GAS METER AND GAS SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20110004353A1
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shirasawa, Tadanori, Yokohata, Mitsuo, Saito, Hisashi, Kubo, Kazuo, Namba, Mitsuo, Nakamura, Hirozumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,442,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/04 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/14 for earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/242 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/068 with electrical means G01F15/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7062 Valve guards

Abstract

Setting safety function, as appropriate, according to a user environment is enabled, thereby enhancing safety function. According to selection information from a safety function selection unit 120, a function setting unit 116 sets arbitrary function among a plurality of functions as safety function pertaining to usage of a gas. When operating conditions for safety function are fulfilled, a monitoring unit 112 detects malfunction, which would arise during usage of a gas, and outputs a safety signal to a control unit 114 in accordance with the set safety function. In accordance with a safety signal from the monitoring unit 112, the control unit 114 cuts off a gas supply when an event fulfilling operating conditions for the set function has arisen. When an event fulfilling operating conditions for an unset function has arisen, a communication unit 124 reports occurrence of malfunction pertaining to unset function to the monitoring center 200.

Claims

1. A gas meter comprising:

a flow measurement unit that measures a gas flow flowing through a gas flow passage;

a flow computing unit that computes predetermined flow data in accordance with a flow value measured by the flow measurement unit;

a function setting unit that sets arbitrary function among a plurality of functions as safety function pertaining to usage of a gas;

a monitoring unit that monitors malfunction, which would arise during usage of a gas, pursuant to the safety function including function set by the function setting unit;

a control unit that performs processing pertaining to the safety function when the monitoring unit detects malfunction; and

a communication unit that establishes a communication with the monitoring center that monitors a gas supply in accordance with a command from the control unit, wherein

the control unit interrupts a gas supply when an event fulfilling operating conditions for the function set by the function setting unit has arisen and reports occurrence of malfunction pertaining to unset function to the monitoring center by means of the communication unit when an event fulfilling operating conditions for function not set by the function setting unit has arisen.

2. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sends a report when an event fulfilling operating conditions for the unset function has arisen a predetermined number of times at the time of notification of occurrence of malfunction pertaining to the unset function.

3. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the function setting unit can set, as the safety function, at least any of functions for detecting malfunction due to events;

namely, an excess flow, an excess in operating time, detection of leakage, anomalous pressure, detection of pulsation, operation of a seismoscope, and operation of an alarm.

4. A gas safety system comprising:

the gas meter defined in claim 1; and

a monitoring center that is connected to the gas meter by way of a communication line and that receives a report from the gas meter.