Apparatus for the measurement of consumption

p0001The invention relates to an arrangement for metering in a supply system for flowing media.

p0002For the status of various consumption parameters for flowing into housing units it has been customary to provide a separate detector for each parameter. For this example, a heat meter, a hot water meter and cold water meter is provided for each dwelling unit. When using ultrasonic Durchflußmengenmessern case, each device on its own electronics. The respective counting devices must be read individually, which make it difficult to read under circumstances different installation locations.

p0003From the "Siemens-Zeitschrift" 48.Jahrgang, No. 9, 1974, pages 736-739 is a modular system for the remote detection and registering data is known, but which is designed only for electricity meters. From DE 44 09 803 an arrangement is known in which a central wireless consumption data collection takes place.

p0004The invention has for its object to simplify the detection or reading of consumption values ​​of flowing media, the effort should be minimized.

p0005This object is achieved according to the invention with an arrangement according to the features of claim 1.

p0006In this way, significant savings are possible with such an arrangement, since the acquisition points only are not assigned to mechanical components. All electronic components are arranged systematically centrally. So it is only needed a central electronics. The consumption value or acquisition point only the actual sensor is provided. Since even a reading site per unit or installation is required, accounting for. B. also interfering devices in the apartment.

p0007The distributed electronic content deleted over the SdT, whereby the susceptibility of the assembly is reduced to interference. This is particularly true when the sensors are located at places unprotected or in a dirty environment. For all sensors a uniform flow measurement system is used. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that in the electronics means for operation of various flow systems or means for processing information in other counting devices, for example, an electricity meter housed.

p0008It is expedient if at least one flow meter has an additional temperature sensor whose measured values ​​determined are additionally supplied to the central means for calculating an energy value. In such an arrangement an extension of the central functions is given, which again is given a saving effect.

p0009For heating water, a supply and return temperature measurement is preferably provided with an additional temperature sensor, so that can be detected and calculated at the headquarters together with the flow measurement of energy consumption. Bevozugt the central electronics is associated with one of the flowmeter or is arranged in this. Thereby no separate site for electronics is required. They may simply be attached to the flow meter, the connection lines are to the other flowmeters simply coupled.

p0010As site for electronics a place of favorable operating conditions is preferably selected, guaranteed. This may for example be a dry, dust-free and heated space. The repositioning of the electronics is no longer exposed to the inevitably Umgebengsbedingungen the site of the flowmeter.

p0011The electronics preferably comprises a switch means for cyclic activation of the flowmeter. It is advantageously designed as a multiplexer.

p0012The essential core of the invention is that the individual flowmeter no own electronics - no auxiliary electronics - have. The central electronic includes all of the detection points and their sensors necessary supply and disposal components. A preferred application of the invention is given by Verso approximate systems of apartments, eg. As in larger residential or high-rise buildings. It is also an application in industrial plants or factories possible.

p0013The invention, further details and advantages are explained by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it:<ul><li>1 shows an arrangement for metering and</li><li>2 shows a block diagram of this.</li></ul>

p0014The FIGURE shows an arrangement 1 to record consumption data for flowing media, eg water or gas. The arrangement 1 can for example be installed in a residence or in an industrial plant. It is a case to centralize different consumption values ​​of a supply system not shown in detail. Exemplary a hot water meter 3, a cold-water meter 5, a gas meter 6 and a heating water meter 7 are provided. the counter preferably operate according to the same flow system, present an ultrasonic method. However, it is also the interconnection of different systems conceivable. In addition, may also be a connection of an electricity meter is conceivable.

p0015The counter 3,5,6,7 are respectively connected via corresponding connecting lines 9 with a central electronics eleventh The central electronic system 11 includes a plurality of functions. must on the one hand these are fed to an ultrasound signal and on the other hand detached from a Ultraschallmeßsignal for the operation of the ultrasonic flowmeter 3,5,6,7. The central electronics 11 therefore has transmitting and receiving means. The connecting lines 9 are therefore designed doppelkanalig. The transmitting and receiving means may be provided in common for each meter individually or all. The central electronics 11 more Volumenmeßteile are successively joined together for the time of measurement on a switching unspecified shown in this figure.

