JP4867592B2 - Gas meter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gas meters, to a return means in particular prevent secondary disasters disaster.

Conventionally, as this type of gas meter, determining a flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate, and an external sensor means for detecting an abnormality of an earthquake, or abnormal or not the output signal of the flow rate detecting unit and the external sensor means A shut-off determining means for outputting a shut-off signal at the time of abnormality, a shut-off means for shutting off the supply of gas, a return means for automatically returning the shut-off means when detecting a stop of the shut-off signal at the time of abnormality from the external sensor means, After returning the means, there is one equipped with a leakage judgment means that determines whether the gas appliance is in a stopped state by a flow rate signal and shuts off and outputs at the time of leakage. Since it is difficult to stop using the instrument, the shutoff means is immediately activated to stop the gas supply, and when the external sensor means detects that the abnormal state has stopped, the return means shuts off the means. Gas is detected when an earthquake has occurred by automatically returning it, judging whether there is a leak by the flow rate detection means, shutting it off if there is a forget to turn off the appliance, and judging that the gas can be used normally if there is no leak It is known that the supply personnel can automatically determine the leakage without returning to the return operation and return to the state where the gas can be used normally again, improving usability while maintaining safety ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Further, in a wireless automatic meter reading system or the like, a wireless master device that communicates with a wireless slave device provided in the meter via a wireless line to collect information including data measured by the meter is provided. The wireless master unit and the wireless slave unit are configured in a 1: N configuration so that N wireless slave units can be connected to one master unit. It is known that performs wireless communication with a wireless device and communicates with a center device side via a mobile phone line or a teleterminal wireless line to shut off / return gas from the center (for example, , See Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-152901 JP 2001-111701 A

However, in the conventional gas meter, when the shut-off valve is operated by an earthquake or the like, a reduction in the fine gas leakage or gas pressure by automatically returning to fill the gas into the gas pipe a shut-off valve after the earthquake has subsided Inspection and safety checks are conducted, and if there is no abnormality, the gas supply is continued as it is, and if there is an abnormality, the shutoff valve is operated again to stop the gas supply. If it occurs, there is a risk that if the gas is automatically restored and the gas supply is started, the gas will catch fire and damage will increase.

Things present invention is intended to solve the above problems, is incorporated a radio module capable of communicating with adjacent gas meter, to provide a gas meter so as to limit the automatic return operation for cutoff valve when receiving a fire alarm signal It is.

In order to solve the above problems, a gas meter of the present invention is a gas meter that communicates with a gas meter capable of communicating within a predetermined area using a specific low-power radio, and the gas meter measures a flow rate and performs a predetermined process. The flow measurement processing means that outputs the flow information as a flow rate, the seismic device that detects vibration such as an earthquake, and whether the gas needs to be shut off by the output from the seismic device or the flow rate information of the flow measurement processing means A control device that determines whether or not, a shut-off device that shuts off gas by a shut-off determination signal from the control device, a return means that performs a predetermined safety confirmation process after the operation of the shut-off device and automatically executes a return operation, and at least and a wireless module capable of communicating with adjacent gas meter, wireless module, control unit and configured integrally housed in a gas meter, when operating the blocking device, before Sends a return inhibition instruction information by the wireless module, when the return inhibition instruction information from the adjacent gas meter receives said radio module, in which so as to continue the interrupted operation in preference to automatic return operation of the return means.

  According to the above invention, since the wireless module capable of communicating with other gas meters existing in a predetermined area is integrally incorporated in the control device in the gas meter, it is only necessary to install the gas meter. Communication with other gas meters is possible, and various information from adjacent gas meters can be received smoothly. When an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs, it is possible to determine whether or not a return operation can be performed based on the surrounding situation, such as the surrounding fire occurrence situation. By prohibiting the return of the shut-off device depending on the situation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters and suppress the spread of damage.

Gas meter of the present invention, simply by installing the gas meter becomes possible to communicate with the other gas meter, it is possible to receive various information from the adjacent gas meter smoothly around the time of an earthquake or the like abnormal situation, for example, ambient It is possible to determine whether or not the return operation is possible based on the fire occurrence status of the fire, and by prohibiting the return of the shut-off device according to the situation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster and suppress the spread of damage.

