JP5115812B2 - Wireless gas leak alarm system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless gas leak alarm system, and more particularly to a gas leak alarm system having a function of confirming normality of a wireless section between a gas leak alarm and a gas meter.

  Conventionally, as a wireless gas leak warning system, for example, there is one shown in FIG. This system has a gas leak alarm device 110 and a gas meter 120 for alarming the occurrence of gas leak, and is installed in a general house or the like. A transmitter 111 is connected to the gas leak alarm 110, and a receiver 121 is connected to the gas meter 120. The gas leak alarm 110 transmits a warning message determined in advance according to the detection of the occurrence of gas leak or the like. Is transmitted to the gas meter 120 via the machine 111, and the gas meter 120 cuts off the gas flow path by receiving the alarm message from the receiver 121.

  As described above, in the wireless system, normal communication in the wireless section between the transmitter and the receiver is a condition for normal operation of the system. In view of this, in such a wireless gas leak alarm system, an apparatus in which the installation location is determined by inspecting the strength of radio waves received by the receiver is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-51583 (Patent Document 1). Has been. Also, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-104214 (Patent Document 2) that performs test communication and notifies the reception intensity of test alarm data received by a receiver.

Some existing gas leak warning systems have a function of periodically checking the communication state. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the transmitter 111 on the gas leak alarm 110 side transmits an inspection message at a constant cycle of 24 hours. Thereby, in the receiver 121 on the gas meter 120 side, if the radio section is normal, the inspection telegram is received at a constant cycle, for example, at 2 am. For example, the receiver 121 monitors the presence or absence of a check telegram at 50-hour intervals. If no check telegram is received once in 50 hours (two NGs), it is determined that the radio section is abnormal.
JP-A-9-51583 JP 2007-104214 A

  However, according to the conventional method, the inspection telegram is always transmitted at the same time. For this reason, in some cases, communication is always performed during the coldest time of the day or the time when the temperature is the highest, and the radio section is abnormal due to the effects of transient cryogenic temperature or high temperature. May be determined.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce erroneous determination of an abnormal radio section due to the effects of a temporary cryogenic temperature or a high temperature in a wireless gas leak alarm system.

The wireless gas leak alarm system according to claim 1 comprises a gas leak alarm device having a transmission means and a gas meter having a reception means, and a gas leak alarm message detected by the gas leak alarm device is wirelessly transmitted to the gas meter. In the wireless gas leak alarm system that shuts off the gas flow path by the gas meter, a plurality of faults are transmitted within a predetermined inspection period from the transmitter on the gas leak alarm side to the receiver on the gas meter side. transmits a check message to the rules of time, abnormal determines configuration of the gas meter side wireless section not receive the check message from the transmitting means of the gas leak alarm side within a predetermined inspection intervals at the receiving means And the transmission means on the gas leak alarm side is configured to transmit the inspection telegram every time a first period and a second period having different periods, and the first period The sum of the second time period is characterized in that it is shorter than the predetermined inspection intervals.

The wireless gas leak alarm system according to claim 2 is the wireless gas leak alarm system according to claim 1 , wherein the sum of the first period and the second period is set not to be a multiple of 24 hours. It is characterized by being.

  According to the wireless gas leak alarm system of claim 1, it is determined that the radio section is abnormal if a check message from the gas leak alarm side transmitter is not received within the predetermined check period by the gas meter receiver. However, since the inspection message is transmitted at an irregular time which is shorter than the predetermined inspection period from the transmission means on the gas leak alarm side, the transmission time of the inspection message does not become a constant cycle. Therefore, even if the radio section becomes abnormal due to the effects of transient cryogenic temperature or high temperature, there is a high possibility that it will be transmitted normally in the next transmission. It is possible to reduce erroneous determination of an abnormal radio section due to influence.

In addition, since the transmission means on the gas leak alarm side only needs to transmit an inspection telegram every time the first period and the second period with different periods elapse, the control is simplified. Furthermore, even if there is only one reception within a predetermined inspection period, erroneous determination can be reduced without determining that there is an abnormality.

According to the wireless gas leak alarm system of claim 2 , in addition to the effect of claim 1 , the sum of the first period and the second period is not a multiple of 24 hours, so the time when the inspection telegram is transmitted is the date and time. As the time elapses, they are shifted sequentially, and are less susceptible to the effects of transient cryogenic temperatures and high temperatures, so that erroneous determination can be further reduced.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless gas leak alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless gas leak alarm system of this embodiment includes a gas leak alarm 1 provided indoors, a gas meter 2 provided outdoors and incorporated in a gas supply line, and an input / output to the gas leak alarm 1 The transmitter 10 is configured to be connected as possible, and the receiver 20 is connected to the gas meter 2 as input / output capable of input / output.

