JP4604896B2 - Flow rate measuring device and communication system connected to the device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device provided with a device discriminating means for discriminating a device connected to a flow path based on flow rate information.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, this type of flow rate measuring apparatus includes a gas flow rate measuring unit 101 that measures a gas flow rate flowing in a gas flow path, and a flow rate increase detecting unit 102 that detects an increase in flow rate based on the measurement result The flow rate increase / decrease detecting means 103 for detecting the instantaneous increase / decrease change of the gas flow accompanying the increase of the flow rate, the instrument determining means 104 for determining the start of use of a new gas combustion instrument when the instantaneous increase / decrease change is detected, and the flow rate increase detecting means The flow rate registration means 105 registers the increase in the gas flow rate detected in step 1 as the increase in the gas flow rate associated with the start of use of the new gas combustion appliance (for example, see Patent Document 1).

With the above configuration, pay attention to the fact that the gas flow rate increases and decreases instantly when it starts to use a new gas combustion device, and it becomes a stable gas flow rate. By determining, it is possible to determine the start of use of a new gas combustion appliance by a simple method and register an increase in gas due to the use of the new gas combustion appliance.
JP 2002-174542 A

  However, since the conventional configuration does not cover the usage patterns of new instruments that have appeared on the market after the manufacture of the apparatus, there is a problem that correct identification cannot be performed when such instruments are attached.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and makes it possible to detect the accurate flow rate of each instrument by sequentially taking in information on new instruments that have appeared on the market.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a flow rate measuring device according to the present invention includes a flow rate measuring unit that sequentially measures a fluid flow rate flowing through a flow path at predetermined measurement time intervals, and a time series of flow rates obtained by the flow rate measuring unit. Time-series data storage means for storing data; appliances connected downstream of the flow rate measurement means; database storage means for storing representative usage patterns for each appliance; the time-series data storage means; and the database storage means Both of the stored contents of the two, and a device discriminating means for discriminating the appliance connected to the downstream side of the flow path, and a communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external base station, through the communication means The stored contents of the database storage means can be updated.

  As a result, it is possible to update the usage pattern database of instruments via communication means, so that it is possible to detect the correct flow rate of each instrument by sequentially incorporating information on new instruments that have appeared on the market. Is.

  The flow rate measuring device of the present invention enables accurate instrument discrimination.

1st invention memorize | stores the flow rate measurement means which measures the flow volume of the fluid which flows into a flow path, the time series data storage means which memorize | stores the time series data of the flow volume calculated | required by the said flow rate measurement means, and the typical use pattern for every instrument. Between the external base station, the database storage means, the appliance determination means for comparing the storage contents of both the time-series data storage means and the database storage means and discriminating the appliance connected to the downstream side of the flow path Communication means for transmitting and receiving data in the database, and the storage contents of the database storage means can be updated via the communication means, so that correct appliance discrimination is possible even when a new appliance is added. Become.

  The second invention, in particular, by means of the appliance discriminating means of the first invention, by using the discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means for each appliance to accumulate the usage of one or more specific appliances and other unspecified appliances, Unit price storage means for storing the unit usage price for each appliance, and a charge calculation for calculating the usage fee using the appliance integrated value obtained by the appliance integration means and the appliance specific unit price stored in the unit price storage means By providing the means, it is possible to obtain an individual fee for each appliance.

  In the third invention, in particular, the stored contents of the unit price storage means can be updated via the communication means of the second invention, so that the contents can be easily reflected even when the fee is revised and the correct usage fee is obtained. be able to.

  In particular, the fourth invention includes new data storage means for storing new data when the data stored in the time-series data storage means of the first or second invention is a new pattern that cannot be discriminated by the instrument discrimination means. Since the stored contents of the new data storage means can be reused, it can be used for fee settlement and database expansion.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, when the storage contents of the new data storage means of the fourth aspect of the invention are added, the contents of the new data storage means are transmitted to the external base station via the communication means. It can be used to expand the database at the base station.

  The sixth invention uses the updated database by requesting the update of the storage contents of the database storage means, particularly when the contents of the new data storage means of the fourth invention are added. Thus, it is possible to attempt to determine the appliance of the time series data that could not be determined.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when the contents of the new data storage means of the fourth aspect of the invention are added, the usage amount as a new appliance is obtained by the device-by-device integration means, and the device-by-device integration means is obtained by the fee calculation unit. Further, by performing charge calculation using the new appliance usage amount and the usage price of the unspecified appliance stored in the unit price storage means, it is possible to collect a fee according to the usage amount of a general appliance.

