Valve control device based on water meter

Abstract

The invention discloses a valve control device based on a water meter, which comprises a water meter base meter used for collecting water parameters; the communication unit is connected with the water meter base meter and used for interacting with a main station in a wireless or wired communication mode and receiving a main station valve control instruction; the key input unit is used for local user interaction; the information analyzing and processing unit is connected with the water meter base meter, the communication unit and the key input unit, monitors the water use fault condition in real time according to the water use parameters, and generates a valve control instruction; the control execution unit is connected with the information analysis and processing unit and comprises a logic layer and a physical layer, and the logic layer is used for receiving specific service information and outputting a control target of a device layer according to current information; the physical layer is used for receiving the control target of the logic layer and outputting a control signal for controlling the execution unit according to the actual physical state of the valve; the valve is installed on the water pipe, opening and closing operation is achieved, and the problem that in the prior art, an intelligent water meter is low in valve control efficiency is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water meter technology, and more specifically, to a valve control device based on a water meter. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional mechanical water meters do not have automatic valve control functions. When a user is in arrears or there is a water usage failure such as a leak, the valve needs to be manually closed, and then manually reopened when it needs to be restored. This is very inefficient.

[0003] Although existing smart water meters have automatic valve control functions, their functions are relatively simple. They can usually only receive valve control commands from the master station and do not have the function of automatically identifying water use faults. When a water use fault occurs, it needs to be reported manually and then the valve is controlled by the master station, which is inefficient.

[0004] In summary, the low control efficiency of smart water meters over valves is a problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a valve control device based on a water meter to solve the problem of low efficiency in valve control by smart water meters in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present invention, a valve control device based on a water meter is provided, comprising: Water meter base station, used to collect water usage parameters; The communication unit connects to the water meter base meter and is used to interact with the master station via wireless or wired communication to receive valve control commands from the master station. A key input unit is used for local user interaction and receives manual input signals. The information analysis and processing unit is connected to the water meter base, communication unit and key input unit. The information analysis and processing unit monitors water use failures in real time according to the water use parameters and generates valve control commands based on the monitoring results or master station commands. A control execution unit is connected to the information analysis and processing unit. The control execution unit includes a logic layer and a physical layer. The logic layer is used to receive specific business information and output the control target of the device layer according to the current information. The physical layer is used to receive the control target of the logic layer and output the control signal of the control execution unit according to the actual physical state of the valve. A valve is installed on a water pipe, and the valve is controlled by a control execution unit to achieve opening and closing operations.

[0007] In some embodiments, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to perform traffic data processing, and the method for performing traffic data processing includes: Real-time flow rate Q and clock data are obtained from the water meter base at fixed time intervals; Save the real-time traffic Q to a traffic cache array, denoted as Q1, Q2, ..., QN; Calculate the average flow rate using the slip method. The calculation formula is as follows: ; Where N is the size of the cache array and i is the current number of data points.

[0008] In some embodiments, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to detect water use failure status, and the detection logic for detecting water use failure status includes: Leakage detection is used to check... Whether the value falls within the range of [starting flow, Q1]; Q1 is the minimum flow rate of the water meter, representing the lowest flow rate at which the water meter can still accurately measure; and / or, Backflow status detection is used to check Whether the value is less than 0; and / or, Overcurrent status detection is used to check Whether the value of is within the range [Q4, XQ4]; where X > 1; Q4 is the overload flow rate of the water meter, representing the maximum flow rate that the water meter can withstand in a short period of time; and / or, Pipe burst condition detection is used for inspection. Is it greater than the starting flow rate? If any fault condition is detected, the information analysis and processing unit outputs a valve-closing command to the control execution unit.

[0009] In some embodiments, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to respond to external commands and events, and the method for responding to external commands and events includes: If the valve is currently in the open state, check if the master station has a valve closing command. If a valve closing command exists, output the valve closing command to the control execution unit. If the valve is currently in the closed state, check if the master station has a valve opening command or a long press input. If a valve opening command or a long press input exists, output the valve opening command to the control execution unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to trigger valve control based on a clock event, and the method for triggering valve control based on a clock event includes: Check if the current clock is the same as the preset time format; If the clock is matched, the valve closing command is output when the valve is open, and the valve opening command is output again when the valve is closed to the preset opening degree. Alternatively, the valve opening command is output when the valve is closed, and the valve closing command is output again when the valve is open to the preset opening degree.

