JPH05340967A - Automatic meter inspection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize damage due to a dishonest act by quickly recognizing unsealing of the meter on the consumer side. CONSTITUTION:In order to prevent opening of a cover frame 22, e.g. a cover, from the base 21 of meter body or terminal unit body, disconnection of wires 23 connected therewith is detected and an alarm lamp 27 is lighted or a signal is transmitted from a transmitting means S on a communication line 33 to a host computor 31 thus grasping disconnection of wire due to dishonest act and the measured value at the time of disconnection quickly and accurately and taking a necessary countermeasure quickly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter-reading device for monitoring the sealing condition of a measuring device for measuring the amount of electricity, gas, water, etc. used and a terminal device for transmitting measured data to a host system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional automatic meter-reading device shown in, for example, "Introduction to Distribution Automation System", P31 (Ohm Co., published in March 1991) edited by the Society for Distribution Automation Research. In the figure, 1 is a computer, 3 is a terminal device connected to the computer 1 via a communication line 2, 4 is a weighing device connected to the terminal device 3, and the usage amount measured by the weighing device 4 is The present meter reading data is returned via the communication line 2 in response to a call command from the computer 1 via the terminal device 3 capable of communicating with the computer 1 which is the device. That is, automatic meter reading can be performed remotely.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a part of the sealing structure of the measuring instrument 4 installed in a consumer, 11 is a base of the measuring instrument main body, 12 is a cover frame such as a door or a lid, and 13 is a base. 11 is a screw for fixing the cover frame 12, 14 is a wire for penetrating the head of the screw 13 and connecting with the cover frame 12,
Reference numeral 15 is a sealing ball for binding both ends of the wire 14 by sealing.

Next, the operation will be described. The weighing device 4 and the terminal device 3 installed in the consumer use the wire 14 and the sealing ball 15 to prevent the consumer or the like from performing fraud and mischief with respect to these devices. It must be sealed as shown in the example.

Therefore, if any attempt is made to tamper with the body of the weighing machine, the cover frame 12 must be removed from the base 11. However, since the screw 13 has the wire 14, the screw 13 is used as a screwdriver. Cannot be turned by, and therefore the sealing wire 14 must first be cut.

However, once the wire 14 is cut, it cannot be sealed as it was originally. Therefore, it is possible to visually confirm immediately that the illegal operation has been performed or the attempted operation has been made.

Before the automatic meter-reading device as shown in FIG. 5 was installed, a meter-reader such as an electric power meter read the measurement in order to check the usage amount. At that time, the sealing ball 15 was also checked. I was going. Therefore, if the wire 14 was cut, the necessary measures could be taken immediately.

[0008]

Since the conventional automatic meter-reading device is constructed as described above, it is not necessary to perform a visual meter-reading, but a meter-reading operator can confirm the sealing state of a measuring instrument or the like. Since the wire 14 disappears, the disconnection of the wire 14 due to a fraudulent act or the like cannot be easily found, and there is a problem that the fraud continues.

The invention of claim 1 has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when the seal is removed by an illegal act, the situation can be notified to the outside promptly and surely. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic meter-reading device that can be used and can take necessary measures at an early stage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic meter-reading device capable of transmitting a wire breakage detection result to a host system via a communication line and performing wire breakage detection management in the host system. To do.

It is an object of the invention of claim 3 to obtain an automatic meter-reading device capable of transmitting a disconnection detection result to a host system together with a measured value at the time of disconnection.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic meter-reading device capable of transmitting a disconnection detection result of a terminal device to a host system together with a weighing value obtained from a weighing machine.

[0013]

An automatic meter-reading device according to the invention of claim 1 is arranged so that a cover frame such as a lid for closing the opening of the measuring device body is not opened with respect to the base of the measuring device body. A wire for sealing which mutually connects, a sealing ball which binds both ends of the wire, and a wire disconnection detection circuit which is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and an alarm device, An alarm is generated when the wire breakage detection circuit detects a wire breakage.

Further, in the automatic meter-reading device according to the second aspect of the present invention, these are connected to the base of the measuring device body so that a cover frame such as a lid for closing the opening of the measuring device body is not opened. A wire breaking detection circuit which is connected to the wire and detects a wire breakage of the wire; The circuit disconnection detection result is transmitted to the host system via the communication line.

