Remote meter display unit

• US 4,600,923 A
• Filed: 05/04/1984
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: America Meter Company
• Original Assignee: American Meter Company
• Inventors: Schroeck, Joseph P., Hicks, Irwin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US06/607,078
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.09, 340/870.20, 340/826.65, 340/870.07, 200/19 M
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/274 using magnetic means; using Hall-effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 3/06 for printing or separately displaying result of count display systems G09
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A remote meter display unit is connected to a meter index through a magnetically actuated single pole double throw switch cooperating with a magnet mounted on an index pointer shaft. The remote display unit is configured to increment a counter whenever the switch toggles. If the switch or any of the wires connected thereto are disconnected or shorted, the display is reset and maintained at zero. A portable reset/preset unit mates with the remote display unit and includes switches for resetting the remote unit and entering any desired number into the display.

Claims

1. An arrangement for displaying the reading of a meter at a location remote from said meter comprising:

switching means at said meter adapted to alternately close one of a pair of circuits each time a measured volume of metered product passes through said meter;

a respective conductor connected to each of said circuits and extending to said remote location;

a multidigit display unit;

counting means coupled to said display unit for causing said display unit to display digits corresponding to the contents of said counting means, said counting means having a count input and a reset input, said counting means responding to a count signal at said count input for incrementing its contents and responding to a reset signal at said reset input for setting its contents to a predetermined value;

pulse means coupled between said conductors and said count input for generating said count signal; and

fault detection means coupled between said conductors and said reset input for generating and thereafter maintaining said reset signal when neither of said circuits is closed.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said fault detection means is further effective to generate and thereafter maintain said reset signal in the event both said circuits are closed.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a single pole double throw switch having a moveable pole and two fixed contacts and wherein said conductors include a respective conductor connected to said pole and each of said contacts, said arrangement further including a source of voltage coupled to said pole conductor and said pulse means is connected to said contact conductors.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the meter includes a proving circle rotating on a shaft and said switching means includes a radially polarized circular magnet mounted axially on said shaft for rotation therewith.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 further including manually controllable reset means for resetting said fault detection means to terminate the generation of said reset signal.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5 further including count setting means coupled to said counting means for providing the facility for manual entry of a predetermined count content into said counting means.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said reset means and said count setting means are both included within an enclosure which is portable with respect to said remote display unit, said remote display unit including a connector coupled to said fault detection means and said counting means and said portable enclosure including a connector adapted to mate with the connector of said remote display unit.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7 wherein all power for said portable enclosure is supplied by said remote display unit through said connectors.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said count setting means includes a plurality of digital switches through which an operator may set said predetermined count content.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said portable enclosure includes a switch selectively closable by an operator and said reset means includes means responsive to closure of said switch for generating a pulse to reset said fault detection means.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10 wherein said count setting means includes:

a down counter;

means responsive to said pulse for setting said down counter with the count established by said digital switches;

a counting pulse generator;

means responsive to said pulse from said reset means for enabling said counting pulse generator;

means responsive to counting pulses from said counting pulse generator for decrementing said down counter;

means responsive to the contents of said down counter reaching zero for disabling said counting pulse generator; and

means for transmitting said counting pulses to the count input of said counting means.