A first invention is a gas meter that communicates with a gas meter capable of communicating within a predetermined area using a specific low-power radio, and the gas meter measures a flow rate, performs a predetermined process, and outputs the flow rate information. A flow rate measurement processing means that detects vibrations such as an earthquake, and a control that determines whether or not a gas needs to be shut off based on output from the seismic sensitivity device or flow rate information of the flow rate measurement processing means An apparatus, a shut-off device that shuts off a gas by a shut-off determination signal from the control device, a return means that performs a predetermined safety check process after the shut-off device is actuated to automatically perform a return operation, and at least an adjacent gas meter a communication and capable of wireless module and the wireless module, wherein the control unit and configured integrally housed in the gas meter, when operating the blocking device, said Mu It sends a return inhibition instruction information module, and characterized by being so when the return inhibition instruction information from the adjacent gas meter receives said radio module, to continue the interrupted operation in preference to automatic return operation of the return means To do.

  And since the wireless module capable of communicating with other gas meters existing in a predetermined area is integrated into the control device in the gas meter, it is possible to connect with other gas meters simply by installing the gas meter. Communication is possible, and various information from adjacent gas meters can be received smoothly, and it is possible to determine whether or not a return operation is possible based on the surrounding situation, such as the surrounding fire occurrence situation, when an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs. By prohibiting the return of the shut-off device, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters and suppress the spread of damage.

A fourth invention includes a wireless module that transmits and receives information using a communication line other than the base station and a telephone line. When the wireless module receives a return prohibition command information transmitted from an adjacent gas meter, It is characterized by transmitting that the return prohibition processing mode is being executed.

And when the return prohibition command information is transmitted from the adjacent gas meter and the recovery prohibition processing mode is entered, it is possible to notify the base station that the situation is abnormal such as a fire by reporting the situation to the base station. In addition, the base station can accurately grasp the damage situation in the area, and can respond appropriately.

  The fifth invention is characterized in that the return prohibition processing mode is canceled only by a return cancellation command from the base station.

  And when entering the return prohibition processing mode, the base station investigates the damage situation in the target area and releases it only with the return release command sent after the safety is confirmed, so that gas supply by easy return operation Can prevent the occurrence of secondary accidents and prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a wireless module for communication with an adjacent gas meter and a wireless module for communication with a base station communicate using different communication frequency bands, and the wireless module for communication with an adjacent gas meter is a specific low power wireless. A collar communication radio module having a communication frequency band is used, and a radio module for communication with a base station is a wide area communication radio module having a wide communication frequency band.

  Then, a wide area communication wireless module capable of carrier direct communication with the base station and an area communication wireless module capable of communicating within a predetermined range using a specific low-power wireless communication frequency band are configured integrally with the control device, Information is transmitted on the communication line other than the station and the telephone line, and information is transmitted on the adjacent gas meter and the specific low-power wireless communication frequency band. It is possible to perform high-precision processing based on information from the adjacent gas meter, and promptly transmit the command from the base station to the gas meter regardless of the congestion of the telephone line so that appropriate processing is executed. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication form between the gas meter and the base station and the demand house in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates a communication mode between a gas meter adjacent in the gas meter, Figure 3 the illustrates a communication mode between various alarm in the gas meter, Figure 4 showing the appearance and components of the gas meter, Figure 5 is an internal configuration view of the gas meter, Figure 6 is a control circuit board of the gas meter FIG.

  In the figure, a gas meter 2 is installed at the inlet portion of the gas supply pipe 1 of each household, and the pipe branches from the gas pipe 3 after passing through the gas meter 2 to a place where various gas appliances used at home are installed. Gas is supplied. For example, a gas water heater 4 is installed outdoors, and hot water generated by the gas water heater 4 is installed in a kitchen hot water tap 5, a bath 6 in which a bathtub and a shower device are installed, a living room and the like through a water pipe. The floor heating 7 is supplied to form various usage forms.

  In addition, when indoors, gas is supplied to a gas table 8 installed in a kitchen, a gas fan heater 9 installed in a living room, a bedroom, or the like, and is used as needed.

