JPH0211175A - Fluid interrupting device with communicating function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a reliability by transmitting an information signal between a control part and a central control unit in a case to a bidirectional photocoupler element inside a meter upper case in a fluid interrupting device having a communicating function. CONSTITUTION:When gas flows as indicated in an arrow, a magnet 11 for a flow rate sensor is moved according to it, a gas flow rate is detected by a reed switch 12 in a meter upper case 2, and it is transmitted to a control part 13. When the gas flow rate is abnormal, based on a flow rate signal, the control part 13 executes a current flowing to a coil 6 of a shut-off valve 3, and a gas route is interrupted. Based on the flow rate signal, the integration of the gas flow rate is executed. Integration and interruption information signals from the control part 13 are transmitted through the photocoupler element 16 and a transparent plate 19 to the photocoupler element outside a meter, and further, the signals are transmitted to a central control unit 24. To the contrary, information from the central control unit 24 is transmitted to the control part 13. Thus, the meter upper case internal part and an external part are electrically insulated, an influence due to a noise from the external part is eliminated, and the reliability is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid cutoff device that guarantees comprehensive safety of fluid supply, and a fluid cutoff device with a communication function that has the function of automatically reading a meter using a host computer in a center, etc. It is something.

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional fluid cutoff device with a communication function will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional fluid cutoff device with a communication function.

In Figure 2, 1 is the gas meter body, 2 is the gas meter 1
3 is a self-holding shutoff valve that shuts off the gas passage of the gas meter 1; 4 is a yoke of the shutoff valve 4;
5 is a permanent magnet for holding, 6 is a coil that cancels the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, 7 is a base flange that shields the gas passage and the inside of the meter upper case 2, 8 is a spring, and 9 is a plunger 10 that directly connects the gas passage. a plunger head for shutting off, 11 a magnet for a flow rate sensor fixed on an arm plate that moves when the gas flow inside the gas meter body 1 flows;
12 is a flow rate sensor (
13 is a control unit; 14 is a notification unit (LED) that notifies the outside of the state of the control unit; 15 is a transparent plate;
4 is a central control unit, 25 is a battery, and 26 is a communication line directly drawn out from the control unit 13.

The operation of the fluid cutoff device with communication function configured as described above will be described below.

When the gas flows as shown by the arrow, the flow rate sensor magnet 11
moves accordingly, detects the gas flow rate from the reed switch 12, and transmits it to the control section 13. The control unit 13 determines whether there is any abnormality in the gas flow rate based on this flow rate signal, and if there is an abnormality, the gas passage is shut off by energizing the coil 6 of the cutoff valve 3. Further, the gas flow rate is integrated based on this flow rate signal. Furthermore, integration information and cutoff information are sent to the central control unit 24 via the signal line 26,
Information is received from the central control device 24 via the signal line 26. The LED 14 notifies the household where the meter is installed via the transparent plate of the current state of the control unit 13.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a configuration, the meter is often installed underground via a gas pipe, and the signal line 26
is impulse noise due to induction or signal line 26
This serves as an entry point for static electricity noise or lightning noise from workers connected to the central control unit 24, and the noise is returned to the ground via the control unit 13. These noises may cause the control unit 13 to malfunction unexpectedly, which is a very important problem in terms of meter reading or safety.

Furthermore, it is necessary to perform connection work such as caulking the signal line 26 to the central control unit 24 at the location where the meter is installed, but this work is difficult. Furthermore, if a contact type connector is used, which is easy to construct, long-term reliability becomes an issue.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the fluid cutoff device with communication function of the present invention is provided with a bidirectional optical coupling element inside the meter upper case instead of the signal line.

Operation With the above configuration, the present invention transmits information signals transmitted and received from the control unit via the optical coupling element, further via the transparent plate to the optical coupling element outside the meter, and further transmitted to the central control unit. As a result, the inside of the meter case is completely electrically isolated from the outside, and the control section is completely unaffected by external noise, improving reliability. In addition, attachments and the like improve workability, and there is no need to consider the reliability of contact that occurs with connectors and the like.

Embodiment Hereinafter, a fluid cutoff device with a communication function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a gas cutoff with communication function in an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the same numbers as in FIG. 2 represent the same parts, and the functions are also the same as in the conventional example. 16 is a bidirectional coupling element for transmitting and receiving information signals from the control unit 13 to the outside or for receiving them from the outside; 17 is a phototransistor;
8 is a light emitting element, 19 is a transparent plate, 20 is a light emitting element of the phototransistor 17, 21 is a phototransistor of a light receiving part of the light emitting element 18, 22 is a crown type attachment, and 23 is a signal line. In order to communicate through optical coupling, the inside and outside of the meter case are electrically insulated. This eliminates the possibility of malfunction of the control section 13 due to external noise, which has been a problem in the past. Furthermore, if a crown-type attachment is used as in the embodiment, construction work becomes easier.

Effect of the invention The effects of the present invention as described above will be described below.

(1) The inside and outside of the meter upper case are electrically insulated, and the influence of external noise on the control unit is completely eliminated, improving the reliability of the fluid cutoff device with communication function.

(2) Attachments improve workability,
There is also no need to consider the reliability of contact that occurs with connectors and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid cut-off device with a communication function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional fluid cut-off device with a communication function. 2...Meter upper case, 3...Shutoff valve, 12...Papa flow rate sensor, 13...Control unit,
14... Notification unit, 16... Interface equipped with a bidirectional optical coupling element. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person Communication interface

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shutoff valve that shuts off the fluid passage by energizing a coil in the upper case of the meter, a flow rate sensor that detects the movement of a magnet inside the meter, and a function that receives signals from the flow rate sensor and integrates the fluid flow rate. a control unit having a safety function that receives a signal from the flow rate sensor, monitors abnormal flow rate and drives the cutoff valve, and a communication function that transmits and receives information regarding the integration function and the safety function; and the control unit. A fluid cutoff with a communication function, which is equipped with a notification section that reports the status of the meter to the outside of the meter, and a communication interface section that is equipped with a bidirectional optical coupling element that receives transmitted and received information signals from the control section and transmits them to the central control device. Device.