  In the eighth invention, particularly in the seventh invention, each time the database is updated, the appliance discriminating unit re-discriminates the data stored in the new data storage unit, and the fee calculating unit uses the discrimination result to determine the fee. By correcting the above, it is possible to collect an appropriate fee.

  The ninth invention is connected to the flow rate measuring device of any one of the first to eighth inventions installed in a plurality of consumers through a communication line, and provides each customer with an appliance database. Correct instrument discrimination at home is possible.

  In the tenth aspect of the invention, particularly in the ninth aspect of the invention, by updating the database based on new data transmitted from each consumer, the database can be updated based on the actual usage of the consumer. It is possible to further increase the accuracy of appliance discrimination.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a household gas meter will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flow rate measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the gas supplied from the upstream gas pipe 1 is connected to the downstream side of the downstream gas pipe 3 via the flow rate measuring device 2 that measures the gas flow rate, the gas appliance B5, It is supplied to the gas appliance C6. The flow rate measuring device 2 includes an ultrasonic flow meter 8 as a flow rate measuring unit installed in the middle of the flow path 7, a time series data storage unit 9 for storing time series data of measurement values of the ultrasonic flow meter 8, and a gas Appliance storage for determining the usage status of each gas appliance while comparing the storage contents of the database storage means 10 storing the data of the representative usage pattern for each appliance and the storage contents of the time series data storage means 9 and the database storage means Means 11, an appliance-specific integration means 12 for obtaining an integrated value for each appliance based on the determination result of the appliance determination means 11, a unit price storage means 13 for storing the unit price for each gas appliance of the gas usage fee, It is possible to discriminate using the charge calculating means 14 for obtaining the gas usage fee using the integrated flow rate obtained by the separate integrating means 12 and the use unit price stored in the unit price storage means 13 and the appliance discriminating means 11. If no, the new data storage means 15 for storing the time-series data at that time, and a communication means 16. The communication means 16 is connected to a service center 18 as an external base station via a communication line 17, and the flow rate measuring device 2 and the service center 18 can perform two-way communication.

  The operation and action of the flow rate measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the operation of the time series data storage means 9 will be described.

  The ultrasonic flowmeter 8 operates every fixed period (for example, 2 seconds), obtains the flow velocity of the gas passing through the flow path 7, and obtains the flow value based on the flow velocity. As shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate value when the instrument is not used is 0, but when the use of the instrument is started at time Ton, the flow value corresponding to the instrument starts to be output, and the instrument at time Toff. When the use of is stopped, the flow value returns to zero again. The time series data storage means 9 stores a flow rate value output every 2 seconds from the ultrasonic flowmeter 8 during a period from Ton to Toff. Note that the storage format of the time-series data storage unit 9 may be stored as a combination of time and flow rate data, or may simply store only flow rate values. Further, as a modification of the latter format, a flow rate value every 2 seconds and use start time data or use end time data of the appliance may be stored.

  Next, operations and actions of the database storage unit 10 and the appliance determination unit 11 will be described. When the use of the appliance is completed, the appliance discriminating means 11 refers to the information indicating the characteristics of the usage pattern for each appliance stored in the database storage means 10 while referring to the flow rate stored in the time series data storage means 9. Determine which instrument caused the change in value.

  This will be described using a specific example. FIG. 3 shows a typical usage pattern of the gas appliance A4 and FIG. 4 shows a time-series flow rate change graph of the gas appliance B5.

First, the gas appliance A4 has the following characteristics.
(A1) At the time of rising, the flow rate gradually increases with a constant gradient.
(A2) After reaching the predetermined flow rate, the constant flow rate is maintained for a while.
(A3) When the constant flow rate period ends, the flow rate changes steplessly in a stepless manner.

Next, the gas appliance B5 has the following characteristics (B1). The flow rate increases instantaneously at the rising edge.
(B2) Since the combustion amount adjustment is performed manually, the flow rate change is completed in a short time.
(B3) After the adjustment is completed, the same flow rate is continued until the next adjustment operation is performed.