p0016The hot water meter 3 and the heating water meter 7 additionally have more data lines 13, 13a, 13b, which are responsible for the transmission of a signal for the respective temperature. When heating water meter 7, a first data line 13a for the supply temperature and a second data line 13b is provided for the return temperature.

p0017The data lines 13,13a, 13b are each connected to a temperature sensor 14 which are each disposed in respective flanges 14a of the pipe joints 12th The pipe joints 12 are installed in a line not shown in detail, in which takes place the zuerfassende media flow. You can default include a flange 14a for receiving a sensor. Optionally, the respective connecting lines 9 with their respective associated data lines 13,13a, 13b to be formed by a common line. The cold water meter 5 can be designed as a pure flow meter. Obtional he may additionally include a temperature measurement, z. B. with a sensor or a fixed resistor for measuring the energy consumption. The measuring principle of temperature measurement is required.

p0018The central electronics 11 can be configured as a separate unit and placed in a central location, or even one of the counters, be assigned, for example, as a set-top box. The central electronic system 11 includes a display 15 for displaying functions or information, a keyboard 17 for inputting data or retrieve functions and an interface 19 to which, for example, a configuration device or a data line can be connected for remote data transmission.

p0019The function of the arrangement 1 is explained in detail using a block diagram in FIG. 2 To explain the functional principle here, only the hot water meter 3 is shown in detail. In its measuring tube 21, it has a temperature sensor 14 and two ultrasonic sensors 22a, 22b. The sensor 22a works as a transmitter and the sensor 22b as recipients. It is also possible to change the measurement direction. The sensors 22a, 22b and the temperature sensor 14 are connected by their lines 9 and 13 with a switching device 23 of the central electronics eleventh At the switching device 23 also measuring devices, for example, the cold-water meter 5 and the gas meter 6 are connected. The temperature sensor 14 is connected to an analysis module 24th

p0020The connecting lines 9 of the respective counters 3,5,6 will now be cyclically switched by the switching device 23 to a transmitting and receiving device 25, so that the respective counters are activated cyclically 3 to 6 the manner of a multiplexing driving. Alternatively it can be provided here, of course, for each meter 3 to 6, a separate transmitting and receiving device.

p0021Optionally, only the working channels as sensors to be applied in parallel with a transmission signal, so that only the receiving sensors are activated alternately or cyclically.

p0022The information obtained about the flow rate and optionally the temperature are then analyzed by a central processing block 26th To the central processing module 26 further comprises display 15, keyboard 17 and an interface block 20 are connected. The arithmetic unit 26 provides the one hand for the processing of the acquired measurement data as well as for the exchange of information with the information unit currently connected.

p0023For example, the above beschiebene heating water meter 7 is connected, can be calculated by determining the flow rate and the temperature difference between supply and return temperature, the discharged amount of energy. Preferably, the central electronics 11 is provided as a detection device with a microcomputer not further shown.

p0024The functional blocks shown in FIG 2 may be implemented as software or hardware modules depending on the requirements or needs. Preference for functions that occur repeatedly, blocks used, which are reusable. For example, may therefore comprise 23 or more switching channels for temperature data and the switching means so that only one evaluation module 24 is needed for several counter.

p0025The display 15 on the one hand are used to display and reading of consumption values. On the other hand, other information, such. As device information, or parameters, are retrieved, the retrieval from the keyboard 17 is carried out. Measurements and data may alternatively be collected or forwarded via the interface 19th Optionally, the consumption values ​​can also be transmitted to a superordinate central facility, such. As for remote reading. It is also conceivable that occurs from a distance creates a Ferneinstellung- or parameterization of the central electronics 11th