[0011] In some embodiments, the logic layer of the control execution unit is configured to perform state transitions based on input signals; the logic states of the logic layer include command valve opening state, command valve closing state, emergency valve opening state, key valve closing state, and valve self-test and fault protection state; the transition rules of the logic layer include: In the command-to-open state, when no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected or the output is a command-to-open state, the command-to-open state is maintained, and an opening signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-to-open state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-to-close state, the system transitions to the command-to-close state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-activated valve opening state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when no output from the information analysis and processing unit is detected, or when the output is a command-closed state, the command-closed state is maintained, and a valve-closed signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-open state, the system transitions to the command-open state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the key input unit detects that the key has been pressed for a long time, it transitions to the emergency-open valve state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to close the valve, the system transitions to the command to close the valve state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to open the valve, the system transitions to a command to close the valve and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when a button is detected to be pressed for an extended period, the system transitions to emergency valve opening mode and outputs an opening signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, if no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected and no button is detected, if it is in self-test mode, the self-test timer is started. After the timer expires, a signal opposite to the previous control signal is output to the physical layer.

[0012] In some embodiments, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to drive the valve actuator according to the control target of the logic layer; the physical layer includes valve open state, valve close state, valve open execution state, valve close execution state, and valve fault state; the migration rules of the physical layer include: In the open valve state, when a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the closed state, when an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve execution state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, if an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, the valve remains in the closed state when a valve-closing signal is input; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, and the input is an open valve signal, the valve remains in the open position; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, if a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the event of a valve malfunction, immediately stop valve operation and periodically perform repair operations. The repair operations include: if the valve was in an open state before the malfunction, first perform a valve closing action, then perform a valve opening action, and then transition to a valve closing state; if the valve was in a closed state before the malfunction, first perform a valve opening action, then perform a valve closing action, and then transition to a valve opening state.

[0013] In some embodiments, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to control valve movement using a combination of direct level drive and PWM drive, wherein the valve movement control method includes: During the valve startup phase, a high current is provided using a direct-drive method to overcome inertial resistance; When a change in valve position is detected, the system switches to PWM drive mode to save energy.

[0014] In some embodiments, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to monitor the valve status in real time to detect anomalies, and when a valve anomaly is detected, it transitions to a valve fault state and performs protection operations.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method for monitoring valve status includes: Continuously monitor the valve's drive current and valve position; when abnormal conditions are met, the valve is determined to be in an abnormal state, including: The drive current continues for a duration exceeding the fault threshold; and / or, The valve position remains unchanged for S seconds; S is a preset value; and / or, The valve did not reach the designated position within the preset timeout period.

[0016] By applying the technical solution of this invention, a valve control method and device based on a water meter is developed. In addition to the water meter base, communication module, control and execution unit, and valve, an information analysis and processing unit is added. This not only enables the device to receive valve opening and closing commands issued by the main station, but also to monitor water usage failures in real time and automatically control the valve opening and closing based on the water usage failure situation.

[0017] The control and execution unit adopts a hierarchical design, making the valve control logic and objectives clearer and facilitating business and functional expansion.

[0018] When monitoring valve movement, using a combination of drive current and valve position can quickly monitor the valve's movement status and protect the actuator from damage in abnormal situations, and also enable regular repairs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve control device based on a water meter according to the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A flowchart of the information analysis and processing unit of the water meter-based valve control device of the present invention is shown. Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating the logic layer of the control execution unit of the water meter-based valve control device of the present invention is shown. Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating the physical layer of the control execution unit of the water meter-based valve control device of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] In existing water supply systems, water meters are primarily used to measure users' water consumption, while valves are used to control the flow of water. Traditionally, water meters and valves are usually independent devices, with valve control largely relying on manual operation. For example, when a user is in arrears on payment, a person needs to visit the site to close the valve, or when a pipeline malfunctions, a person needs to go to the site to open or close the valve. This method is not only inefficient but also fails to achieve real-time monitoring and automatic control of water usage.

[0023] With the development of smart water meter technology, although some water meters with remote communication functions have emerged, in terms of valve control, they usually only control the opening and closing of valves based on the user's payment status (receiving the master station's valve opening or closing command through the communication module unit), and cannot monitor water use failures in real time and automatically control valve opening and closing.

[0024] To address the aforementioned issues, the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment includes a water meter base meter, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 1 to 4 The system includes: a water meter base unit for collecting water usage parameters; a communication unit connected to the water meter base unit for interacting with the main station via wireless or wired communication and receiving valve control commands from the main station; a key input unit for local user interaction and receiving manual input signals; an information analysis and processing unit connected to the water meter base unit, communication unit, and key input unit, which monitors water usage faults in real time based on the water usage parameters and generates valve control commands based on the monitoring results or main station commands; a control execution unit connected to the information analysis and processing unit, which includes a logic layer and a physical layer. The logic layer receives specific business information and outputs control targets for the device layer based on the current information. The physical layer receives the control targets from the logic layer and outputs control signals for the control execution unit based on the actual physical state of the valve; and a valve installed on the water pipe, which is controlled by the control execution unit to perform opening and closing operations.

[0025] Specifically, the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment includes a water meter base, a communication unit, a key input unit, an information analysis and processing unit, a control execution unit, and a valve. The water meter base is responsible for collecting water usage parameters (such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure); the communication unit supports multiple communication methods such as NB-IoT, LoRa, and RS485 for interacting with the master station and receiving valve control commands; the key input unit is used for manual operation by local users; the information analysis and processing unit is responsible for real-time monitoring of water usage status and generating control commands; the control execution unit adopts a layered design of logic and physical layers to achieve precise valve control; the valve is installed on the water pipe and performs opening and closing operations. By integrating the information analysis and processing unit, this device not only supports remote master station control but also identifies water usage faults in real time and automatically controls the valve, significantly improving the real-time performance and automation level of valve control, reducing manual intervention costs, and solving the problem of low efficiency in valve control by existing smart water meters.

[0026] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to perform flow data processing. The method for performing flow data processing includes: acquiring real-time flow rate Q and clock data from the water meter base at fixed time intervals; saving the real-time flow rate Q to a flow buffer array, denoted as Q1, Q2, ..., QN; and calculating the average flow rate using the slip method. The calculation formula is as follows: ;

[0027] Where N is the size of the cache array and i is the current number of data points.

[0028] Specifically, the information analysis and processing unit obtains the real-time flow rate Q from the water meter base at fixed time intervals and stores it in the flow rate cache array Q1, Q2, …, QN, and calculates the average flow rate using the slip method. The calculation formula is shown above. This method effectively smooths instantaneous flow fluctuations and improves the accuracy of water usage status identification. Thus, by using slip averaging, misjudgments caused by sudden changes in instantaneous flow are avoided, improving the reliability of fault detection such as dripping and backflow.

[0029] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to detect water usage failure status, and the detection logic for detecting water usage failure status includes: Leakage detection is used to check... Whether the value falls within the range of [starting flow, Q1]; Q1 is the minimum flow rate of the water meter, representing the lowest flow rate at which the water meter can still accurately measure; and / or, Backflow status detection is used to check Whether the value is less than 0; and / or, Overcurrent status detection is used to check Whether the value of is within the range [Q4, XQ4]; where X > 1; Q4 is the overload flow rate of the water meter, representing the maximum flow rate that the water meter can withstand in a short period of time, at which point the water meter can still maintain its metering characteristics; and / or, Pipe burst condition detection is used for inspection. Is it greater than the starting flow rate? If any fault condition is detected, the information analysis and processing unit outputs a valve-closing command to the control execution unit.

[0030] Specifically, the information analysis and processing unit is based on the average flow rate. Perform various water usage fault detections: dripping status ( ∈ [Initial flow, Q1]), reverse flow state ( < 0), Overcurrent state ( ∈ [Q4, X·Q4]), burst pipe state ( (Starting flow rate). Once any fault is detected, a valve shut-off command is output. This enables automatic identification and response to various typical water-related faults, improving system safety and fault handling efficiency. Through multi-dimensional real-time monitoring, the device can quickly respond to anomalies and automatically shut off valves, reducing water waste and the risk of equipment damage.

[0031] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to respond to external commands and events. The method for responding to external commands and events includes: when the current valve state is open, checking whether the master station has a valve closing command; if a valve closing command exists, outputting a valve closing instruction to the control execution unit; when the current valve state is closed, checking whether the master station has a valve opening command or a long press input; if a valve opening command exists or a long press input exists, outputting a valve opening instruction to the control execution unit.

[0032] Specifically, when the valve is in the open state, if a valve-closing command is received from the master station, the valve will be closed; when the valve is in the closed state, if a valve-opening command is received from the master station or a button press is detected, the valve will be opened. This enables flexible switching between remote and local control, ensuring valve controllability in the event of communication interruption or emergency.

[0033] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the information analysis and processing unit is configured to trigger valve control based on clock events. The method for triggering valve control based on clock events includes: checking whether the current clock is the same as a preset format time; if the clock matches, outputting a valve closing command in the valve open state, and waiting for the valve to close to a preset opening degree before outputting a valve opening command, or outputting a valve opening command in the valve closed state and waiting for the valve to open to a preset opening degree before outputting a valve closing command.

[0034] Specifically, the information analysis and processing unit presets a specific time format (such as YYMMDDhhmmss). When the system clock matches this format, it triggers a valve control action: in the open state, the valve is first closed to a preset opening degree and then reopened, or in the closed state, the valve is first opened and then closed to a preset opening degree. This achieves time-based automated valve regulation, suitable for timed water use control or system self-testing scenarios.

[0035] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the logic layer of the control execution unit is configured to perform state transitions based on input signals; the logic states of the logic layer include command valve opening state, command valve closing state, emergency valve opening state, button valve closing state, and valve self-test and fault protection state; the transition rules of the logic layer include: In the command-to-open state, when no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected or the output is a command-to-open state, the command-to-open state is maintained, and an opening signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-to-open state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-to-close state, the system transitions to the command-to-close state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-activated valve opening state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when no output from the information analysis and processing unit is detected, or when the output is a command-closed state, the command-closed state is maintained, and a valve-closed signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-open state, the system transitions to the command-open state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the key input unit detects that the key has been pressed for a long time, it transitions to the emergency-open valve state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to close the valve, the system transitions to the command to close the valve state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to open the valve, the system transitions to a command to close the valve and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when a button is detected to be pressed for an extended period, the system transitions to emergency valve opening mode and outputs an opening signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, if no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected and no button is detected, if it is in self-test mode, the self-test timer is started. After the timer expires, a signal opposite to the previous control signal is output to the physical layer.

[0036] Specifically, the logic layer of the control execution unit includes states such as command valve opening, command valve closing, emergency valve opening, button valve closing, self-test, and fault protection. For details of the state transition rules, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The logic layer dynamically adjusts the control target based on the output of the information analysis and processing unit and the key input. In this way, through the logic state machine design, the valve control logic is clear, easily expandable, and supports priority handling and conflict resolution of multi-source instructions.

[0037] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to drive the valve actuator according to the control target of the logic layer; the physical layer includes valve open state, valve close state, valve open execution state, valve close execution state, and valve fault state; the migration rules of the physical layer include: In the open valve state, when a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the closed state, when an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve execution state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, if an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, the valve remains in the closed state when a valve-closing signal is input; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, and the input is an open valve signal, the valve remains in the open position; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, if a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the event of a valve malfunction, immediately stop valve operation and periodically perform repair operations. The repair operations include: if the valve was in an open state before the malfunction, first perform a valve closing action, then perform a valve opening action, and then transition to a valve closing state; if the valve was in a closed state before the malfunction, first perform a valve opening action, then perform a valve closing action, and then transition to a valve opening state.

[0038] Specifically, the physical layer of the control execution unit includes states such as valve opening, valve closing, valve opening execution, valve closing execution, and valve fault, and its state transition rules are as follows: Figure 4As shown, the physical layer drives the valve actuator to complete specific actions based on the control objectives output by the logic layer. This decouples the physical and logic layers of valve control, improving the system's reliability and maintainability.

[0039] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to control the valve movement using a combination of direct level drive and PWM drive. The valve movement control method includes: during the valve start-up phase, using direct level drive to provide a large current to overcome inertial resistance; and when a change in valve position is detected, switching to PWM drive to save energy.

[0040] With the above configuration, the physical layer uses a combination of direct-drive and PWM drive when driving the valve: during startup, direct-drive is used to provide a large current to overcome resistance; after detecting valve movement, it switches to PWM drive to reduce energy consumption. This balances the reliability of valve startup with energy efficiency during operation, extending the equipment's lifespan.

[0041] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to monitor the valve status in real time to detect abnormalities. When a valve abnormality is detected, the system transitions to a valve fault state and performs protection operations.

[0042] Specifically, abnormalities (such as current exceeding the threshold or no position change) are further identified by monitoring the drive current and valve position. The real-time monitoring mechanism ensures that the valve quickly enters a fault state and executes protective operations when an abnormality occurs, reducing maintenance costs.

[0043] In the water meter-based valve control device of this embodiment, the method for monitoring the valve status includes: continuously monitoring the valve's drive current and valve position; and determining an abnormal valve status when abnormal conditions are met, wherein the abnormal conditions include: The drive current continues for a duration exceeding the fault threshold; and / or, The valve position remains unchanged for S seconds; S is a preset value; and / or, The valve did not reach the designated position within the preset timeout period.

[0044] Specifically, in the event of a valve malfunction, the system immediately stops the valve's movement and performs repair operations based on the valve's state before the malfunction: if the valve was not intended to be opened before the malfunction, it is closed first and then opened; if it was intended to be closed, it is opened first and then closed. This setup provides an automatic recovery mechanism after a valve malfunction, and by using quantifiable indicators, it improves the accuracy of fault identification, avoiding false alarms or missed alarms.

[0045] Example 1 The valve control device based on a water meter in this embodiment includes: Water meter base: directly installed on the water pipe, with basic functions such as flow measurement, temperature measurement, clock, and freeze protection.

[0046] Communication Unit: Directly connected to the water meter base, the communication unit enables communication between the main station and the water meter, including wireless communication methods such as NB and LoRa, as well as local communication methods such as RS485, infrared, and M-BUS.

[0047] Key input unit: Key switches used for local interaction, including but not limited to photosensitive switches, magnetoresistive switches, etc.

[0048] Information Analysis and Processing Unit: Connected to the water meter base and communication unit, it can acquire data such as flow and pressure related to the water meter base. It can receive valve control commands from the master station via the communication unit, analyze the acquired information or data to determine the water usage status, and then output control signals to the control execution unit based on the water usage status. Furthermore, the control execution unit can collect the actual valve status in real time and promptly report any valve malfunctions to the master station.

[0049] Control execution unit: Receives control signals from the information analysis and processing unit and controls the execution unit to apply valve closing or opening actions to the valve.

[0050] Valves: Installed on water pipes, they control the flow of water in the pipes by opening or closing them.

[0051] Example 2 See Figure 2 The valve control method mainly operates in the information analysis and processing unit, and the main steps are as follows: 1. The current valve status is open: (1) Obtain real-time flow rate Q, clock data, etc. from the water meter base at fixed time intervals. Save the real-time flow rate Q into the flow rate buffer array, denoted as Q1, Q2, ..., QN, and calculate it using the slip method: ; (2) Inspection volume If the condition is met, it is determined to be a dripping state.

[0052] (3) Inspection If the value is less than 0, it is determined to be a reverse flow state.

[0053] (4) Inspection If the condition is met, it is determined to be an overcurrent state.

[0054] (5) Inspection If the starting flow rate meets the conditions, it is determined that the pipe is burst.

[0055] (6) Check if the above-mentioned water use failure status exists. If it exists, jump to (9); otherwise, continue.

[0056] (7) Check if the main station has any valve command. If it does, jump to (9); otherwise, continue.

[0057] (8) Check if the clock is the same as the preset YYMMDDhhmmss. If it is the same, jump to (10) otherwise continue.

[0058] (9) Output the valve closing command to the control execution unit and jump to (11).

[0059] (10) Output the valve closing command to the control execution unit, and wait for the valve to close to the preset opening degree XX% before outputting the valve opening command to the control execution unit.

[0060] (11) End.

[0061] 2. The current valve status is closed: (1) Check if the main station has a valve opening command. If there is a valve opening command, jump to (4); otherwise continue.

[0062] (2) Check if a button has been pressed for a long time. If so, proceed to (4); otherwise, continue.

[0063] (3) Check if the clock is the same as the preset YYMMDDhhmmss. If it is the same, jump to (5) otherwise continue.

[0064] (4) Output the valve opening command to the control execution unit and jump to (6).

[0065] (5) Output the valve opening command to the control execution unit, and wait for the valve to close to the preset opening degree XX% before outputting the valve closing command to the control execution unit.

[0066] (6) End.

[0067] Example 3 The control execution unit is designed in software as a logical layer and a physical layer. The logical layer receives specific business information and outputs the control objectives of the device layer based on this information. The physical layer receives the control objectives from the logical layer and outputs control signals to the control execution unit based on the actual physical state of the valve. The software architecture and state transitions of the logical and physical layer control are as follows: Figure 3 , Figure 4 .

[0068] Example 4 The logic state of the control execution unit's logic layer is divided into five types based on various triggering conditions: command valve opening, command valve closing, emergency (button) valve opening, button valve closing (valve opening time expired), and valve self-check and fault protection (i.e., leakage, backflow, overflow, pipe burst, self-check, etc. determined by the information analysis and processing unit). The steps are as follows: 1. If no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected or the output is a command to open the valve under the command valve opening state, then the logic valve opening is maintained and the control signal output to the physical layer is the valve opening signal. 2. If the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to close the valve when the valve is open under command, the state will transition to logic to close the valve, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve closing signal. 3. When the valve is open under command, if the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the state will transition to logic self-test and fault protection, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve closing signal. 4. If no output from the information analysis and processing unit is detected or the output is a command to close the valve when the logic valve is closed, the logic valve remains closed and the control signal output to the physical layer is the valve closing signal. 5. If the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to open the valve when the valve is closed in the logical state, the state will transition to the logical state of opening the valve, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve opening signal. 6. In the logic valve-off state, if the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the state will transition to logic self-test and fault protection, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve-off signal. 7. In the logic valve-off state, if a button is detected to be pressed for a long time, the state will transition to button-open valve, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve-opening signal. 8. When the valve is in self-test and fault protection state, if the output of the information analysis and processing unit is a command to close the valve, the state will be transitioned to logical valve closure, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve closure signal. 9. When the valve is in self-test and fault protection state, if the output of the information analysis and processing unit is a command to open the valve, the state will transition to logical valve closing, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be a valve closing signal. 10. When the valve is in self-test and fault protection state, if a button is detected to be pressed for a long time, the state will switch to button opening valve, and the control signal output to the physical layer will be the valve opening signal. 11. In the valve self-test and fault protection state, no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected, nor is any button press detected. If it is a self-test, the self-test timer is started. After the timer expires, the control signal output to the physical layer is the opposite of the previous control signal.

[0069] Example 5 The physical state of the control execution unit can be divided into five states based on the actual physical position and action of the valve: valve open, valve closed, valve open, valve close, and valve malfunction. The transition steps for each state are as follows: 1. When the valve is in the open physical state: (1) When the input is "open valve", it does not operate; (2) When the input is "valve closed", the control valve is closed and the physical state jumps to "execute valve closed"; 2. When the valve is in the closed physical state: (1) When the input is "open valve", the control valve is opened and the physical state jumps to "execute open valve". (2) When the input is "close valve", no action is taken; 3. When the valve's physical state is in the "closed" position: (1) When the input is "open valve", the control valve is opened and the physical state jumps to "execute open valve". (2) When the input is "valve closed", maintain the valve closed operation; 4. When the valve's physical state is set to open: (1) When the input is "valve open", maintain "valve close"; (2) When the input is "valve closed", the control valve is closed and the physical state jumps to "execute valve closed"; 5. When the valve's physical condition is abnormal: (1) Immediately stop the valve movement to protect the valve actuator from accidental damage; (2) Regularly perform abnormal repair work. The repair process depends on whether the valve was opened or closed before the abnormality occurred. If the valve abnormality was caused by opening the valve, the valve should be closed for a certain period of time before the valve is opened again. The valve's physical state will then switch to closing. The reverse is also true.