When the installed gas appliance is used and gas consumption occurs, the amount of use is measured by the gas meter 2, and the data is accumulated and stored every predetermined period. The data stored in the gas meter 2 is subjected to predetermined information processing based on a periodic data request command from the gas company 15, and then the gas fee, the amount of gas used, a discount service provided by the gas company 15, etc. Is transmitted to the consumer 13 and the gas business operator 15 as the information.

  As the transmission means, as shown in FIG. 4, a wireless module 11 integrated with a control circuit board 10 constituting a control device built in the gas meter 2 is used, and this wireless module 11 is connected by a connector 10d. A gas meter that is detachably mounted on the control circuit board 10 and that does not have the wireless module 11 and does not have a communication function and a gas meter that has the communication function that has the wireless module 11 can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, it can be used regardless of the presence or absence of the communication function.

  In addition, since the wireless module 11 is detachable, even if it has a communication function, it is not necessary to acquire the standard as a communication device in the gas meter body if the wireless module that has acquired the communication standard is installed. In the case of changing the gas meter, etc., it can be changed relatively freely without being restricted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the wireless module 11 is different from the telephone line for communicating with the base station 14, for example, a wide-area communication wireless module 11 a having a communication frequency band of 200 MHz, a television 12 a in the customer's house 13, In order to communicate with a specific terminal device 12 such as a personal computer or a mobile phone 12b, the area communication wireless module 11b having a specific low-power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz, for example, is used. Data from the control circuit 10a for calculating or detecting anomalies such as earthquakes and gas leaks, various information transmitted from the gas operator 15 via the base station 14, and further transmitted from the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D When various types of information are received, depending on the received data, for example, gas charges, gas usage, or land In the case of contents to be notified to the consumer, such as the operation of the gas shut-off valve accompanying the occurrence of an abnormality such as a gas leak, and the return prohibition command information prohibiting the automatic return of the gas shut-off valve, the area communication wireless module 11b is used. Data is transmitted to the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a or the mobile phone 12b in the customer's house 13.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the specific terminal device 12 also has a wireless module 11 c having the same communication frequency band as the area communication wireless module 11 b built in the gas meter 2. The transmitted data can be received, and this data is displayed through the screen of the television 12a or the mobile phone 12b, so that information can be transmitted directly to the consumer from the gas meter. Information transmitted from the gas meter 2 to the gas company 15 and processed by the gas company 15, or return prohibition command information from the gas company 15 and the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D, for example, charge notification and automatic return Sending postcards such as notices prohibiting bans to customers by mail, etc., or gas company 15 is dispatched to each house Since it is no longer necessary to adopt the information transmission method of contacting the company, it is possible to reduce the man-hours required for the notification work and to eliminate the postage costs for notification postcards. It contributes to.

When various information is transmitted from the gas meter 2 to the specific terminal device 12, a notification completion signal is sent from the area communication wireless module 11b to the wide area communication wireless module 11a, and the wide area communication wireless module 11a sends the notification completion signal to the base station 14 To notify the gas company 15 that the information transmission to the consumer has been completed. In this case, it is preferable to receive a response signal from the specific terminal device 12 and transmit a notification completion signal, so that information can be more reliably transmitted to consumers, and a rational information transmission system is constructed. can do.

Next, the flow rate measurement processing means for measuring the gas flow rate built in the control circuit 10a, performing a predetermined process and outputting it as flow rate information will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. A gas valve 2c having a gas inlet 2a and a gas outlet 2b is provided with a shutoff valve 2c for shutting off the gas in the event of an abnormality and a pair of ultrasonic sensors 17 for measuring the gas flow rate. A pressure sensor 2d for detection is arranged. A control circuit board 10 equipped with a control circuit 10a for calculating a gas flow rate based on a signal from the ultrasonic sensor 17 is arranged so that the liquid crystal display 10e faces the display unit 2e of the gas meter 2, and the control circuit board 10 A seismic sensing device 21 for detecting vibration such as an earthquake is integrally attached to the gas meter 2 so as to detect vibration and impact applied to the gas meter 2 and output a predetermined signal. The gas cutoff valve 2c is activated by the output signal to stop the gas supply. The gas shut-off valve 2c has a self-holding function so that the shut-off state is maintained even when the shut-off signal disappears. When a separate return signal is input, the return means 22 shuts off the gas to release the self-hold function. An automatic return function is provided such that the return operation of the valve 2c is performed to change the shut-off state to the open state and the gas supply is resumed. A battery 2f for driving the control circuit 10a is also housed.

