System and method for battery management and antenna elevation in a pit mounted automatic meter reading unit
First Claim
1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system adapted to be mounted in a utility meter pit, the AMR system comprising:
- an AMR device including;
a meter connection configured to provide consumption data from a utility meter in the utility meter pit;
processing electronics configured to receive the consumption data via the meter connection and convert the consumption data into a transmittable signal;
an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the transmittable signal to a remote device; and
an enclosure that houses the processing electronics and the antenna therein to provide protection thereto from ambient conditions in the utility meter pit;
wherein the enclosure defines a dome-shaped antenna compartment therein configured to house the antenna, the antenna compartment protruding out from a remainder of the enclosure so as to provide for positioning of the antenna at a location extended out therefrom; and
a cover adaptor mateable with the AMR device and with a cover of the utility meter pit, the cover adaptor comprising;
a flanged end portion; and
a projection portion protruding outwardly from the flanged end portion, the projection portion comprising a hollow interior formed therein that is open on an end of the projection portion that is distal from the flanged end portion;
wherein the projection portion is sized and constructed to so as to be positionable through a hole formed in the cover of the utility meter pit and so as to receive and secure the dome-shaped antenna compartment of the AMR device enclosure in the hollow interior thereof;
wherein the positioning of the projection portion of the cover adaptor through the hole in the cover of the utility meter pit and the securing of the dome-shaped antenna compartment of the AMR device enclosure in the hollow interior of the projection portion mounts the antenna of the AMR device at a height approximately flush with a top surface of the cover of the utility meter pit; and
wherein the dome-shaped antenna compartment comprises protrusions formed on an outer surface thereof and the projection portion comprises grooves formed thereon, with the protrusions mating with the grooves via a twist-lock type mating, so as to provide for selective mating and separation of the AMR device from the cover adaptor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enclosure and mounting system that provide ideal RF signal transmission and battery management for AMR systems utilized with a utility meter in a utility meter pit environment are disclosed. The AMR device includes processing electronics that receive consumption data from a pit-mounted utility meter, an antenna to wirelessly transmit signals from the AMR device, and an enclosure that houses the processing electronics and the antenna to provide protection thereto. The enclosure is configured to support different battery sizes and provide battery wire/connector management. The enclosure also defines a dome-shaped antenna compartment therein to house the antenna, the antenna compartment protruding out from a remainder of the enclosure so as to provide for positioning of the antenna at a location extended out therefrom. A companion adaptor utilized with the AMR device is mountable to a cover of the utility meter pit and increases a height of the antenna relative thereto.
34 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system adapted to be mounted in a utility meter pit, the AMR system comprising:
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an AMR device including; a meter connection configured to provide consumption data from a utility meter in the utility meter pit; processing electronics configured to receive the consumption data via the meter connection and convert the consumption data into a transmittable signal; an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the transmittable signal to a remote device; and an enclosure that houses the processing electronics and the antenna therein to provide protection thereto from ambient conditions in the utility meter pit; wherein the enclosure defines a dome-shaped antenna compartment therein configured to house the antenna, the antenna compartment protruding out from a remainder of the enclosure so as to provide for positioning of the antenna at a location extended out therefrom; and a cover adaptor mateable with the AMR device and with a cover of the utility meter pit, the cover adaptor comprising; a flanged end portion; and a projection portion protruding outwardly from the flanged end portion, the projection portion comprising a hollow interior formed therein that is open on an end of the projection portion that is distal from the flanged end portion; wherein the projection portion is sized and constructed to so as to be positionable through a hole formed in the cover of the utility meter pit and so as to receive and secure the dome-shaped antenna compartment of the AMR device enclosure in the hollow interior thereof; wherein the positioning of the projection portion of the cover adaptor through the hole in the cover of the utility meter pit and the securing of the dome-shaped antenna compartment of the AMR device enclosure in the hollow interior of the projection portion mounts the antenna of the AMR device at a height approximately flush with a top surface of the cover of the utility meter pit; and wherein the dome-shaped antenna compartment comprises protrusions formed on an outer surface thereof and the projection portion comprises grooves formed thereon, with the protrusions mating with the grooves via a twist-lock type mating, so as to provide for selective mating and separation of the AMR device from the cover adaptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for mounting an automatic meter reading (AMR) device in a utility meter pit having an enclosure and a cover that collectively define a volume within which a utility meter and the AMR device may be positioned, the method comprising:
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positioning a cover adaptor onto the cover of the utility meter pit, wherein positioning the cover adaptor comprises; translating a projection portion of the cover adaptor through a hole formed in the cover of the utility meter pit, the projection portion comprising a generally hollow interior; and mating a flanged end portion of the cover adaptor with the cover of the utility meter pit, the flanged end portion formed on one end of the projection portion; and inserting a dome-shaped projection of an enclosure of the AMR device into the hollow interior of the projection portion of the cover adaptor to secure the AMR device to the cover adaptor; wherein the dome-shaped projection of the AMR device enclosure mates with the hollow interior of the projection portion via a twist-lock type mating to mount an antenna of the AMR device at a height generally flush with a top surface of the cover of the utility meter pit; and wherein the dome-shaped projection of the AMR device enclosure comprises protrusions formed on an outer surface thereof and the projection portion comprises grooves formed thereon, with the protrusions mating with the grooves via the twist-lock type mating, so as to provide for selective mating and separation of the AMR device from the cover adaptor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification