Meter with integral register having no visual display of consumption

• US 20070186644A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Lazar, Mark, Laughlin-Parker, Kelly, Stauber, Joseph, Metzger, Eric, Benson, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/273
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/12 Meters with nutating members, e.g. discs

Abstract

A combined utility meter and meter register assembly (10) is disclosed in which a housing (11, 13, 31) for both a utility metering element and a meter register has no visual readout or display of metering data. Metering data is signaled through a data port (33) or an antenna (36) to external equipment. The meter register is provided by electronic circuitry (29a, 29b) that is placed in an upper cavity (27) in the housing part (13) that is then closed by a cover (31) or a body of sealing material. A label (32) can be placed over the closure informational purposes. An additional embodiment of the housing is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A combined utility meter and meter register assembly, comprising:

a housing for both a fluid flow metering element and meter register components,

a fluid flow metering element and a meter register device both disposed in the housing; and

wherein there is no visual display of metering data on the combined utility meter and meter register assembly.

2. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed by an upper housing part and a lower housing part.

3. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper housing part forms a first cavity opening upwardly to receive the meter register components and also forms a second cavity as a top portion of a chamber for housing the fluid flow metering element.

4. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 3, wherein the meter register components are disposed in the first cavity in the housing, wherein a body of sealing material is used to seal the first cavity and wherein an information label is placed over the sealing material in the first cavity.

5. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 4, having a data port provided in a wall of the housing for communicating metering data from the meter register components to an external device.

6. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower housing part forms spouts for a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, respectively, in a body having a one-piece construction.

7. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower housing part is made of plastic and the upper housing part is made of plastic.

8. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 7, wherein the lower housing part and the upper housing part are fastened together with threaded fasteners.

9. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower housing part is made of metal and the upper housing part is made of plastic.

10. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 9, wherein the upper housing part is fastened to the lower housing part by rolling an edge of the lower housing part over a lower lip on the upper housing part.

11. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow metering element includes a nutating disc.

12. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 1, wherein the meter register components include radio frequency circuitry and an antenna for communicating metering data to an external device.

13. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 1, wherein the meter register components are disposed in a cavity in the housing, wherein a body of sealing material is used to seal the cavity and wherein an information label is placed over the sealing material.

14. A combined utility meter and meter register assembly, comprising:

a housing for both a utility metering element and a meter register, the housing enclosing a chamber;

a flow metering element disposed in the chamber;

wherein the housing has an inlet and an outlet through which a liquid flows into and out of the chamber, respectively; and

wherein the housing body forms a cavity disposed above and separated from the chamber;

wherein a meter register device is disposed in said cavity, and is responsive to movement of the flow metering element in response to flow of a liquid through the chamber, and is further operable to transmit signals indicative of units of consumption of a utility;

wherein the cavity is closed by a closure; and

wherein there is no visual display of metering data on the combined utility meter and meter register assembly.

15. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 14, wherein the closure is a cover member.

16. The combined utility meter and meter register assembly of claim 14, wherein the closure is a body of sealing material.