KR102406733B1 - Smart water meter - Google Patents

Abstract

A smart water meter according to an aspect of the present invention includes a main body provided in the shape of a long circular pipe in one direction through which a liquid passes, and a body coupled to and detached from the main body to form an internal space, wherein the main body includes the main body An inlet provided at one end of the body through which the liquid flows into the body, an outlet provided at the other end of the body through which the liquid passing through the body is discharged, and the inlet and the outlet on the outer peripheral surface of the body perpendicular to the inlet and the outlet A pair of first seating holes provided to form a pair of first seating holes provided to maintain a predetermined interval and in which ultrasonic sensors for sensing the flow rate of the liquid passing through the body are respectively seated, and the first seating holes provided on the side of the outlet and the outlet A second seating hole is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body to be positioned between the spheres to form an extra seating space, and the housing is provided with an open upper surface and is coupled to the main body; A cover for covering the upper surface of the case by being coupled to the detachable upper surface is provided, a display for displaying the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor is provided inside the cover, and a battery for supplying power is provided in the case can

Description

Smart water meter {SMART WATER METER}

The present invention relates to a smart water meter, and more particularly, to a smart water meter capable of improving a function.

In a conventional water supply network facility using a water meter equipped with an ultrasonic sensor, it is difficult to measure the water quality, so the detection is delayed when an abnormality such as a water quality accident occurs.

Accordingly, there was a problem that the post-response action was delayed and the damage caused by the water quality accident became more serious.

Therefore, it is required to find a way to check the water quality of water supplied to each household in real time and to acquire changed water quality information when water is supplied.

In addition, since a water meter additionally equipped with a water quality sensor to acquire water quality information consumes more power than a conventional water meter, there is a need to develop a water meter capable of saving battery consumption.

Republic of Korea Registered Utility Model Publication No. 20-0453850 (2011.05.30)

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a smart water meter capable of improving the function.

And to provide a smart water meter that can save battery consumption.

A smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided in the shape of a long circular pipe in one direction, and a body through which a liquid passes, and a body that is coupled to and detached from the body to form an internal space and, the main body includes an inlet provided at one end of the main body through which liquid flows into the main body, an outlet provided at the other end of the main body through which the liquid passing through the main body is discharged; A pair of first seating holes provided to be perpendicular to the inlet and the outlet on the outer circumferential surface, the ultrasonic sensor sensing the flow rate of the liquid passing through the main body being provided to maintain a predetermined distance, respectively, is seated, the outlet and the A second seating hole is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the body to form an extra seating space so as to be located between the first seating holes provided on the outlet side, and the housing is provided with an open upper surface, so that the body and A case for coupling and a cover for covering the upper surface of the case by being coupled to be detachably attached to the open upper surface of the case, a display for displaying the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor is provided inside the cover, the case A battery for supplying power may be provided.

The battery includes a small battery for supplying power to the ultrasonic sensor and the display, and the case is positioned on one side of the main body after being combined with the main body and includes a first space in which the small battery is seated; A second space portion provided to correspond to the space portion and positioned on the other side of the main body, a third space portion formed between the first space portion and the second space portion and positioned above the main body; A fourth space formed by the first space, the second space, and the third space in which the main body is located may be provided.

A detachable water quality sensor for detecting the quality of the liquid passing through the body is provided in the second seating hole, the display displays the water quality value of the liquid sensed through the detachable water quality sensor, and the indicator is the detachable water quality sensor can supply power to

The second space may be provided with a communication module connected to the display for transmitting the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor and the water quality value of the liquid sensed through the detachable water quality sensor to an external device.

The battery may include a large battery provided in the third space and connected to the communication module to supply power to the communication module, and the case may be provided with a pedestal for supporting the large battery.

In connection with the removable water quality sensor, detecting a water quality value of the liquid passing through the main body at a preset period, identifying a flow rate passing through the main body based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor, the display and A processor for controlling the communication module may be further provided.

The preset period may be determined based on the remaining amount of the battery.

The processor may increase a preset period when the remaining amount of the battery is less than a preset first value.

The processor may increase the preset period when the remaining amount of the battery at the second time point when the preset period has elapsed at the first time point is less than a first preset ratio compared to the remaining amount of the battery at the first time point have.

The preset period may be determined based on a signal received from the external device.

The preset period is determined based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor, and the processor increases the preset period when the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor is less than a first value, If the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ? is equal to or greater than the second value, the preset period may be decreased.

According to the smart water meter according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the function.

And you can save battery consumption.

1 is a perspective view showing a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the main body of the smart water meter shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the smart water meter shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a detachable water quality sensor is provided in the body shown in Figure 2;
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a communication module and a large battery are provided in the smart water meter shown in FIG. 3;
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the smart water meter shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the smart water meter shown in Figure 1;
8 is a view for explaining the display of the smart water meter shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main body of the smart water meter shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a smart water meter shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a removable water quality sensor is provided in the body shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a communication module and a large battery are provided in the smart water meter shown in FIG. , Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the smart water meter shown in Figure 5.