  The transmitter 10 includes a microcomputer 11, a memory unit 12, a connection unit 13, and a communication unit 14. Each of the memory unit 12, the connection unit 13, and the communication unit 14 is electrically connected to the microcomputer 11. It is connected. As is well known, the microcomputer 11 stores various data and a CPU 11a that performs various processes and controls in accordance with a predetermined program, a ROM 11b that is a read-only memory that stores a program for the CPU 11a, and the like. A RAM 11c, which is a readable / writable memory having an area necessary for processing work, and a timer 11d for recognizing the date and time are configured. The ROM 11b stores a program executed by the CPU 11a, and the CPU 11a functions as a transmission unit by executing the program.

  As the memory unit 12, an electrically erasable / rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM) having various storage areas necessary for processing operations of the CPU 11a is used. The memory unit 12 stores data indicating the first period, data indicating the second period, and the like. The first period and the second period are setting data for determining and updating the time at which the inspection telegram is transmitted. In this embodiment, the first period is “37 hours” and the second period is “13 hours”. Is set.

  As the connection unit 13, various connection members such as a connector and a terminal block that are connected so as to be able to input and output signals with the gas leak alarm 2 can be used. Then, the connection unit 13 outputs an input signal from the gas leak alarm 2 to the microcomputer 11 and outputs a signal from the microcomputer 11 to the gas leak alarm 2.

  The communication unit 14 is a wireless communication device or the like and is controlled by the microcomputer 11. The communication unit 14 is connected to the communication unit 24 of the receiver 20 so as to be capable of wireless communication, and transmits a signal indicating a message input from the microcomputer 11 to the communication unit 24 on the other side.

  As an example of the electronic message, as is well known, a header STX is added at the beginning and a footer ETX is added at the end, and the data structure has an area for setting data therebetween. Then, an alarm message and a check message corresponding to the “gas leak alarm” are transmitted.

  Next, similarly to the transmitter 10, the receiver 20 includes a microcomputer 21, a memory unit 22, a connection unit 23, and a communication unit 24, and the memory unit 22, the connection unit 23, and the communication unit 24. Each of these is electrically connected to the microcomputer 21. Since the basic configurations of the receiver 20 and the transmitter 10 are the same, only different parts will be described in detail.

  The microcomputer 21 includes a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and a timer 21d. The ROM 21b stores a program executed by the CPU 21a, and the CPU 21a functions as a receiving unit by executing the program.

The memory unit 22 is an EEPROM or the like similar to that of the memory unit 12, and the memory unit 22 stores data indicating a predetermined inspection period. This predetermined inspection period is setting data for a period for monitoring whether or not an inspection message has been received from the transmitter 10, and in this embodiment, the predetermined inspection period is set to “51 hours”.

  The communication unit 24 uses a wireless communication device or the like and is controlled by the microcomputer 21. The communication unit 24 is connected to the communication unit 14 of the transmitter 10 so as to be able to perform wireless communication, and outputs a message received from the communication unit 14 on the partner side to the microcomputer 21.

  With the above configuration, the gas leak alarm device 1 detects the gas concentration by a gas sensor or the like (not shown), and outputs an alarm signal to the transmitter 10 via the connection unit 1a when it is determined that the gas leak has occurred. As a result, the transmitter 10 transmits an alarm message to the receiver 20 via the communication unit 12. The receiver 20 outputs an alarm signal to the gas meter 2 when receiving this alarm message. The gas meter 2 is a microcomputer type gas meter, and shuts off the gas flow path by an alarm signal from the receiver 20. Further, the transmitter 10 transmits an inspection telegram to the receiver 20 at the later-described inspection time, and the receiver 20 determines the normality of the radio section based on whether or not the inspection telegram is received during a predetermined inspection period.

  In this embodiment, the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 are described separately from the gas leak alarm 1 and the gas meter 2, respectively. However, the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 are incorporated as a communication module of the gas leak alarm 1 and the gas meter 2. It can also be in the form. Furthermore, although the description will be made on the assumption that the communication from the transmitter 10 to the receiver 20 is unidirectional, it should be understood that both are transceivers and bidirectional communication can be performed.

  FIG. 3 is a main part flowchart of a control program executed by the CPU 11a in the transmitter 10, and FIG. 4 is a main part flowchart of a control program executed by the CPU 21a in the receiver 20. The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In the process on the transmitter 10 side in FIG. 3, the next period is set by adding the first period (37 hours) to the current time in step S1, and the period flag is designated in step S2 as the second period. Set. This is the default setting. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the current time is the inspection time. If it is not the inspection time, a gas leak determination process is performed in step S4, and it is determined in step S5 whether or not there is a gas leak. If it is not a gas leak, the process directly proceeds to step S13. If it is a gas leak, an alarm message is transmitted to the receiver 20 in step S6, and the process proceeds to step S13.