  Then, the flow rate measurement unit 17 and the control circuit 10a that measure the gas flow rate, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, arrange a pair of ultrasonic sensors in the gas flow path, and change the propagation time according to the flow rate flowing through the flow path. Some measure the flow rate by measuring. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described. A measurement control unit having a switching means that constitutes a control circuit 10a, in which a first transmitter / receiver 17A for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves and a second transmitter / receiver 17B for receiving or transmitting ultrasonic waves are arranged in the flow direction. Switching between transmission and reception is possible by 18 and the flow state of fluid such as gas is detected. The flow rate is measured by processing the signals of the first transmitter / receiver 17A and the second transmitter / receiver 17B. Specifically, the first transmitter / receiver 17A is first driven by the measurement control unit 18 and the second transmitter / receiver 17B is then driven. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward the upstream, that is, from the upstream to the downstream. Then, the signal received by the second transmitter / receiver 17B is amplified by the amplifying means provided in the measurement control unit 18, the amplified signal is compared with the reference signal, and after the signal equal to or higher than the reference signal is detected, the measurement control unit The above-described transmission / reception is repeated a predetermined number of times by the repeating means provided at 18, and each time value is measured by a time measuring means such as a timer counter provided at the measurement control unit 18.

  Next, transmission / reception of the first transmitter / receiver 17A and the second transmitter / receiver 17B is switched by the measurement control unit 18 having switching means, and the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the second transmitter / receiver 17B to the first transmitter / receiver 17A, that is, from downstream to upstream. A signal is transmitted, this transmission is repeated as described above, and each time value is measured. Then, the flow rate value is obtained by the signal processing unit 19 in consideration of the size of the flow path 16 and the flow state of the fluid from the ultrasonic propagation time difference between the first transceiver 17A and the second transceiver 17B. The obtained flow rate data is accumulated in the information storage means 10b and stored as accumulated data for each predetermined period.

  Further, the flow path 16 in which the flow rate measuring unit 17 is disposed is provided with a shutoff valve 2c that shuts off the gas flow in the event of an abnormality or the like. When the flow rate value is detected beyond a certain usage time, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the shutoff valve 2c is operated to shut off the gas flow path 16.

  Further, when an earthquake or impact signal is input from the seismic sensing device 21 or an abnormal gas pressure signal is input from the pressure sensor 2d via the pressure determination unit 24, the shutoff valve 2c is operated via the control circuit 10a to cause the gas flow. The road 16 is blocked and the center is notified.

Next, an example of information transmission using the wireless module 11 built in the gas meter 2 will be described. First, when a meter reading instruction from the gas operator 15 is transmitted through the base station 14 in a wide communication frequency band (200 MHz). The wide-area communication wireless module 11a built in the gas meter 2 receives and the meter reading instruction information is sent to the control circuit 10a mounted on the same substrate. In the control circuit 10a, the flow rate data measured by the flow rate measuring means is accumulated every predetermined period, and the accumulated data or information converted into charge data is stored in the information storage means 10b. When the meter reading instruction information is input, the control circuit 10a sends the flow rate accumulated data in the information storage means 10b or the information converted into the charge data to the area communication wireless module 11b and the wide area communication wireless module 11a via the communication switching means 10c. The wide-area communication wireless module 11a transmits to the base station 14 in the wide-area communication frequency band (200 MHz), and meter reading information is transmitted from the base station 14 to the gas company 15 using a dedicated line. Further, the area communication wireless module 11b transmits to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a in the specific low power wireless communication frequency band (429 MHz), and, for example, FIG. Display charge information and usage as shown in. Then, when transmission to the specific terminal device 12 is completed, as described above, a notification completion signal is transmitted to the gas company 15 to notify that information transmission to the consumer is completed.

  Further, when the shutoff valve 2c is activated due to an earthquake or impact, the shutoff information is transmitted to the base station 14 in the wideband communication frequency band (200 MHz) using the wideband communication wireless module 11a. After that, when the return prohibition command information is not transmitted from the base station 14, the return means 22 is operated to perform normal gas leakage confirmation. When the abnormality cannot be confirmed, it is determined as normal and the gas supply is resumed.