1 to 6, the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in the shape of a long circular pipe in one direction, the body 100 through which the liquid passes, and the body 100 is detachable and detachable. It may be provided with a housing 200 that is coupled as possible to form an internal space.

The body 100 is provided at one end of the body 100 and has an inlet 110 through which the liquid flows into the inside of the body 100 , and the other end of the body 100 is provided at the other end of the body 100 , and the liquid has passed through the inside of the body 100 . A pair of first seating holes 130 provided to form a perpendicular to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 100 and the first seating hole 130 provided to maintain a predetermined interval, and , provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 100 so as to be positioned between the outlet 120 and the first seating hole 130 provided on the side of the outlet 120 to form an extra seating space. can do.

An ultrasonic sensor 300 is provided in the pair of first seating holes 130 , and the ultrasonic sensor 300 is provided to detect the flow rate of the liquid introduced into the interior of the body 100 , and generates ultrasonic waves to generate an ultrasonic wave reflector. The flow rate of the liquid may be sensed by using the time difference that is reflected from and reaches the ultrasonic sensor 300 again.

The housing 200 is provided with an open top surface and is coupled to the case 210 to be coupled to the main body 100 , and a cover 220 to cover the top surface of the case 210 by being detachably coupled to the open top surface of the case 210 . ), and the inside of the cover 220 is provided with a display 400 for displaying the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor 300, and the case 210 may be provided with a battery 500 for supplying power. have.

Here, the battery 500 may be provided with a small battery 510 provided inside the cover 220 to supply power to the indicator 400a for controlling the display 400, and the indicator 400a is supplied with Power may be supplied to the ultrasonic sensor 300 and the display 400 .

The case 210 is positioned on one side of the main body 100 after being combined with the main body 100 so as to correspond to the first space 211 in which the small battery 510 is seated, and the first space 211, The second space 212 positioned on the other side of the main body 100 and the third space formed between the first space 211 and the second space 212 and positioned above the main body 100 . (213) may be provided.

The first space portion 211 , the second space portion 212 , and the third space portion 213 are provided in an integrated 'd' shape, and the case 210 is located below the third space portion 213 . A fourth space 214 which is an inner space formed by the first space 211, the second space 212 and the third space 213 is provided, and the fourth space 214 has a main body ( 100) may be located.

The main body 100 located in the fourth space 214 may be fixed to the case 210 through a separate fixing member (unsigned).

As such, the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used as an ultrasonic water meter capable of measuring only the flow rate by using only the ultrasonic sensor 300 .

On the other hand, the second seating port 140 of the body 100 is provided with a removable water quality sensor 600 for detecting the quality of the liquid passing through the body 100, the display 400 is equipped with a removable water quality sensor 600 The water quality value of the detected liquid is displayed, and the removable water quality sensor 600 may receive power from the indicator 400a supplied with power through the small battery 510 .

Here, water quality refers to the chemical and biological characteristics of water containing impurities. Items that measure water quality include turbidity, residual chlorine, and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids). It may mean a characteristic indicating the content of inorganic and organic substances (ie, impurities).

In particular, since the TDS value is often used among indicators indicating the water quality of tap water, the detachable water quality sensor 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably may include a TDS sensor.

Therefore, the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can exhibit the effect of checking the water quality of the water supplied to each household in real time when the water supply is supplied by additionally equipped with a detachable water quality sensor 600 . .

On the other hand, in the second space 212 of the case 210, the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor 300 in connection with the display 400 and the water quality value of the liquid detected through the removable water quality sensor 600 to an external device A communication module 700 to transmit to may be provided.

The communication module 700 can communicate with an external device using various communication methods (for example, LoRa, NB-loT, Cat.M1 communication such as LoRa for data transmission), and is installed in a detachable form. And it can be easily replaced according to the field communication status.

On the other hand, the third space 213 of the case 210 is provided with a large battery 520 connected to the communication module 700 to supply power to the communication module 700, and the case 210 has a large battery ( The pedestal 215 for supporting the 520 may be provided so that the large battery 520 may be stably provided in the third space 213 .

Here, the large battery 520 may be shared by switching with the small battery 510 according to the remaining amount.

On the other hand, the display 400 may be included in the indicator 400a for displaying the measurement information of the smart water meter (10).

The indicator 400a displays all the information (that is, the total amount of water passing through the water pipe, water quality, etc.) measured through the smart water meter 10, and the ultrasonic sensor 300 and the removable water quality sensor 600 detected from It is connected through a cable (not shown) to obtain a measured value, and the cable (not shown) may be configured to converge on the indicator 400a so as not to be damaged by the liquid flowing through the body 100 .

In addition, the display 400 may be provided in various types, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

In addition, the indication unit 400a is detachably provided with the communication module 700 and the large battery 520, so where the communication function is unnecessary, the communication module 700 and the large battery 520 may be separated so that there is no IoT communication function. It can only be used as a meter.

Next, the processor 800 of the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, only parts different from those of the above-described embodiment will be described in detail, and detailed descriptions of the same or extremely similar parts will be omitted.

7 is a block diagram illustrating the smart water meter shown in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the display of the smart water meter shown in FIG. 3 .

1 to 8 , the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the removable water quality sensor 600 to detect the water quality value of the liquid passing through the body 100 at every preset cycle. And, to identify the flow rate passing through the body 100 based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor 300, and to further include a processor 800 for controlling the display 400 and the communication module 700 can

Looking at the processor 800 in detail, the processor 800 may control the detachable water quality sensor 600 to detect the quality of the liquid passing through the body 100 at every preset cycle.

That is, since a large amount of power is consumed compared to measuring the flow rate of the liquid through the ultrasonic sensor 300 to measure the water quality value of the liquid through the detachable water quality sensor 600 , the processor 800 measures the water quality value The battery 500 consumption can be saved by measuring the water quality value every preset period without operating the detachable water quality sensor 600 during the off time.

Hereinafter, a method for saving the battery 500 consumption of the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, a preset period (ie, a period for operating the removable water quality sensor 600 ) is determined based on the remaining amount of the battery 500 , and the processor 800 determines that the remaining amount of the battery 500 is less than a preset first value. In this case, the preset period may be increased.

For example, since the initial cycle for measuring the water quality value is set to 1 hour, when it is detected that the remaining amount of the battery 500 is reduced to less than 50% in a situation where the removable water quality sensor 600 is operating once per hour, The processor 800 may operate the detachable water quality sensor 600 once every 2 hours by increasing the preset cycle to 2 hours.

In addition, the processor 800 determines that the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the second point in time when the preset period has elapsed at the first point in time is less than the first ratio compared to the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the first point in time. cycle can be increased.

That is, the processor 800 may increase the preset period when the value obtained by dividing the remaining amount of the battery 500 during the current measurement by the remaining amount of the battery 500 during the previous measurement is less than a predetermined ratio.

For example, assuming that the initial cycle for measuring the water quality value is 1 hour and the preset first ratio is 0.9876, the remaining amount of the battery 500 is 81% at the first time point at which the water quality value is measured, and the first time point When the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the second time point, which is a preset period of 1 hour, has elapsed, is 80%, the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the second time point compared to the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the first time point becomes 80/81 = 0.98765.

Accordingly, the processor 800 determines that the remaining amount (80%) of the battery 500 at the second time point relative to the remaining amount (81%) of the battery 500 at the first time point is not less than a predetermined first ratio (0.9876). Therefore, it is possible to operate the removable water quality sensor 600 according to the existing preset period (1 hour).

Meanwhile, the remaining amount of the battery 500 is 80% at the first time point when the water quality value is measured, and the remaining amount of the battery 500 is 79% at the second time point when 1 hour, which is a preset period, has elapsed from the first time point. In this case, the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the second time point compared to the remaining amount of the battery 500 at the first time point is 79/80 = 0.9875.

Accordingly, in the processor 800, the remaining amount (79%) of the battery 500 at the second time point compared to the remaining amount (80%) of the battery 500 at the first time point is less than a predetermined first ratio (0.9876), The period for operating the removable water quality sensor 600 may be increased.

On the other hand, a preset period in which the removable water quality sensor 600 operates may be determined based on a signal received from an external device.

That is, since the smart water meter 10 can communicate with an external device through the communication module 700, it can receive a signal for adjusting the operation cycle of the detachable water quality sensor 600 from the external device, and It is also possible to set the operation cycle of the removable water quality sensor 600 to a new cycle based on the signal.

In addition, the predetermined period in which the removable water quality sensor 600 operates may be determined based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor 300 .

Specifically, the processor 800 increases the preset period when the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor 300 is less than the first value, and increases the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor 300 is equal to or greater than the second value. In this case, the preset period may be reduced.

That is, since the possibility that the water quality of water will change is relatively high at a time when the flow rate passing through the water pipe is high compared to a time when the flow rate is low, if the flow rate of the liquid detected through the ultrasonic sensor 300 is less than the first value, the preset period By increasing (that is, by slowing the operation cycle of the removable water quality sensor 600), the battery 500 consumption is saved, and when the flow rate of the detected liquid is greater than or equal to the second value, the preset cycle is decreased (ie, the removable water quality By speeding up the operation cycle of the sensor 600), it is possible to respond more sensitively to changes in water quality.

