JP2001084472A - System for monitoring resident - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately monitor health condition of a resident from the outside by attaching a flow rate detector to a faucet or an optional place of a component connected to the faucet in a freely attachable and detachable way. SOLUTION: A two-handle type faucet 1 is formed by connecting to a hot water supply source and a water supply source through a connector pipe 2 for hot water supply and a connector pipe 2a for water supply which are connected at the back in a longitudinal way and arranging a handle 4 for hot water and a handle 5 for water, which adjust temperature and flow rates of the hot water and water, at left and right sides. A discharge pipe 8 that normally discharges the hot water through a 1st cap nut 7 is attached to a connecting part 6 projecting downward from the center in a freely turnable way. A 2nd cap nut 7a and a flow rate detector 11 are attached in back matter between the part 6 and the nut 7 in the freely attachable and detachable way. The detector 11 detects the existence/absence of the hot water flowing through a duct of the faucet 1 and outputs this detection signal to a controlling part through a cord 12. Thus, it is possible to monitor how the resident lives at a low cost from the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for monitoring a living condition of a resident in a house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japan, a country with a long life expectancy, the elderly population is expected to increase in the future, but it is important to determine from the outside whether elderly living alone and healthy are living normally. It is not possible, for example, home helpers regularly visit and watch the situation, but if you visit residents living alone in large numbers,
It was not possible to observe each resident at all times to accurately determine their health status. Therefore, focusing on using water in kitchens, washrooms, toilets, baths, etc. within a specified period of time when living in a house normally, monitoring the resident's health condition from the designated notification destination based on the amount of water used Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-30886 discloses one that is made possible. This is done by receiving the signal output from the flow sensor attached to the water pipe through which the entire amount of water used in the house passes through the receiving circuit, and determining whether the water usage is normal or abnormal, while staying at home If the water is not used for a predetermined time or longer, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the health condition of the resident, and a notification is sent to a predetermined designated destination via a telephone line or the like.

[0003] In the above, the flow sensor is attached to the water pipe, but it is not to be retrofitted to the existing water pipe, so the already installed water pipe and faucet must be replaced. In addition, the replacement required a large amount of work and a large amount of money, which was a major obstacle to its widespread use.

[0004]

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to use a system for accurately monitoring the health condition of a resident from the outside effectively using an existing faucet attached to a house. And make it easy to install at low cost.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention,
A detection signal detected by the flow rate detector is output to the control unit, and the control unit is provided with a detection circuit for detecting passage of hot water from the faucet according to a signal from the flow rate detector, and transmits information of the detection circuit via a communication line. In the occupant monitoring system for transmitting the data to an external management center, the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a faucet or an optional part of a component connected to the faucet.

In the occupant monitoring system according to a second aspect, the flow rate detector is detachably mounted between a connecting portion of a faucet and a water discharge pipe.

In the occupant monitoring system according to a third aspect, the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a tip of a water discharge pipe.

In the occupant monitoring system according to a fourth aspect, the flow rate detector is detachably mounted on a connecting pipe for supplying hot water or water to a faucet.

In the occupant monitoring system according to a fifth aspect, the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a water stopcock attached to a lower part of a supply pipe for supplying hot water or water to the water tap.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The faucet 1 of the present invention is attached to a sink, a bathroom, a wash basin or the like in a house, and is frequently used if the resident is living normally. As shown in FIG. A two-handle system in which a hot water supply handle 4 and a water use handle 5 are connected to a hot water supply source and a water supply source by the hot water supply connection pipe 2 and the water supply connection pipe 2a, and a hot water handle 4 and a water handle 5 are arranged on both left and right sides, A spout 8 for discharging hot and cold water is normally rotatably attached to the connecting portion 6 protruding downward from the center through the first cap nut 7. In the present invention, however, the connecting portion 6 and the first cap nut 7 are connected to each other. A second cap nut 7a and a flow rate detector 11 to be described later are detachably mounted therebetween. The faucet is not limited to the two-handle type, but may be a single faucet, mixing, single lever type or thermostat type.

The flow rate detector 11 detects the presence or absence of hot or cold water passing through the flow path of the faucet 1 and outputs this detection signal to a code 12.
Output to a control unit 18 which will be described later via a flow sensor, and various kinds of commonly used flow sensors such as a flow sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a flow of hot and cold water, a pressure sensor for detecting a predetermined or higher water pressure, and a flow sensor. used.