  On the other hand, if the current time is the inspection time in step S3 (if it has been reached), an inspection telegram is transmitted to the receiver 20 in step S7, and the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, it is determined whether or not the period flag designates the first period. If it is not the first period, the second period (13 hours) is added to the current time in step S9 to set the next inspection time. In step S10, the period flag is set to designate the first period, and the process proceeds to step S13. If the period flag is the first period in step S8, the first inspection period is set by adding the first period (37 hours) to the current time in step S11, and the second period is designated in step S12. Then, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, other processes such as communication with the gas leak alarm 1 are performed, and the process returns to step S3.

  In the processing on the receiver 20 side in FIG. 4, a timer is started in step S <b> 21, and it is determined whether there is a new reception from the transmitter 10 in step S <b> 22. If there is a new reception, the timer is restarted in step S23, and it is determined whether the message received in step S24 is a check message. If it is a check message, the process proceeds to step S29. If the received message is not a check message, it is determined in step S25 whether it is an alarm message, and if it is not an alarm message, the process proceeds to step S29. If it is an alarm message, the gas leak alarm device 1 is in a state where a gas leak has been detected, so in step S26 an alarm signal is output to the gas meter 2 and the process proceeds to step S29.

  On the other hand, if there is no new reception in step S22, it is determined in step S27 whether the timer value (t) has reached a predetermined inspection period (51 hours). If the predetermined inspection period has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S29. If the predetermined inspection period has been reached, no electronic message has been received during the predetermined inspection period, and the gas meter 2 has an abnormal radio section in step S28. The signal is output and the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, other processes such as performing other information communication with the gas meter 2 and the receiver 20 are performed, and the process returns to step S22.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inspection message transmission / reception operation according to the embodiment, and the transmitter 10 causes the transmitter 10 to alternately pass the first period (37 hours) and the second period (13 hours). The check message is transmitted to the receiver 20, and the check message is received by the receiver 20. In this example, transmission and reception are performed at times AM 2:00, PM 3:00, AM 4:00, PM 5:00, AM 6:00. And the receiver 20 will restart a timer, if an inspection message is received, and will determine with it being abnormal in a radio area, if an inspection message is not received within a predetermined inspection period (51 hours).

  In this way, the inspection telegrams are sent and received at different times and do not have a fixed period. Therefore, compared to the case of sending and receiving at a fixed time in the past, due to the effects of transient cryogenic and high temperatures, Even if becomes abnormal, there is a high possibility that it will be transmitted normally in the next transmission. Therefore, it is possible to reduce erroneous determination of abnormality in the radio section due to the effect of this transient cryogenic temperature or high temperature. In addition, the sum of the first period and the second period is 49 hours, and is not a multiple of 24 hours, so that they are sequentially shifted as time passes. In this example, it is shifted by 2 hours. Therefore, it is less susceptible to transient cryogenic and high temperatures. In addition, since the sum of the first period and the second period is shorter than the predetermined inspection period of 51 hours, if the wireless section is normal, the inspection message is received twice within one predetermined inspection period. However, even if there is only one reception within the predetermined inspection period, erroneous determination is reduced without determining that there is an abnormality.

  Note that the numerical values of the first period, the second period, and the predetermined inspection period are merely examples, and other values may be used, or a plurality of numbers such as the first period, the fourth period, and the like may be provided.

1 is a block diagram of a wireless gas leak alarm system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the transmission / reception operation | movement of the check message | telegram of embodiment. It is a principal part flowchart of the control program by the side of the transmitter of embodiment. It is a principal part flowchart of the control program by the side of the receiver of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary and operation | movement of the conventional wireless gas leak warning system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Gas leak alarm 2 Gas meter 10 Transmitter (transmission means)
20 Receiver (Receiving means)

Claims (2)

A gas leak alarm device having a transmission means and a gas meter having a reception means, and by communicating a gas leak alarm message detected by the gas leak alarm device to the gas meter wirelessly, a gas flow path is formed by the gas meter. In the wireless gas leak alarm system to shut off,
A check message is transmitted at a plurality of irregular times within a predetermined check period from the transmitting means on the gas leak alarm side to the receiving means on the gas meter side, and at the predetermined check period at the receiving means on the gas meter side. If the inspection message is not received from the transmitting means on the gas leak alarm side, it is configured to determine that the radio section is abnormal ,
The transmission means on the gas leak alarm side is configured to transmit the inspection telegram every time a first period and a second period having different periods, and the sum of the first period and the second period is the predetermined inspection. A wireless gas leak warning system characterized by being set shorter than the period . The wireless gas leak alarm system according to claim 1 , wherein the sum of the first period and the second period is set so as not to be a multiple of 24 hours.

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