  A1 to B3 and B1 to B3 express the operation patterns of each instrument in words, but the database storage means 10 stores the operation pattern characterization data for each instrument in numerical form. Needless to say. For example, for the feature (A1), the slope slope Ka, the slope duration Ta, the flow rate Qa at the start of operation, the final flow rate Qb, and the feature (A2), the duration Tb, ( For the feature of A3), the minimum flow rate Qa and the maximum flow rate Qb (here, it is described as having the same values as Qa and Qb used in the feature of (A1)) are stored as a database. ing. For the features (B1) to (B3), the values of the minimum flow rate Qc and the maximum flow rate Qd are stored as a database.

  On the other hand, when the flow rate data stored in the time series data storage means 9 shows a change pattern that maintains a constant flow rate after a change in flow rate with a constant gradient as shown in FIG. 5, the magnitude of the flow rate gradient Kx is large. The flow rate Qx at the start of operation, the final flow rate Qy of the gradient, the duration time Tx of the gradient, the duration time Ty of the constant flow rate Qy after the end of the gradient, etc. are obtained, and the values Qa, Qb, Ka, etc. on the database Compare with Note that the values in the database take into account variations between devices and the like. For example, in the case of the flow rate Qa at the start of the gradient, the applicable range includes an allowable range such as Qaa to Qab. . If the data indicating the characterization falls within the allowable range as a result of the comparison process, it is determined that the data stored in the time-series data storage unit 9 is provided by the gas appliance A. . Then, this determination result is used for an integration process for each appliance and a charge calculation process as described later.

  The database stored in the database storage means 10 basically stores a plurality of information for one instrument. For example, in the case of a gas water heater, a general pattern of time-series flow rate values at the time of ignition, a usage pattern during proportional control, a usage pattern when the hot water temperature is stable, etc. are stored. ing. Further, not only the water heater but also a gas table, a gas fan heater, and the like store data that seems to be effective for appliance discrimination.

  On the other hand, even if it is the same hot water heater, the control pattern may be different for each manufacturer of the appliance, and even if the product is the same manufacturer, the control pattern may be different for each model. In view of this, information on models that are considered difficult to discriminate by a general “hot water heater” and information on hot water heaters of manufacturers are also registered in the database.

  In addition, the database can be distributed to consumers at any time when the service center 18 regularly performs maintenance work and the database is updated by the maintenance work. Therefore, even if a new product with an unprecedented new control pattern is released, it is possible to register it in the database, and as a result, in the home where the new device is purchased, correct device discrimination can be performed. Can be performed.

Next, operation | movement and an effect | action of the integrating | accumulating means 12 by apparatus are demonstrated. The device-by-device integration unit 12 can determine the integrated flow rate for each device using the operation status of each device clarified by the device determination unit 11. That is, each integrated value can be obtained and stored as internal data, such as the integrated flow rate Q ₁ of the water heater, the integrated flow rate Q ₂ of the fan heater, and the integrated flow rate Q ₃ of the gas table. These values are not only held inside, but may be configured to be confirmed from the outside of the flow rate measuring device 2 using a display (not shown), for example. Further, it may be a method of integrating a clear distinction between all instruments are used, particular instrument, for example, by integrating only the integrated value Q ₂ of the fan heaters individually, a water heater, such as a gas table, other The integrated flow rate of the appliances may be determined collectively.

Next, operations and effects of the unit price storage unit 13 and the charge calculation unit 14 will be described. Unit price storage means 1
3, the unit usage price per unit usage amount for each appliance is registered and recorded in advance. Then, the fee calculation means 14 calculates the usage fee for each appliance using the usage amount for each appliance determined by the appliance integrating means 12 and the usage unit price for each appliance held in the unit price storage means 13. It is possible to calculate.

For example, it is possible to obtain the respective charges such as a water heater usage fee A ₁ , a fan heater usage fee A ₂ , and a gas table usage fee A ₃ . These values are not only held inside, but may be configured to be confirmed from the outside of the flow rate measuring device 2 using a display (not shown), for example. Further, it may be a method of billing clearly distinguish all instruments are used, particular instrument, for example, asking only use fee A ₂ fan heaters individually, a water heater, such as a gas table, other The usage fee for the appliances may be determined collectively. The unit price stored in the unit price storage means 13 is not only fixed on a one-to-one basis with a device, but also has different personality data depending on the time of use even for the same device. It may be of a different character for each season. Even if these values vary depending on the price of raw materials, the latest unit price information can be easily provided from the service center 18 through the communication line 17 when the fee is revised. .