The flow detector 11 is an existing faucet 1 or a faucet 1
It can be detachably attached to any part of the component parts connected to the device later, and can be detached and returned to the original state when unnecessary, and in the embodiment of FIG. Flow detector 1 between heat insulation cap 9 and water outlet 10
3 is detachably mounted, and in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the existing flow control valve mounted on the water supply connection pipe 2a is replaced with a flow control valve 3 in which a flow detector 11 is integrally incorporated. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Hot water in a single lever type faucet 1a attached to 3
At the lower part of the supply pipe 15 for supplying water, a water stopcock 16 is provided inside the cabinet 14, and the flow rate detector 11 is detachably mounted between the water stopcock 16 and the water stop handle 17. I have.

The control unit 18 is connected to the flow rate detector 11 by a cord 12 and is attached to an arbitrary place in a house. A occupancy sensor that senses and outputs a sensing signal to the control unit 18 or a occupancy switch (both not shown) that is manually operated by the occupant is provided. As shown in FIG. A home circuit 19 for identifying whether the resident is at home or absent from the signal output from the
A detection circuit 20 for detecting passage of hot water from the faucet 1 based on a signal output from the flow rate detector 11, a home circuit 19, and signals from the detection circuit 20 are received, and the resident is at home by the home circuit 19. If the detection circuit 20 does not detect the passage of hot water from the faucet 1 for several hours or more, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred in the resident,
When the absence of the hot water is not used for a long time, the determination circuit 21 that determines that no abnormality has occurred in the resident and the detection circuit 20 detect the usage of the hot water for several hours continuously. A warning circuit 22 for notifying the occupant of an abnormality such as the occurrence of water leakage or the faucet 1 remaining in a spouting state.
Is turned on, and a buzzer 25 is also sounded to notify the resident.

As described above, the determination circuit 21 of the control unit 18
It is normal that the signal from the home circuit 19 and the detection circuit 20 is received and the use of hot water is not detected when the resident is absent, but the use of hot water is continuously detected for several hours, If there is no detection signal from the flow detector 11 in the detection circuit 20 for several hours while the user is at home and the faucet 1 is not used, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred in the resident's life, Information such as the home circuit 19, the detection circuit 20, and the determination circuit 21 is transmitted to a predetermined management center 26 via a communication line such as a line or a cable television. You can monitor your usage. In this manner, the management center 26 can confirm the safety of the resident based on the usage state of the faucet 1, or can detect the forgetting to tighten the faucet 1 or leak water and contact the resident.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a detection signal detected by a flow detector is output to a control unit, and the control unit is provided with a detection circuit for detecting passage of hot water from a faucet based on a signal from the flow detector. In the occupant monitoring system that transmits information of the detection circuit to an external management center via a communication line, the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a faucet or an optional part of a component connected to the faucet. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the existing faucet or a component connected to the faucet, and to install a system for monitoring the safety of the occupant from the outside at a low cost, thereby promoting the spread of the occupant monitoring system. be able to.

Further, since the flow rate detector is detachably mounted between the connecting portion of the faucet and the water discharge pipe, the tip of the water discharge pipe, the connection pipe or the water stopcock, the existing water faucet or component parts are changed at all. The attachment and detachment of the flow detector can be easily performed without the need.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram in the case where a flow detector is mounted between a connecting portion of a faucet and a water discharge pipe.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view in the case where a flow detector is attached to the tip of a water discharge pipe of a faucet.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a flow rate detector is mounted on a flow rate control valve of a connecting pipe of a faucet.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view in the case where a flow detector is attached to a stopcock of the faucet.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1, 1a water tap 2 hot water supply connection pipe 2a water supply connection pipe 6 connection section 8 water discharge pipe 11 flow rate detector 15 supply pipe 16 water stopcock 18 control section 20 detection circuit 26 management center

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G08C 17/00 G08C 17/00 Z F term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CC04 CE09 CE22 CF05 CF08 CF11 CF14 2F034 AA03 AC06 AC08 AC10 AC13 CA03 2F073 AA11 BB09 BB10 BC01 5C087 AA23 AA32 AA42 BB12 BB16 BB74 DD03 DD24 EE18 FF01 FF04 FF23 GG09 GG30 GG46 GG57 GG70

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A detection circuit which outputs a detection signal detected by a flow rate detector to a control unit, the control unit includes a detection circuit for detecting passage of hot water from a faucet according to a signal from the flow rate detector, and information of the detection circuit is provided. In the occupant monitoring system for transmitting the data to an external management center via a communication line, the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a faucet or an optional part of a component connected to the faucet. Resident monitoring system. 2. The flow rate detector according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate detector is detachably mounted between a connecting portion of a faucet and a water discharge pipe.
Resident monitoring system as described. 3. The occupant monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said flow rate detector is detachably attached to a tip of a water discharge pipe. 4. The occupant monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said flow rate detector is detachably attached to a connecting pipe for supplying hot water or water to a faucet. 5. The occupant monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate detector is detachably attached to a water stopcock attached to a lower part of a supply pipe for supplying hot water or water to the water tap. .