TAMPER-RESISTANT RELAY MODULES FOR COMMUNICATION WITHIN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20130281009A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, James Ola, Splitz, David Edwin, Parish, Edward C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,496,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/40 with electric connection between sensor and actuator
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/00 Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for relaying data. An exemplary device includes a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity; an antenna disposed within the cavity; and a radio housing engageable with a utility structure by a mounting bracket fastened to the radio housing.

Claims

1. A relay module comprising:

a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity;

an antenna disposed within the cavity; and

a radio housing engageable with a utility structure by a mounting bracket fastened to the radio housing.

2. The relay module of claim 1, wherein the mast is movable relative to the radio housing.

3. The relay module of claim 1, further comprising a spring coupling the radio housing to the mast.

4. The relay module of claim 3, wherein the spring includes an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, the middle section having a diameter larger than the upper section, the upper section having a diameter equal to the middle section.

5. The relay module of claim 3, further comprising an RF connector disposed within the spring and connected to the antenna.

6. The relay module of claim 1, wherein the radio housing includes a front casing and a back casing, a back surface of the back casing being concavely shaped.

7. The relay module of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket includes a roll pin.

8. The relay module of claim 6, wherein the radio housing includes at least one battery in the back casing.

9. The relay module of claim 1, wherein the radio housing is positioned underneath at least a portion of the mounting bracket.

10. The relay module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured as a printed circuit board with copper traces.

11. The relay module of claim 1, wherein the utility structure is a fire hydrant.

12. The relay module of claim 11, wherein the mast is a hydrant marker.

13. The relay module of claim 11, wherein:

the fire hydrant includes a bonnet and a hydrant body, the bonnet coupled to the hydrant body by a plurality of fasteners; and

the bonnet overlapping the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket being fastened to a top surface of the radio housing.

14. The relay module of claim 13, wherein:

the plurality of fasteners includes nuts and bolts; and

the mounting bracket includes a fastener hole sized to accept a bolt of the plurality of fasteners, the fastener hole defined adjacent the radio housing.

15. A relay module system comprising:

a utility structure;

a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity;

an RF circuit including an antenna, the antenna disposed within the cavity of the mast; and

a radio housing mounted to the utility structure, at least a portion of the radio housing beneath at least a portion of the utility structure.

16. The relay module system of claim 15, wherein:

the utility structure is a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant including a bonnet coupled to a hydrant body by a plurality of fasteners; and

wherein the radio housing is mounted to the utility structure by a mounting bracket.

17. The relay module system of claim 16, wherein the mounting bracket includes a roll pin.

18. The relay module system of claim 15, wherein the radio housing includes a back surface conformed with an outer surface of the utility structure.

19. The relay module system of claim 15, further comprising a spring coupling the mast to the radio housing.

20. The relay module system of claim 15, wherein:

the RF circuit includes circuit board and at least one battery;

the radio housing includes a front casing and a back casing;

the front casing protruding from the back casing;

the front casing containing the circuit board of the RF circuit; and

the back casing containing the at least one battery of the RF circuit.