In the automatic meter-reading device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the base of the measuring instrument main body is connected to the base of the measuring instrument main body so that the cover frame such as the lid that closes the opening of the measuring instrument main body is not opened. A wire for sealing, a sealing ball that binds both ends of the wire, and a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and a memory,
Store the current weight value measured by the above scale,
The transmission means is made to transmit the disconnection detection result by the wire disconnection detection circuit and the measured value stored in the memory to the host system via the communication line.

In the automatic meter-reading device according to the invention of claim 4, the base of the terminal device body is connected to the base of the terminal device body so that a cover frame such as a lid for closing the opening of the terminal device body is not opened. A sealing wire, a sealing ball that binds both ends of the wire, a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and is connected to the terminal device through a second communication line. The measuring device provided with the measuring device is configured to transmit the disconnection detection result by the wire disconnection detecting circuit to the host system through the first communication line together with the measurement value by the measuring device. is there.

[0017]

In the alarm device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the breakage of the sealing wire detected by the wire breakage detection circuit is directly notified to the outside by a warning lamp or a buzzer.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the transmitting means notifies the wire disconnection obtained by the wire disconnection detection circuit of the weighing instrument by transmitting it to the remote host system via the communication line.

Further, the transmitting means in the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the wire disconnection obtained by the wire disconnection detection circuit of the measuring instrument is remotely sent via the communication line together with the measured value at the time of the wire disconnection stored in the memory. It is notified by transmitting it to the host system of.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, when the wire breakage detection circuit provided therein detects a wire breakage,
The polling is transmitted to the measuring instrument, and the disconnection detection result is transmitted to the host system via the communication line by using the transmitting means together with the obtained measured value from the measuring instrument.

[0021]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 is a base of the main body of the measuring instrument, 22 is a cover frame such as a door or lid that closes the opening of the base 21, 23 is two wires for sealing which also serve as communication lines, and 24 is lead. It is a conductive sealing ball made of alloy or the like.

Further, 25 is a wire disconnection detection circuit connected to the wire 23, 26 is a current loop formed by the two wires 23 having one ends connected by the sealing balls 24, and 27 is connected to the wire disconnection detection circuit. It is an alarm lamp as an alarm device, and if necessary, a buzzer or the like for giving an alarm by voice can be used. Here, the wire 23, the wire breakage detection circuit 25, and the alarm lamp 27 constitute a weighing system.

Next, the operation will be described. The sealing ball 24 has a function of sealing the two sealing wires 23 and electrically connecting them. Thus, these wires 23 form a current loop 26 via the sealing ball 24.

Therefore, if a consumer or the like cuts the wire 23 by using a tool to remove the seal, the wire breakage detection circuit 25 immediately detects the wire 2.
The disconnection of 3 is detected. Further, the wire breakage detection circuit 25 determines that an abnormality has occurred based on this detection result, and turns on the alarm lamp 27.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the alarm lamp 27 is used to notify the abnormality to the outside. However, when the abnormality of the seal is detected as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to notify the operator of the abnormality by transmitting the information to the calculator of the automatic meter reading device.

That is, in FIG. 2, 31 is a computer as a host system constituting an automatic meter-reading device, 32 is a weighing machine as a customer-side weighing system, and 33 is a communication line connecting the computer 31 and the weighing machine 32. , 34 is a microprocessor of the weighing instrument 32, 35 is an interface for connecting the microprocessor 34 and the computer 31 as a host system via a communication line 33, 36 is a wire disconnection detection circuit, 37
Is a sealing unit, and the microprocessor 34 and the interface 35 constitute a transmitting means S.

In the automatic meter reading device, when the wire breakage of the wire 23 connecting the sealing balls 24 is detected by the sealing portion 37, the wire breakage detection circuit 36 detects the wire breakage abnormality and sends the detection information to the microprocessor 34. ..

Then, the microprocessor 34 transmits the abnormality information to the computer 31 of the automatic detection device via the interface 35 and the communication line 33, and displays the abnormality content on the display device such as CRT. Therefore, the operator can immediately confirm the abnormal weighing instrument 32 and take necessary measures.