  However, as shown in FIG. 10, the magnitude of an earthquake or the like is large and transmitted to the base station 14 in the communication line with the gas meters 2A to 2F in a specific area (region A to region E) managed by one base station 14. If there is a lot of blockage information, earthquake distribution information based on blockage information from each region, or if damage in the target area is expected to expand based on information from a specific organization such as the Japan Meteorological Agency, etc. If it is determined that a secondary disaster is expected if the return operation is permitted by obtaining information that a fire has occurred in the surrounding area, all gas meters installed in a specific area from the base station 14 or separated gas meters Furthermore, return prohibition command information is transmitted at a predetermined cycle in a wide communication frequency band (200 MHz) to a predetermined gas meter, and this command is built in the gas meter 2. When wide area communication wireless module 11a receives, so that prohibits automatic return operation to continue the interrupted operation of the returning means 22. The earthquake-related information transmitted from the base station 14 is sent to the area communication wireless module 11b via the communication switching means 10c, and the area communication wireless module 11b is connected to the television 12a or the like in the specific low power wireless communication frequency band (429 MHz). The data is transmitted to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the specific terminal device 12, and displayed on the screen, for example, as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, information can be transmitted / received to / from the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D, so that the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D when the shutoff valve 2c is actuated due to an earthquake or impact. Return prohibition command information can also be transmitted from, for example, when a fire occurs from a nearby customer due to an earthquake, the return prohibition command information is transmitted from a gas meter installed at the consumer, and this return prohibition command information When the signal is received, the automatic return operation by the return means 22 is prohibited and the interruption operation is continued. Communication in this case is performed within a predetermined area where radio waves reach in the specific low-power radio communication frequency band using the area communication radio module 11b, and is distinguished from return prohibition command information transmitted from the base station 14. . When the return prohibition command information from the adjacent gas meter is received, the information is similarly transmitted to the wireless module 11c integrally attached to the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a, and on the screen, for example, as shown in FIG. Display as shown to inform the customer of the situation.

As described above, the control circuit 10a has the communication switching means 10c to select the radio module having a different communication frequency band corresponding to the other party to communicate according to the information to be transmitted. 15, it is necessary to transmit the information stored in the information storage means 10b to the gas operator 15 and the specific terminal device 12 based on the information received by the wide area communication wireless module 11a. When the wide area communication wireless module 11a having the communication frequency band and the area communication wireless module 11b having the specific low power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz, for example, are selected and the return prohibition command information from the gas operator 15 is selected, the wide area communication wireless It is only necessary to transmit earthquake-related information to the specific terminal device 12 based on the information received by the module 11a. For example the area communication wireless module 11b having a specified low power wireless communication frequency band of 429MHz may be selected, further in the case of return inhibition instruction information from the adjacent gas meter, the gas company by information received by the area communication wireless module 11b 15 and the specific terminal device 12 need to transmit earthquake-related information. In this case, for example, the wide area communication wireless module 11a having a communication frequency band of 200 MHz and the area communication having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band of 429 MHz, for example. The wireless module 11b is selected.

  Note that the wide area communication radio module 11a and the area communication radio module 11b may be provided separately, or may be configured as a common radio module, and the communication frequency band may be switched between the wide area communication frequency band and the specific low power radio communication frequency band. However, in the former case, the communication switching means 10c needs to select the wide area communication wireless module 11a and the area communication wireless module 11b, and there is a merit that simultaneous communication is possible, but there are demerits such as a large installation space and high cost. is doing. In the latter case, the communication switching means 10c needs to switch the communication frequency band according to the communication partner, and has the demerit that the simultaneous communication cannot be performed and the alternate communication is possible while having the advantages of small installation space and low cost. ing.

  Next, processing when a disaster such as an earthquake occurs and instructions from a gas company and an adjacent gas meter will be described.

