Gas meter and gas safety system

• US 8,442,696 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yokohata, Mitsuo, Nakamura, Hirozumi, Shirasawa, Tadanori, Kubo, Kazuo, Namba, Mitsuo, Saito, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US12/921,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 702/45, 700/282, 137/382, 604/540
• 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 configured to set at least one safety function from among a plurality of safety functions pertaining to usage of a gas;

a monitoring unit that detects, based on the flow value, occurrence of a malfunction arising during usage of a gas;

a control unit that determines, when the monitoring unit detects a malfunction, whether the detected malfunction corresponds to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit; 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 further;

interrupts a gas supply when the detected malfunction corresponds to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit; and

when the detected malfunction does not correspond to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit, sends a report of the occurrence of the detected malfunction to the monitoring center by means of the communication unit.

2. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein, when the detected malfunction does not correspond to one of the at least one safety function set by the function setting unit, the control unit;

determines a number of times the detected malfunction has occurred; and

when the detected malfunction has occurred a predetermined number of times, sends the report to the monitoring center of the occurrence of the detected malfunction.

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