PROCESS FOR THE REMOTE READING OF MEMBERS FOR DETECTING VARIOUS VARIABLES, PARTICULARLY OF METERS AND SIMILAR, AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING THE SAME

• US 3,662,366 A
• Filed: 10/02/1969
• Issued: 05/09/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andre Squarcioni, Claude Marie Daniel Neuville, Georges Emile Quenouille, Jean-Joel Marcel Gustave Laurent
• Original Assignee: Andre Squarcioni, Claude Marie Daniel Neuville, Georges Emile Quenouille, Jean-Joel Marcel Gustave Laurent
• Inventors: Neuville, Claude Marie Daniel, Quenouille, Georges Emile, Squarcioni, Andre, Laurent, Jean-Joel Marcel Gustave
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US04/863,301
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 340/183,204,150,151,188,180,205,347PR,271,357 346/14MR
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/845 where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The device for remote reading of successive data from a plurality of successive movable detecting members has measuring units with two distinguishable areas, a plurality of pickup elements for scanning said areas to produce a signal, transfer members connected to each pickup element, means for successively activating each transfer members in successive scanning cycles and a computer member connected to the pickup member for collating and analyzing the successive signals.

Claims

1. A device for the continuous remote reading of meters and the like comprising a measuring device including a movable measuring member for indicating units of the variable which is measured by the meter, each unit of measurement being represented on said measuring member by two adjacent areas having a combined length corresponding to said unit, and each said area defining a logic state distinct from the logic state defined by the adjacent area, a recorder, a transfer member for each measuring device, each said transfer member including means for scanning the areas on the appertaining measuring member to provide data signals corresponding to the logic state thereof and for their transmission to said recorder, as well as transfer means for establishing operation of said scanning means of the respective transfer member and means including a clock for effecting a cyclic sequential operation of said transfer means such that the interval between scans of the same measuring member in succeeding cycles is less than the time required by the measuring member to move one-half of a unit of measurement in relation to said scanning means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a power source, each transfer member including a linking element connecting said recorder to said power souRce for transmission of the data signals and including a switching member connected to each linking element, each switching member being activated when the data signals from said scanning means indicates a change from one logic state to the other.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each transfer means includes a relay, said relays being interconnected in a series for sequential operation, the first relay of said series being actuated through contact means momentarily actuated by said clock at the beginning of each scanning cycle to operate the scanning means correlated therewith to provide a data signal, and each transfer means also includes means for activating the succeeding relay in the series and for thereafter deactivating its own relay.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said relays is of the coil type having a main energizing circuit therefore including a first diode and a holding contact connected in series with the coil and which is connectable to a source of direct current through a periodically operating polarity reversing switch actuated by said clock, each said relay coil including a capacitor connected in parallel therewith and which is charged when the coil is energized, and wherein each said relay coil includes an auxiliary energizing circuit therefor, said auxiliary energizing circuit for the coil of the first relay in the series being connectable to said direct current source through contact means momentarily actuated by said clock at the beginning of each scanning cycle, and said auxiliary energizing circuits for the following relay coils each including a second diode connected in series with the first diode and capacitor of the preceeding relay whereby the charge on said capacitor is applied to the relay coil on each relay when the coil of a preceeding relay is deenergized by actuation of said polarity reversing switch.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each relay is constituted by a motor, a holding contact controlled by said motor, and cam means driven by said motor for closing said holding contact for activating said scanning means and for activating the succeeding relay.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each relay is constituted by a heating element, a holding contact controlled by said heating element, a contact for activating said scanning means, a contact controlled by said heating element for activating the succeeding relay and a switch contact controlled by said heating element for disconnecting the preceeding relay after the data signal has been transmitted.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising a source of direct current, means connected to said clock for reversing polarity of said source and wherein each relay includes a semiconductor and a capacitor connected thereto, said semiconductors being connectable to said source and the semiconductors in adjacent relays being connected in back-to-front relation, whereby when the current is reversed by said reversing means one relay is deactivated and the following relay is activated by the charge on the capacitor of the deactivated relay.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the semiconductors are thyristors and further comprising a plurality of linking elements connecting the anode of each thyristor to the gate of a succeeding thyristor, each capacitor being mounted in series with each linking element to ensure activation of the succeeding thyristor when the current is reversed by said reversing means.

9. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each relay is constituted by a bi-stable flip-flop and each transfer member further comprises two gates, one being mounted in the circuit of the scanning means correlated therewith and the other being connected to the flip-flop of the succeeding relay, each said flip-flop controlling the opening and closing of the gates of the corresponding transfer member to activate the succeeding relay after the data signal has been transmitted.