AUTOMATED METER READING SYSTEM AND ENERGY CONSERVATION METHOD USING SAME

• US 20120022812A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Original Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Inventors: Longtin, Jon P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2515 with magnetically controlled switches, e.g. by movement of a magnet
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a meter retrofit and method for use thereof, utilizing a transducer with an encoder driven by a rotating shaft of a meter reading dial, the transducer including a plurality of encoder contacts surrounding a rotation axis, with each encoder contact connected to a magnetic switch. A wiper connects to the shaft and rotates around the rotation axis, sequentially contacting the plurality of encoder contacts, providing a variable signal to a monitoring device.

Claims

1. A transducer for utility meter retrofit, the utility meter powering a rotating shaft that drives a meter reading dial, the transducer comprising:

an encoder having a plurality of encoder contacts surrounding a rotation axis, with each encoder contact connected to a varying output value;

a wiper connected to the rotating shaft, rotating around the rotation axis; and

an output for connecting to a monitoring device,

wherein the wiper sequentially contacts each of the plurality of encoder contacts, to provide a variable signal to the monitoring device.

2. The transducer of claim 1, wherein mechanical linkages of the utility meter drive the shaft and the monitoring device powers the encoder output.

3. The transducer of claim 1, wherein the encoder contacts are non-uniformly positioned around the rotation axis, with the non-uniform positions compensating for non-uniform shaft speed during periods of uniform flow of a metered volume.

4. The transducer of claim 3, wherein the utility meter is one of a gas meter, a water meter and a steam meter.

5. A transducer for utility meter retrofit, the utility meter powering a rotating shaft that drives a meter reading dial, the transducer comprising:

an encoder having a plurality of encoder contacts surrounding a rotation axis, with each encoder contact connected to a varying resistive value;

a wiper connected to the rotating shaft, rotating around the rotation axis; and

an output for connecting to a monitoring device,

wherein the wiper sequentially contacts each of the plurality of encoder contacts, to provide a variable signal to the monitoring device.

6. An energy conservation method utilizing a utility meter transducer retrofit, with a utility meter powering a rotating shaft that drives a meter reading dial, the method comprising:

measuring, by an encoder of the retrofit transducer, a volume supplied via the utility meter, wherein the encoder has a plurality of encoder contacts surrounding a rotation axis in the encoder, wherein the encoder contacts are sequentially triggered as the shaft rotates about the rotation axis;

obtaining, by monitoring the encoder output, a plurality of overall usage profiles for sequential time intervals;

comparing the plurality of overall usage profiles to historical appliance usage profiles corresponding to equipment attached to the meter;

identifying the equipment in operation for each time interval; and

comparing the plurality of overall usage profiles to historical usage profiles for the identified equipment.

7. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining, based on the comparison result, whether the identified equipment is efficiently operating.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising recognizing individual appliance usage by recognition of a power consumption signature unique to the appliance.