In this way, the smart water meter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can exhibit the effect of saving the battery 500 consumption by adjusting the operation cycle of the water quality sensor as needed.

Meanwhile, the processor 800 may identify a value obtained by multiplying the flow rate of the liquid sensed by the ultrasonic sensor 300 by the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the body 100 as the flow rate passing through the flow path.

In addition, the processor 800 may control the indicator 400a to display the identified flow rate and the water quality value of the liquid sensed through the removable water quality sensor 600, and the display 400 included in the indicator 400a is It is possible to display the flow rate of the liquid passing through the main body 100 and the water quality value (TDS measurement value), as well as the remaining amount of the battery 500 and whether there is a reverse flow.

On the other hand, the processor 800 controls the communication module 700 to transmit the identified flow rate and the water quality value of the liquid detected through the removable water quality sensor 600 to an external device, and the flow rate and water quality of water passing through the water pipe through this Since data such as information can be collected, it can have the effect of analyzing water usage patterns or predicting water usage and establishing a water production plan.

In the above, the smart water meter according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment presented herein. And those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention will be able to easily suggest other embodiments by addition, change, deletion, addition, etc. of components within the scope of the same spirit, but this is also said to be within the scope of the present invention. will be.

10: smart water meter 100: main body
110: inlet 120: outlet
130: first landing hole 140: second landing hole
200: enclosure 210: case
211: first space 212: second space
213: third space 214: fourth space
215: base 220: cover
300: ultrasonic sensor 400: display
400a: indicator 500: battery
510: small battery 520: large battery
600: removable water quality sensor 700: communication module
800: processor

Claims (11)

A body provided in the shape of a long circular pipe in one direction through which the liquid passes;
and a body which is coupled to and detachably from the main body to form an internal space,
The body includes an inlet provided at one end of the body through which liquid flows into the body, an outlet provided at the other end of the body through which the liquid passing through the body is discharged, and the inlet on the outer circumferential surface of the body. and a pair of first seating holes in which ultrasonic sensors for sensing the flow rate of liquid passing through the main body are seated, respectively, provided to form a vertical position with the discharge port, provided to maintain a predetermined distance, and provided on the side of the outlet and the outlet and a second seating hole provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body to form an extra seating space so as to be positioned between the first seating holes,
The housing includes a case having an open upper surface and coupled to the main body, and a cover coupled to and detached from the open upper surface of the case to cover the upper surface of the case,
A display for displaying the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor is provided inside the cover,
Smart water meter, characterized in that the case is provided with a battery for supplying power.
The method of claim 1,
The battery includes a small battery provided inside the cover to supply power to an indicator for controlling the display,
The case includes a first space portion positioned on one side of the main body to seat the small battery after being combined with the main body, a second space portion provided to correspond to the first space portion and positioned on the other side of the main body; A third space formed between the first space and the second space and positioned above the main body, and the first space, the second space, and the third space. A smart water meter comprising a fourth space in which the body is located.
3. The method of claim 2,
A detachable water quality sensor for detecting the water quality of the liquid passing through the body is provided in the second seating port,
The display displays the water quality value of the liquid detected through the removable water quality sensor,
The indicator is a smart water meter, characterized in that for supplying power to the removable water quality sensor.
4. The method of claim 3,
Smart water meter, characterized in that the second space is provided with a communication module connected to the display to transmit the flow rate identified through the ultrasonic sensor and the water quality value of the liquid detected through the detachable water quality sensor to an external device. .
5. The method of claim 4,
The battery includes a large battery provided in the third space and connected to the communication module to supply power to the communication module,
Smart water meter, characterized in that the case is provided with a pedestal for supporting the large battery.
6. The method of claim 5,
In connection with the detachable water quality sensor, it detects the water quality value of the liquid passing through the main body at every preset cycle,
identifying the flow rate passing through the body based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor,
Smart water meter, characterized in that it further comprises a processor for controlling the display and the communication module.
7. The method of claim 6,
The preset period is a smart water meter, characterized in that determined based on the remaining amount of the battery.
8. The method of claim 7,
The processor is a smart water meter, characterized in that for increasing the preset period when the remaining amount of the battery is less than a preset first value.
8. The method of claim 7,
The processor increases the preset period when the remaining amount of the battery at the second time point at which the preset period has elapsed at the first time point is less than a first preset ratio compared to the remaining amount of the battery at the first time point Smart water meter featuring.
7. The method of claim 6,
The preset period is a smart water meter, characterized in that determined based on the signal received from the external device.
7. The method of claim 6,
The preset period is determined based on the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor,
The processor increases the preset period when the flow rate of the liquid sensed through the ultrasonic sensor is less than the first value, and decreases the preset period when the flow rate of the liquid detected through the ultrasonic sensor is equal to or greater than the second value Smart water meter featuring.

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