Example 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the case of transmitting the abnormality information to the computer 31 has been described, but FIG.
As shown in, when a sealing abnormality is detected, if the weighing signal currently held by the weighing instrument is sent together with the abnormality signal, the weighing value at the time of the abnormality will remain even if the weighing instrument is destroyed. Therefore, the damage can be minimized.

That is, in FIG. 3, 41 is a computer as a host system constituting an automatic meter-reading device, 42 is a weighing machine as a customer-side weighing system, and 43 is a communication line connecting the microprocessor 44 and the computer 41. , 44 are microprocessors of the weighing device 42, and 45 is a memory for storing measured values and the like.

Further, 46 is an interface for connecting the microprocessor 44 and the computer 41 via the communication line 43, 47 is a wire disconnection detection circuit, and 48 is a sealing part, and the microprocessor 44 and the interface 4 are connected.
Reference numeral 6 constitutes a transmission means S.

In such an automatic meter-reading device, when the seal portion 48 detects a disconnection of the wire 23 connecting the sealing balls 24 shown in FIG. 1, the wire disconnection detection circuit 47 detects the disconnection abnormality, and further, the memory 45 stores it. At the same time, the microprocessor 44 also transmits the stored current measured value to the computer 41 via the interface 46 and the communication line 43.

In this case, even if the meter 42 is unsealed and further harmed, the measured value up to the time of occurrence of an abnormality can be normally obtained.

Example 4. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the case where the measured value at that time is transmitted to the computer 41 at the time of detecting an abnormality has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device for detecting the abnormality of the seal and the weighing having the weighing data. If the measuring instrument is installed separately, the terminal device polls the measuring instrument when an abnormality is detected, collects the weighing data, and then
It can be sent to a host computer.

In this way, even if the terminal device is destroyed, the measured value at the time of the occurrence of an abnormality can be left, and the damage can be minimized.

That is, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 51 is a computer as a host system constituting an automatic meter-reading device, and 52 is a terminal device installed in a customer. In order to prevent the cover frame such as the lid that closes the opening from being opened, it is sealed by the sealing wire 23 and the sealing balls 24 that bind both ends of the wire 23 in the same manner as shown in FIG. There is.

Further, 53 is a measuring instrument installed in the customer, 5
4 is a communication line (first communication line) for connecting the computer 51 and the terminal device 52, 55 is a microprocessor of the terminal device 52, and 56 is a microprocessor 55 and the computer 51.
This is an interface for connecting and via the communication line 54.

Further, reference numeral 57 is a wire breakage detection circuit, and 58.
Is a sealing portion, 59 is an interface between the terminal device 52 and the weighing device 53, 60 is an interface between the weighing device 53 and the terminal device 52, 61 is a measured value held by the weighing device 53, 6
Reference numeral 2 is a communication line (second communication line) that connects the terminal device 52 and the weighing device 53.

The microprocessor 55 and the interface 56 constitute the transmitting means S, and the terminal device 5
2 and the weighing device 53 constitute a weighing system.

In such an automatic meter-reading device, when the wire breakage detection circuit 57 detects a wire breakage abnormality of the wire 23 in the sealing portion 58, the microprocessor 55 interfaces the interface 59, 59 to call the measured value 61 in the weighing machine 53. The measurement value 61 is polled via the communication line 62 and the interface 60, and the measurement value is collected in the microprocessor 55.

Further, the information on the disconnection abnormality and the measured value 61 are collectively transmitted to the computer 51 via the interface 56 and the communication line 54. By doing so, even if the terminal device 52 is unsealed and further harmed, it is possible to instantly obtain the measured value at the time of the abnormality in the computer 51 normally by the above communication by the communication. It is possible to quickly take appropriate countermeasures.

