REMOTE SHUT-OFF GAS METER

• US 20100289667A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster American Meter Co. LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster American Meter Co. LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: BRADLEY, Tod Wallace, TURGEON, Joseph Leonard, KOCHANOWICZ, Brian William, KELLY, John Carlton
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/002 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/221 Valves therefor valves for flowmeters in general G01F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/226 characterised by features of meter body or housing
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/227 characterised by the means for transfer of membrane movement information to indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0777 With second control

Abstract

A retrofit system includes a body, a cup and a valve. The body has a top wall and a plurality of side walls defining a opening and a chamber and is configured to be connected to a gas meter such that the chamber is in fluid communication with a chamber of the gas meter. An inlet channel is configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a diaphragm disposed within the gas meter and an outlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet of the diaphragm. The cup is disposed within an aperture located in the top wall and defines compartment configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) controller and a power supply. The valve is connected to one of the inlet or outlet channels and is electrically coupled to the RF controller and the power supply. The valve is configured to close in response to receiving an electrical signal from the RF controller.

Claims

1. A gas meter, comprising:

a first body portion having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls defining an opening and a chamber;

a diaphragm disposed within the chamber, the diaphragm having an inlet port and an outlet port;

a second body portion having a top wall and a plurality of side walls defining a second opening and a second chamber, the second body portion connected to the first body portion such that the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with each other, the top wall defining an aperture, the second body portion including an inlet channel in fluid communication with the inlet of the diaphragm and an outlet channel in fluid communication with the outlet of the diaphragm;

a cup disposed within the aperture, the cup defining an compartment sized and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) controller and a power supply; and

a valve connected to one of the inlet channel or the outlet channel, the valve electrically coupled to the RF controller and the power supply, the valve configured to open and close in response to an electrical signal received from the RF controller.

2. The gas meter of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to encase the RF controller and power supply within the compartment of the cup.

3. The gas meter of claim 1, wherein the first and second body portions are formed from aluminum.

4. The gas meter of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed from a material that enables RF propagation.

5. The gas meter of claim 1, wherein an interface between the cup and the top wall of the second body portion is airtight.

6. The gas meter of claim 5, wherein the cup and the second body portion are monolithic.

7. The gas meter of claim 1, wherein the compartment defined by the cup is isolated from the first and second chambers.

8. A retrofit system for a gas meter, comprising:

a body having a top wall and a plurality of side walls defining a opening and a chamber, the body configured to be connected to a body of a gas meter such that the chamber is in fluid communication with a chamber of the gas meter, the top wall defining an aperture, the body including an inlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a diaphragm disposed within the gas meter and an outlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet of the diaphragm;

a cup disposed within the aperture, the cup defining an compartment sized and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) controller and a power supply; and

a valve connected to one of the inlet channel or the outlet channel, the valve electrically coupled to the RF controller and the power supply, the valve configured to open and close in response to an electrical signal received from the RF controller.

9. The retrofit system of claim 8, further comprising a cover configured to encase the RF controller and power supply within the compartment of the cup.

10. The retrofit system of claim 8, wherein the body is formed from aluminum.

11. The retrofit system of claim 8, wherein the cover is formed from a material that enables RF propagation.

12. The retrofit system of claim 8, wherein an interface between the cup and the top wall of the body is airtight.

13. The retrofit system of claim 8, wherein the cup and the body are monolithic.

14. The retrofit system of claim 8, wherein the compartment defined by the cup is isolated from the chambers.

15. A method of retrofitting a gas meter, comprising:

removing a cover of a gas meter to expose an internal chamber of the gas meter; and

securing a retrofit system to the gas meter to cover the internal chamber, the retrofit system including;

a body having a top wall and a plurality of side walls defining a opening and a second chamber, the body configured to be connected to a body of a gas meter such that the chamber is in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the gas meter, the top wall defining an aperture, the second body portion including an inlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a diaphragm disposed within the gas meter and an outlet channel configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet of the diaphragm;

a cup disposed within the aperture, the cup defining a compartment sized and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) controller and a power supply; and

a valve connected to one of the inlet channel or the outlet channel, the valve electrically coupled to the RF controller and the power supply, the valve configured to close in response to an electrical signal received from the RF controller.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the retrofit device further includes a cover for encasing the RF controller and power supply within the compartment of the cup.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the compartment defined by the cup is isolated from the chamber and the internal chamber of the gas meter.