to the earthquake. Output a signal.

The above-described vibration sensor 12 and pressure sensor 11 are mounted on a circuit board 20 in the detection unit 10. The circuit board 20 is formed of a resin substrate, in this embodiment, a glass epoxy substrate. The glass / epoxy board is made by laminating a sheet made of glass impregnated with a thermosetting resin, and integrating the copper foil on the surface by heating and pressing. It is suitable as. Further, a glass-polyimide substrate may be used instead of such a glass-epoxy substrate, and a hard substrate such as a ceramic substrate or a metal substrate may be used.

The gas from the gas passage 5 of the gas meter 2 is led to the control device 1 via the gas passage 8, and the gas is introduced to the bottom wall 14 of the casing via the gas passage 8 as shown in FIG. Is formed. A cylindrical mounting portion 15 that rises around the bottom wall 14 so as to surround the opening 19 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 14, and a circuit board 20 of the detection unit 10 is screwed through the gasket 21 to the mounting portion 14. Thus, the gas from the opening 19 is securely guided to the through hole 23 of the circuit board 20.

As described above, the pressure sensor 11 has a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, and this diaphragm is displaced by a differential pressure between the gas pressure on one surface side and the atmospheric pressure on the other surface side. A gas introduction hole for introducing a gas is formed on one back surface side. A through hole 23 is formed in the circuit board 20 and the pressure sensor 11
Is mounted so that the back side of the pressure sensor 11 and the circuit board 20 are airtightly connected so that gas is introduced into the gas introduction holes via the through holes 23 of the circuit board 20.
3. The gas in the gas passage 5 of the gas meter 2 is led to the gas introduction hole of the pressure sensor 11 via the gas passage 8. As described above, since the hard circuit board 20 functions as a partition, the detection unit 10 can have a simple configuration. Also, the vibration sensor 1 and the pressure sensor 11 are mounted on the circuit board 20.
2 and the cover 10 is covered with the cover 25 as shown in FIG. 3, so that the detection unit 10 is compactly configured as one package, so that wiring work and the like are omitted, and assembly and replacement can be easily performed. it can.

In the conventional gas meter control device, the pressure switch is mounted on the mounting portion 15 of the casing. When the detection portion 10 of the present invention is mounted on the conventional mounting portion 15, as shown in FIG. It is mounted via the spacer 27. That is, the mounting spacer 27 is airtightly mounted on the mounting member 15 via the gasket 21 by the screw 22, and the detection unit 10 is airtightly mounted on the mounting spacer 27 via the O-ring 28 and the spacer 26 by the screw 22. Thus, the detection unit 10 of the present invention including the pressure sensor 11 and the seismic sensor 12 can be easily attached to the casing 13 of the conventional control device 1.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control device 1. As shown in FIG. In the present invention, the output signal of the pressure sensor 11 is subjected to predetermined signal processing such as amplification of a detection signal by a microcomputer 17 of the control unit 16, A / D conversion for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, and passage of a filter for noise removal. It is determined whether the processed signal is equal to or greater than an upper limit corresponding to a preset maximum pressure value or equal to or less than a lower limit corresponding to a preset minimum pressure value. Outputs the cutoff signal when the lower limit is reached. The detection output of the seismic sensor 12 is also amplified by the microcomputer 17 of the control unit 16 and the like.
Predetermined signal processing such as D conversion and filter processing is performed, and it is determined whether or not an earthquake has occurred based on the processed signal, and a cutoff signal is output.

As another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5B, an ASIC (Application Spec.
A signal processing circuit 30 configured to perform the predetermined signal processing is mounted on a circuit board 20, and a signal processed by the signal processing circuit 30 is input to the microcomputer 17 of the control unit 16. To determine whether the set value has been reached, and control the shut-off valve 7. Further, the signal processing circuit 30 determines whether or not the set value is reached, and outputs an abnormal signal when the set value is reached.
6 may be configured to output a cutoff signal in response to the abnormal signal.

The output signal of the vibration sensor 12 is also subjected to the predetermined signal processing in the signal processing circuit 30 to determine whether or not the vibration detected by the microcomputer 17 is a temporary shock caused by the earthquake. . Alternatively, the signal processing circuit 30 may determine that an earthquake has occurred, input an earthquake detection signal to the microcomputer 17, and output a shutoff signal from the control unit 16 based on the signal.

As still another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 (3), the signal processing circuit 30 described with reference to FIG. The output of the sensor 12 is output to the signal processing circuit 3 of the controller 16.
At 0, the signal is processed and input to the microcomputer 17 to output a cutoff signal. Alternatively, the shutoff signal may be output directly from the signal processing circuit 30 to control the shutoff valve 7.

As another form, as shown in FIG. 5D, a signal processing circuit 31 composed of an ASIC dedicated to the pressure sensor 11 and a signal processing circuit 3 dedicated to the seismic sensor 12 are provided.
2 are mounted on the circuit board 20, respectively, and the signal processing circuit 3
The signals from 1 and 32 may be input to the microcomputer 17 of the control unit 16 respectively. The signal processing circuit 31 performs amplification, A / D conversion, and filtering, and outputs the processed signal to the microcomputer 17.
And the microcomputer 17 determines whether or not the set value has been exceeded. The signal processing circuit 32 is the seismic sensor 1
2 is amplified, A / D converted and filtered, and input to the microcomputer 17. By comparing with a signal waveform stored in the microcomputer 17 in advance, it is determined whether the vibration from the signal processing circuit 32 is an earthquake or a temporary impact.

As still another form, as shown in FIG. 5 (5), the function of the microcomputer 17 used in FIG. 5 (4) is realized by a signal processing circuit 33 composed of an ASIC. You may. As a result, the processing speed can be improved at low cost.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a gas meter control device 40 according to still another embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed. Note that components corresponding to the above-described gas meter control device 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, only the pressure sensor 11 is provided in the detection unit 10, and the seismic sensor 12 is arranged separately from the detection unit 10. As described above, the vibration sensor 12 may be configured not to be mounted on the substrate 20 on which the pressure sensor 11 is mounted.

The gas meter 2 according to the above-described embodiment has 9
Although a large gas meter capable of measuring a gas flow rate of 0 m ³ / h was used, the present invention is not limited to such a large gas meter and can be used widely from small to large gas meters (1 to 120 m ³ / h).

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the configuration of the gas meter control device can be simplified and the space can be saved by using the circuit board as a partition.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by forming the circuit board from a resin board having high mechanical strength, the circuit board can be suitably implemented as a partition on which high pressure acts.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by mounting the vibration detecting means on the circuit board, wiring work and space can be reduced.

According to the present invention, by further mounting the signal processing means on the circuit board, the wiring of the control device can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a gas meter 2 including a gas meter control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where a cover of the control device 1 is removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view near the detection unit 10.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a detection unit 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control device 1.

FIG. 6 is a control device 40 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where a cover is removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Gas meter control device 2 Gas meter 3 Supply port 4 Discharge port 5 Gas path 6 Measuring means 7 Shutoff valve 8 Gas conduction path 10 Detector 11 Pressure sensor 12 Seismic sensor 14 Bottom wall 19 Opening 20 Circuit board 23 Through hole

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] November 5, 1999 (1999.11.
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas passage extending from a supply port to a discharge port, a measuring means interposed in the gas passage and measuring a flow rate of gas passing therethrough, a measuring means and a supply port. The gas meter is provided with a shut-off valve that shuts off the gas passage in response to a shut-off signal, and an opening through which the gas in the gas passage is led to communicate with the gas passage. In the control device of the gas meter to be formed, a through-hole is formed, and a hard circuit board in which an outer peripheral portion of the through-hole and an outer peripheral portion of the opening of the wall portion are air-tightly connected has a gas passage hole, A pressure sensor mounted on the circuit board so that the gas is introduced from the through hole into the gas passage hole, and outputs a signal corresponding to the gas pressure introduced into the gas introduction hole. Gauge type or metal strain Over di- formula, or a pressure sensor of an electrostatic capacitance type, a control device for gas meter and outputs a blocking signal when it becomes a set value that the detection output of the pressure sensor is set in advance.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention, a pressure sensor is mounted on a hard circuit board having a through hole formed therein, and the circuit board is airtightly connected to a wall portion so as to cover an opening of a gas passage. By making the circuit board on which the pressure sensor is mounted function as a partition as described above, the pressure detecting section can be made small and simple. The gas in the gas passage of the gas meter is guided to the introduction hole of the pressure detecting means via the through hole of the circuit board, and the gas pressure in the gas passage is detected.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rigid circuit board is a glass epoxy board, a glass polyimide board or a ceramic board.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a seismic sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to a vibration is mounted on the circuit board of the present invention.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Since the control device needs to operate the shut-off valve not only by pressure but also by vibration such as an earthquake, a seismic sensor is provided. In the present invention, since the vibration sensor for detecting the vibration is mounted on the circuit board on which the pressure sensor is mounted, it is possible to save space and reduce wiring work.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the circuit board is provided with signal processing means for converting output signals of the pressure sensor and the seismic sensor into signals of a predetermined form.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention, it is necessary to perform signal processing such as A / D conversion in order to input each output of the pressure sensor and the seismic sensor to a control unit having a microcomputer or the like. In the present invention, since the signal processing means for performing such signal processing is mounted on the circuit board together with the pressure detecting means and the vibration detecting means, it is possible to save space and reduce wiring work.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by forming the circuit board from a board having high mechanical strength, the circuit board can be suitably implemented as a partition on which high pressure acts.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0033

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the third aspect of the present invention, wiring and labor can be saved and the space can be saved by mounting the seismic sensor on the circuit board.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kairiku Riki 4-1-2 Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Satoshi Takagi 4-chome, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 1-2-2 Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Saito 3-4-9 Kigawa Higashi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sensor Technology Research Laboratories Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tadashi Taniuchi Ki, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 3-4-9 Kawato, Sensor Technology Research Laboratories Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Sato 13-1, Oharacho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Inside Kinmon Mfg. Co., Ltd. 4-7-31 Nishiiwata Kinmon Manufacturing Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2F030 CB01 CC13 CE02 CE25 CF05 CF11 CF20

Claims (4)

[Claims] A gas passage extending from the supply port to the discharge port;
A gas meter having a measuring means interposed in the gas passage and measuring the flow rate of gas passing therethrough, and a shutoff valve interposed in the gas passage between the measuring means and the supply port and shutting off the gas passage in response to a shutoff signal. In a gas meter control device provided with an opening formed in a wall portion, the opening communicating with the gas passage and leading the gas in the gas passage, a through hole is formed, and an outer peripheral portion of the through hole and an outer periphery of the opening in the wall portion are provided. A rigid circuit board whose parts are connected in an airtight manner; and a gas passage hole, which is mounted on the circuit board so that gas is introduced from the through hole into the gas passage hole, and is introduced into the gas introduction hole. A control device for a gas meter, comprising: pressure detection means for outputting a signal corresponding to a gas pressure; and outputting a cutoff signal when a detection output of the pressure detection means reaches a preset value. 2. The gas meter control device according to claim 1, wherein said hard circuit board is made of a resin board. 3. The gas meter control device according to claim 1, wherein a vibration detecting unit that outputs a signal corresponding to the vibration is mounted on the circuit board. 4. The gas meter according to claim 3, wherein a signal processing means for converting output signals of the pressure detecting means and the vibration detecting means into a signal of a predetermined form is mounted on the circuit board. apparatus.