[0070] Example 6 When opening and closing the valve, a combination of direct-drive and PWM drive is used: Initially, to overcome motor inertia and water resistance, direct-drive is used to provide a large current to start the valve movement. Once valve movement (change in valve position) is detected, PWM drive is used to save energy. During valve opening and closing, the valve's drive current and position are continuously monitored to determine the valve's specific movement: if the drive current exceeds the fault value for a continuous period, if no change in valve position is detected for 2 consecutive seconds, or if the valve fails to reach the specified position within the specified timeout period, the valve is considered to be in an abnormal state; otherwise, the valve is considered to be in normal operation, and the valve movement is continuously controlled.

[0071] As can be seen from the above description, the embodiments of the present invention achieve the following technical effects: The valve control method and device based on water meters in this embodiment adds an information analysis and processing unit to the water meter base, communication module, control and execution unit, and valve. It can not only receive valve opening and closing commands issued by the main station, but also monitor water use failures in real time and automatically control the valve opening and closing according to the water use failures.

[0072] The control and execution unit adopts a hierarchical design, making the valve control logic and objectives clearer and facilitating business and functional expansion.

[0073] When monitoring valve movement, using a combination of drive current and valve position can quickly monitor the valve's movement status and protect the actuator from damage in abnormal situations, and also enable regular repairs.

[0074] In addition, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by "horizontal", "vertical", etc. in this application is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the purpose of simplifying the description and making it easier to understand, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0075] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Any combination of all embodiments provided by this invention is within the scope of protection of this invention and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0076] The valve control device based on a water meter provided by this invention has been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this invention. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this invention without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. A valve control device based on a water meter, characterized in that, include: Water meter base station, used to collect water usage parameters; The communication unit connects to the water meter base meter and is used to interact with the master station via wireless or wired communication to receive valve control commands from the master station. A key input unit is used for local user interaction and receives manual input signals. The information analysis and processing unit is connected to the water meter base, communication unit and key input unit. The information analysis and processing unit monitors water use failures in real time according to the water use parameters and generates valve control commands based on the monitoring results or master station commands. A control execution unit is connected to the information analysis and processing unit. The control execution unit includes a logic layer and a physical layer. The logic layer is used to receive specific business information and output the control target of the device layer according to the current information. The physical layer is used to receive the control target of the logic layer and output the control signal of the control execution unit according to the actual physical state of the valve. A valve is installed on a water pipe, and the valve is controlled by a control execution unit to achieve opening and closing operations.

2. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information analysis and processing unit is configured to perform traffic data processing, and the method for performing traffic data processing includes: Real-time flow rate Q and clock data are obtained from the water meter base at fixed time intervals; Save the real-time traffic Q to a traffic cache array, denoted as Q1, Q2, ..., QN; Calculate the average flow rate using the slip method. The calculation formula is as follows: ； Where N is the size of the cache array and i is the current number of data points.

3. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The information analysis and processing unit is configured to detect water use failure status, and the detection logic for detecting water use failure status includes: Leakage detection is used to check... Whether the value falls within the range of [starting flow, Q1]; Q1 is the minimum flow rate of the water meter, representing the lowest flow rate at which the water meter can still accurately measure; and / or, Backflow status detection is used to check Whether the value is less than 0; and / or, Overcurrent status detection is used to check Whether the value of is within the range [Q4, XQ4]; where X > 1; Q4 is the overload flow rate of the water meter, representing the maximum flow rate that the water meter can withstand in a short period of time; and / or, Pipe burst condition detection is used for inspection. Is it greater than the starting flow rate? If any fault condition is detected, the information analysis and processing unit outputs a valve-closing command to the control execution unit.

4. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information analysis and processing unit is configured to respond to external commands and events, and the methods for responding to external commands and events include: If the valve is currently in the open state, check if the master station has a valve closing command. If a valve closing command exists, output the valve closing command to the control execution unit. If the valve is currently in the closed state, check if the master station has a valve opening command or a long press input. If a valve opening command or a long press input exists, output the valve opening command to the control execution unit.

5. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information analysis and processing unit is configured to trigger valve control based on clock events, and the method for triggering valve control based on clock events includes: Check if the current clock is the same as the preset time format; If the clock is matched, the valve closing command is output when the valve is open, and the valve opening command is output again when the valve is closed to the preset opening degree. Alternatively, the valve opening command is output when the valve is closed, and the valve closing command is output again when the valve is open to the preset opening degree.

6. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The logic layer of the control execution unit is configured to perform state transitions based on input signals; the logic states of the logic layer include command valve opening state, command valve closing state, emergency valve opening state, key valve closing state, and valve self-test and fault protection state; the transition rules of the logic layer include: In the command-to-open state, when no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected or the output is a command-to-open state, the command-to-open state is maintained, and an opening signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-to-open state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-to-close state, the system transitions to the command-to-close state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-activated valve opening state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when no output from the information analysis and processing unit is detected, or when the output is a command-closed state, the command-closed state is maintained, and a valve-closed signal is output to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command-open state, the system transitions to the command-open state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as self-test or fault protection, the system transitions to the valve self-test and fault protection state and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the command-closed valve state, when the key input unit detects that the key has been pressed for a long time, it transitions to the emergency-open valve state and outputs an open valve signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to close the valve, the system transitions to the command to close the valve state and outputs a valve closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, when the output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected as a command to open the valve, the system transitions to a command to close the valve and outputs a valve-closing signal to the physical layer; and / or, In valve self-test and fault protection mode, when a button is detected to be pressed for an extended period, the system transitions to emergency valve opening mode and outputs an opening signal to the physical layer; and / or, In the valve self-test and fault protection state, if no output of the information analysis and processing unit is detected and no button is detected, if it is in self-test mode, the self-test timer is started. After the timer expires, a signal opposite to the previous control signal is output to the physical layer.

7. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to drive the valve actuator according to the control target of the logic layer; the physical layer includes valve open state, valve close state, valve open execution state, valve close execution state, and valve fault state; the migration rules of the physical layer include: In the open valve state, when a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the closed state, when an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve execution state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, if an open valve signal is input, the valve is controlled to open, and the system transitions to the open valve state; and / or, When the valve is in the closed state, the valve remains in the closed state when a valve-closing signal is input; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, and the input is an open valve signal, the valve remains in the open position; and / or, When the valve is in the open position, if a valve-closing signal is input, the valve is controlled to close, and the system transitions to the valve-closing state; and / or, In the event of a valve malfunction, immediately stop valve operation and periodically perform repair operations. The repair operations include: if the valve was in an open state before the malfunction, first perform a valve closing action, then perform a valve opening action, and then transition to a valve closing state; if the valve was in a closed state before the malfunction, first perform a valve opening action, then perform a valve closing action, and then transition to a valve opening state.

8. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to control valve movement using a combination of direct level drive and PWM drive. The control methods for valve movement include: During the valve startup phase, a high current is provided using a direct-drive method to overcome inertial resistance; When a change in valve position is detected, the system switches to PWM drive mode to save energy.

9. The valve control device based on a water meter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The physical layer of the control execution unit is configured to monitor the valve status in real time to detect abnormalities. When a valve abnormality is detected, it is switched to a valve fault state and a protection operation is performed.

10. The valve control device based on a water meter according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method for monitoring valve status includes: Continuously monitor the valve's drive current and valve position; when abnormal conditions are met, the valve is determined to be in an abnormal state, including: The drive current continues for a duration exceeding the fault threshold; and / or, The valve position remains unchanged for S seconds; S is a preset value; and / or, The valve did not reach the designated position within the preset timeout period.

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