  Next, the operation and action of the new data storage unit 15 will be described. When the appliance discriminating means 11 cannot recognize the usage pattern of a specific appliance, the time-series data at this time is stored in the new data storage means 15. By storing these data, it can be reused.

  A specific method of reuse will be described.

  The first is a method of transmitting time series data stored in the new data storage means 15 to the service center 18 by the communication means 16 and using it for expanding the database. The service center 18 can expand the database by analyzing new data transmitted from each customer. That is, it becomes possible to find a new usage pattern of an existing instrument or find a usage pattern of a new instrument, and to constantly expand the database using information obtained from these actual machines.

  The second is a method of making a database update request to the service center 18 through the communication means 16 when new data is stored in the new data storage means 15. The database is constantly updated by the service center 18, but the number of appliances installed in one household is limited, and the usage pattern is almost limited. In view of these circumstances, it is not always necessary to rewrite the database every time the database is updated. Therefore, only when new data is added to the new data storage means 15, by updating the database, it is possible to prevent congestion of the communication line or to reduce the cost of the communication line facility by regulating the total amount of data. In addition, there is an effect of reducing the power consumption of the main body of the flow rate measuring device.

The third is a method used for calculating the charges for each appliance. Since the flow rate data at the time when it is stored in the new data storage means 15 is in a state where it is impossible to determine which appliance is being used, the amount of gas used at this time is temporarily calculated as the accumulated flow Q ₄ of “unknown appliance 1”. Accumulate as In addition, the unit price of charges at this time is calculated assuming that it is equivalent to a normal appliance. The calculated value A ₄ at this time also should be calculated as a temporary fee. By determining the price A ₄ of such unknown instrument in a separate frame, it can be reflected in the tolling appropriately determine the value of A ₄ in the way of the gas company.

It is also possible to use the new database acquired using the second method to determine again the time series data stored in the new data storage means 15 and reflect it in the charge calculation. Result of the re-determination, the stored contents of the new data storage means 15, if consistent with usage patterns of a particular instrument to recognize the flow rate Q ₄ by integrating the above as the flow rate of the instrument, using bid for this instrument Use the to recalculate the charges. As a result, since the difference between the temporary fee A ₄ the previously obtained it becomes clear, it becomes possible to perform the settlement of the difference amount to the customer.

  As described above, since the flow rate measuring device according to the present invention can obtain an accurate flow rate for each appliance, not only can a fee collection system for each appliance be realized, but also contributes to an improvement in the safety of the appliance. To do.

1 is a block diagram of a flow rate measuring device and a communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The characteristic view explaining operation | movement of the apparatus discrimination | determination means in Embodiment 1 of this invention The characteristic view which shows the typical usage pattern of the gas appliance A in Embodiment 1 of this invention The characteristic view which shows the typical usage pattern of the gas appliance B in Embodiment 1 of this invention The characteristic view which shows the usage pattern of the instrument in Embodiment 1 of this invention Block diagram of a conventional flow measurement device

Explanation of symbols

2 Flow rate measuring device 7 Flow path 8 Ultrasonic flow meter (flow rate measuring means)
9 Time-series data storage means 10 Database storage means 11 Appliance discriminating means 12 Appliance-by-appliance means 13 Unit price storage means 14 Fee calculation means 15 New data storage means 16 Communication means 17 Communication line 18 Service center (external base station)

Claims (2)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path;
Time series data storage means for storing time series data of the flow rate obtained by the flow rate measurement means;
An instrument connected to the downstream side of the flow rate measuring means;
Database storage means for storing a representative usage pattern for each appliance;
An appliance discriminating means for discriminating an appliance connected to the downstream side of the flow path by comparing the storage contents of both the time-series data storage means and the database storage means;
New data storage means for storing as new data in the case of a new pattern in which the data stored in the time series data storage means cannot be determined by the appliance determination means;
A flow rate measuring device comprising: communication means for transmitting new data stored in the new data storage means to an external base station. A communication system connected to the flow rate measuring device according to claim 1 installed in a plurality of consumers through a communication line and providing a database to each consumer.

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