[0042]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the base of the measuring instrument main body is provided with a cover frame such as a lid for closing the opening of the measuring instrument main body so as not to open them. An alarm device is equipped with a sealing wire that is connected, a sealing ball that connects both ends of the wire, and a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire. Since it is configured to generate an alarm when a disconnection is detected by the detection circuit, if an abnormality occurs in the seal of the measuring instrument installed in the customer, for example, by turning on an alarm lamp as an alarm device attached to this measurement, There is an effect that anyone can easily determine the abnormality of the measuring instrument.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the seal of the base of the measuring device body is connected to the base of the measuring device body so that the cover frame such as the lid for closing the opening of the measuring device body is not opened. For disconnection, a sealing ball for connecting both ends of the wire, and a wire disconnection detection circuit connected to the wire for detecting disconnection of the wire, and disconnection by the wire disconnection detection circuit in the transmission means. Since the detection result is configured to be transmitted to the host system via the communication line, it is possible to notify the host system, for example, a computer in real time when the wire is broken, and there is an effect that an immediate response can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the base of the measuring device main body is sealed with the base of the measuring device main body so as not to open the cover frame such as the lid that closes the opening of the measuring device main body. The wire, a sealing ball that binds both ends of the wire, and a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects a wire disconnection of the wire, and a current weighing measured by the weighing machine in a memory. The memory that stores the values, the disconnection detection result by the wire disconnection detection circuit, and the weighing value stored in the memory are configured to be transmitted to the host system via the communication line, so the measuring instrument should be destroyed by any chance. Even if it happens, since the usage amount up to that point is transmitted, it will be possible to perform fee transactions up to that point, and there is an effect that it is possible to minimize damage.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the base of the terminal device body is connected to the base of the terminal device body so as not to open the cover frame such as the lid that closes the opening of the terminal device body. Wire, a sealing ball that binds both ends of the wire, a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and is connected to the terminal device through a second communication line. Since the transmission means is configured to transmit the disconnection detection result by the wire disconnection detection circuit to the host system via the first communication line together with the measurement value by the scaler, Even if there is an abnormality in the seal on the terminal device side, the terminal device immediately polls the measuring instrument to collect the measured value and sends it to the upper system calculated value to detect the disconnection accident of the terminal device. Weighing at this time The collection can be realized with high precision, which the price trades until its accidental disconnection can be performed accurately there is an effect to be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an automatic meter-reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an automatic meter-reading device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an automatic meter-reading device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an automatic meter-reading device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional automatic meter reading device.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an enlarged part of the weighing machine main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Base 22 Cover Frame 23 Wire 24 Sealed Ball 25, 36, 47, 57 Wire Disconnection Detection Circuit 27 Alarm Lamp (Alarm) 31, 41, 51 Computer (Upper System) 32, 42, 53 Meter 33, 43 Communication Line S transmission means 45 memory 52 terminal device 54 communication line (first communication line) 62 communication line (second communication line)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sealing wire that connects these to each other so that a cover frame such as a lid that closes the opening of the weighing device main body does not open with respect to the base of the weighing device main body, and both ends of the wire. An automatic meter-reading device comprising: a sealing ball that binds the wire; a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire to detect disconnection of the wire; and an alarm device that issues an alarm when the wire disconnection detection circuit detects disconnection. 2. A sealing wire that connects these to each other so that a cover frame such as a lid that closes the opening of the measuring device body is not opened to the base of the measuring device body, and both ends of the wire. A sealing ball that binds the wire, a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and a transmission unit that transmits a disconnection detection result by the wire disconnection detection circuit to a host system through a communication line. Automatic meter reading device equipped with. 3. A sealing wire that connects the base of the measuring device body to each other so that a cover frame such as a lid that closes the opening of the measuring device body is not opened, and both ends of the wire. A sealed ball that binds the wire, a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, a memory that stores the current measured value measured by the measuring instrument, and the wire disconnection detection circuit. An automatic meter-reading device, comprising: a disconnection detection result and a weighing value stored in the memory, and a transmission means for transmitting the measurement value to a host system via a communication line. 4. A sealing wire connecting the terminal device main body to the base of the terminal device main body so as not to open a cover frame such as a lid that closes the opening of the terminal device main body,
A sealing ball that binds both ends of the wire, a wire disconnection detection circuit that is connected to the wire and detects disconnection of the wire, and a weighing instrument that is connected to the terminal device via a second communication line, An automatic meter-reading device, comprising: a disconnection detection result of the wire disconnection detection circuit, and a transmission unit that transmits the result of measurement by the measuring device to a host system via a first communication line.