When an earthquake occurs, the seismic device 21 built in the gas meter 2 detects the signal, and a signal corresponding to the magnitude of the vibration is output. When the control circuit 10a detects a vibration of a predetermined magnitude or larger, an operation signal is sent to the shutoff valve 2c. Output and execute shut-off operation. This cutoff information is transmitted from the wide area communication wireless module 11a to the base station 14. The base station 14 estimates the magnitude of the earthquake by creating an earthquake distribution in the specific area based on the cutoff information transmitted from a plurality of gas meters installed in the specific area, and other meteorological agencies and related organizations. Even if the damage status is obtained and the return operation is permitted, it will be judged whether the damage will not be expanded due to the occurrence of secondary damage, and if it is determined that the damage will not be expanded, the return permission signal Or the return prohibiting command information is not transmitted so that the automatic return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c by the return means 22 is enabled, and a safety check process such as a predetermined leak check is executed. Restart gas supply. Further, when the base station 14 determines that the damage is expected to be expanded, the return prohibition command information is transmitted at a predetermined period, and when the command is received by the wide area communication wireless module 11a built in the gas meter 2, the received information is An input to the control circuit 10a is performed to prohibit the automatic return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c by the return means 22, and a return operation prohibiting process mode for preferentially continuing the shut-off operation is executed.

Further, the return prohibition command information may be transmitted from the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D other than the base station 14, and when transmitted from the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D, it is installed in the house as shown in FIG. When the fire alarm 23 or the CO alarm 25 is activated and the signal is sent to the centralized monitoring panel 26, the wireless module 11c built in the centralized monitoring panel 26 transmits the return prohibiting command information at a predetermined cycle. , Notify that there is a fire around. When this information is received by the area communication radio module 11b, the received information is input to the control circuit 10a as described above, and the automatic return operation of the gas shut-off valve 2c by the return means 22 is prohibited and the shut-off operation is continued with priority. Executes the operation prohibition processing mode. The wireless module 11c built in the centralized monitoring panel 26 is a wireless module having the same communication frequency band as that of the area communication wireless module 11b built in the gas meter 2, so that information is directly transmitted between the centralized monitoring panel 26 and the gas meter 2. In addition to the information detected by the gas meter 2, external related information can be acquired and more accurate safety management can be performed. It can also be used as a wireless repeater for transmitting information from an external device.

  Then, when the return operation prohibition processing mode is being executed, a return cancellation command is transmitted from the base station 14 at a predetermined cycle, and when this command is received by the wide area communication wireless module 11a, the received information is input to the control circuit 10a to return the return means 22 The automatic return operation of the gas cutoff valve 2c is permitted, and the return operation release processing mode for performing a predetermined safety confirmation process by the return operation of the gas cutoff valve 2c is executed. This restoration cancellation order is issued when it is determined that the occurrence of expansion damage has not been anticipated based on the results of the gas company's own investigations and cancellation information of related organizations.

In particular, during execution of the return operation prohibition processing mode based on the return prohibition command information from the adjacent gas meter, the automatic return operation is always permitted based on the return release command from the base station 14, and the gas supply is restarted by the easy return operation. To prevent the occurrence of secondary accidents and prevent secondary disasters from occurring.

Further, when the return prohibition command information is received from the base station 14 or when the return cancellation command is received, the information is received from the specific terminal device 12 such as the television 12a using the area communication wireless module 11b built in the gas meter 2. Is transmitted to the built-in wireless module 11c, displayed as earthquake-related information on the screen, and notified to the customer.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the wireless module 11b that can communicate with the other gas meters 2A to 2D existing in a predetermined area is integrally incorporated in the control device 10 in the gas meter 2. Because it has a configuration, it is possible to communicate with the other gas meters 2A to 2D simply by installing the gas meter 2, smoothly receive various information from adjacent gas meters, and the surrounding conditions when an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs For example, it is possible to determine whether or not the return operation can be performed based on the surrounding fire occurrence situation, and by prohibiting the return of the shut-off device 2c depending on the situation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster and suppress the expansion of damage. .

Moreover, since the safety confirmation process of the return means 22 is stopped when the return prohibition command information based on the fire notification signal transmitted from the adjacent gas meter is received, in a situation where a fire due to the occurrence of an earthquake occurs in the surroundings The return operation of the shut-off device 2c can be surely prohibited, and it is possible to prevent a flaming accident associated with the resumption of gas supply by an easy return operation, to prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster, and to suppress the expansion of damage.

  Moreover, since security information such as a fire alarm signal is transmitted in the same communication frequency band as the wireless module 11b with a built-in gas meter, it becomes possible to manage the supply of gas using the security information in the home and relay the information to the gas meter. It can also be used as a container.

In addition, when return prohibition command information is transmitted from the adjacent gas meter and the return prohibition processing mode is entered, the situation is notified to the base station 14 to notify that an abnormal situation such as a fire has occurred in the surroundings. Therefore, the base station 14 can accurately grasp the damage situation in the area and can appropriately respond.

  In addition, when the return prohibition processing mode is entered, the base station 14 investigates the damage situation in the target area, and after confirming safety, it is canceled only by a return cancellation command that is transmitted, so that the gas due to an easy return operation can be obtained. It can prevent flaming accidents due to the resumption of supply, prevent secondary disasters, and suppress the spread of damage.

Further, a wide area communication wireless module 11a capable of carrier direct communication with the base station 14 and an area communication wireless module 11b capable of communicating within a predetermined range using a specific low power wireless communication frequency band are integrated with the control device 10. Configured to transmit information in a communication line other than the base station 14 and the telephone line, and to transmit information in the specific low power radio communication frequency band with the adjacent gas meters 2A to 2D. It becomes possible to obtain base station information separately, and it is possible to perform highly accurate processing based on information from adjacent gas meters, and to promptly issue commands from the base station to the gas meter regardless of the telephone line congestion. It is possible to execute appropriate processing.

According to the gas meter of the present invention, by incorporating a wireless module capable of communicating with the other of the gas meter present in a given area, to be able to receive various types of information from the adjacent gas meter smoothly Therefore, when an abnormality such as an earthquake occurs, it is possible to determine whether or not the return operation can be performed based on the surrounding situation.

Overall configuration diagram showing a communication mode of a gas meter according to the first embodiment of the present invention It illustrates a communication mode between a gas meter adjacent in the gas meter It illustrates a communication mode between various alarm in the gas meter Shows the appearance and components of the gas meter Internal configuration diagram of the gas meter A block diagram of a control circuit board of the gas meter It illustrates a communication form of the particular terminal device and the gas meter (A) The figure which shows the charge information display form in the same specific terminal device (b) The figure which shows the earthquake related information display form in the specific terminal device Control block diagram of the gas meter It illustrates a communication mode between the regional base station and meter the same gas meter

2 Gas meter 2c Gas shut-off valve 10 Control circuit board (control device)
10a Control circuit (control device)
10b Information storage means 10c Communication switching means 11 Wireless module 11a Wide area communication wireless module 11b Area communication wireless module 12 Specific terminal device 12a Television 12b Mobile phone 14 Base station 17 Flow rate measurement means (flow rate measurement processing means)
21 seismic sensing device 22 return means 23 fire alarm 24 pressure judgment unit 25 CO alarm 26 centralized monitoring panel

Claims (4)

A gas meter capable of communicating within a predetermined area using a specific low power radio,
A flow rate measurement processing means for measuring a flow rate, performing a predetermined process and outputting the flow rate information;
A seismic device that detects vibrations such as earthquakes,
A control device for determining whether or not gas shut-off is necessary based on the output from the seismic device or the flow rate information of the flow rate measurement processing unit;
A shut-off device that shuts off the gas by a shut-off determination signal from the control device;
A return means for automatically performing a return operation by performing a predetermined safety confirmation process after the operation of the shut-off device;
A wireless module capable of communicating with at least an adjacent gas meter,
The wireless module is configured integrally with the control device and housed in a gas meter,
When operating the shut-off device, send the return prohibition command information in the wireless module,
A gas meter that continues a shut-off operation in preference to an automatic return operation of the return means when the wireless module receives return prohibit command information from an adjacent gas meter. A wireless module that transmits and receives information using a communication line other than the base station and the telephone line,
2. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein when the wireless module receives the return prohibition command information transmitted from the adjacent gas meter, the base station transmits that the return prohibition processing mode is being executed. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the return prohibition processing mode is canceled only by a return cancellation command from the base station. The wireless module for communication with the adjacent gas meter and the wireless module for communication with the base station communicate using different communication frequency bands,
The wireless module for communication with an adjacent gas meter is a collar communication wireless module having a specific low power wireless communication frequency band, and the wireless module for communication with a base station is a wide area communication wireless module having a wide communication frequency band. 3. The gas meter according to 3.