IP Library Granted Patent US 8,973,602
Granted Patent B2
US 8,973,602 · App. 13/146,300 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Gas shutoff device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,973,602
App. No.
13/146,300
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a gas shutoff device that prevents tampering procurement of gas or tamper due to stealing of the gas shutoff device. When an event, in which a gas pressure value of a pressure measuring unit 32 after a predetermined operation performed by a provider in installation is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for a first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than a second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer, happens at a predetermined number of times, the gas is shut off by a shutoff unit 39 , communication with the outside is performed by an external communication unit 34 , restoration is permitted by a restoring unit 38 while when there is a predetermined operation by the provider after the shutoff, the restoration permission state implemented by communicating with the outside by the predetermined operation by the provider and inputting communication of a response from the outside.

Claims (29)

1. A gas shutoff device comprising:

a shutoff unit connected to a gas supply pipe to supply or shut off gas;

a control unit for controlling the shutoff unit;

a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a flow rate of the gas; a pressure measuring unit for measuring pressure of the gas;

a restoring unit for turning a gas shutoff state by the shutoff unit into a restoration state for passing the gas; and

an external communication unit for allowing communication with the outside,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and prohibits a restoring operation by the restoring unit when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times after a predetermined operation performed by a provider in installation:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for a first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than a second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer, wherein the second predetermined pressure value is higher than the first predetermined pressure value.

2. The gas shutoff device of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit communicates with the outside by outputting to the external communication unit, when a predetermined operation is performed by the provider in installation.

3. The gas shutoff device of claim 1 or 2 ,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and communicates with the outside by outputting to the external communication unit, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times after a predetermined operation performed by a provider in installation:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

4. The gas shutoff device of anyone of claims 1 to 3 ,

wherein a restoration permission state is implemented by a predetermined operation of the provider after the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

5. The gas shutoff device of anyone of claims 1 to 3 ,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and then communicates with the outside by outputting to the external communication unit by a predetermined operation of the provider, and implements a restoration permission state by inputting communication of a response from the outside, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

6. The gas shutoff device of anyone of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a card processing unit that reads a pre-paid type card,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and prohibits a restoring operation by the restoring unit, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times after an output from the card processing unit triggered by insertion of a provider operation card by the provider in installation:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

7. The gas shutoff device of claim 6 ,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and a restoration permission state is implemented by an output from the card processing unit triggered by insertion of a provider operation card by the provider, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

8. The gas shutoff device of claim 6 ,

wherein the control unit shuts off the gas by outputting to the shutoff unit and communicates with the outside by outputting to the external communication unit when triggered by an output from the card processing unit, said output occurs in response to insertion of a provider operation card by the provider, and a restoration permission state is implemented by inputting communication of a response from the outside, when the following event happens in an output from the pressure measuring unit at a predetermined number of times:

a gas pressure value is kept equal to or less than a first predetermined pressure value for the first predetermined time or longer and then the gas pressure value is kept equal to or more than the second predetermined pressure value for a second predetermined time or longer.

9. The gas shutoff device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit prohibits the restoring unit from performing the restoring operation until a predetermined operation of the provider for allowing the restoring operation to resume occurs.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2011
From: YOKOHATA, MITSUO
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027074/0251 →