Remote monitoring system

• US 4,660,035 A
• Filed: 05/23/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Services Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Services Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoffman, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US06/737,092
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 324/137, 324/157, 324/207, 324/208, 324/226, 324/153, 324/156, 324/157, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.19
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/16 Adaptations of counters to electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/274 using magnetic means; using Hall-effect devices

Abstract

A wheel is mounted on a rotating shaft and cooperates with at least one pair of inductors fixedly mounted in juxtaposition to the wheel. The wheel has at least one opening formed therein for generating a signal whenever the opening in the wheel is substantially aligned circumferentially with the pair of inductors. An electronic control circuit, responsive to the signal, actuates a remote meter for providing a remote indication of the shaft position. In a preferred embodiment, this improved sensing means is applied to the remote reading of a conventional household electric meter. Two pair of inductors are provided for cooperation with five equiangularly-spaced closed slots formed in the wheel, thereby providing ten signals (or counts) for each complete revolution of the wheel. The wheel is mounted on the shaft of the unit decade dial in the meter. The remote meter comprises a digital counter, responsive to the pulse generated by the electronic control circuit, for providing a remote digital read-out of the accumulated kilowatt hours on the meter.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the remote reading of a household-type of meter having a meter portion provided with a front panel for a plurality of decade dials, including a unit decade dial cooperating with a point mounted on a rotating shaft journaled in the panel, the apparatus comprising a printed circuit board having sensing means carried thereon, means for mounting the board to the back of the panel, the board having a side edge with an arcuate cut-out formed therein to receive the shaft, whereby the board may be mounted to the panel without requiring a disassembly of the meter portion, a wheel comprising a relatively-thin disc mounted on the shaft rearwardly of the printed circuit board and in close juxtaposition thereto, the disc having an open radial slot formed therein for receiving the shaft as the disc is passed laterally over the shaft, whereby the disc may also be mounted on the shaft without requiring a disassembly of the meter poriton, means on the disc for cooperation with the sensing means on the printed circuit board for generating a signal at a predetermined positon of the shaft, an electronic control circuit responsive to the signal for generating an output pulse, and a remote counter responsive to the output pulse for providing a remote indication of the accumulated meter reading.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is connected to the electronic control circuit by a flexible cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an encapsulated regulated power supply for the electronic control circuit, the supply being provided with plug terminals for reception in a standard electric receptacle.

4. Apparatus for retrofitting an existing household-type of electric meter for the remote reading thereof, wherein the meter includes a unit decade dial cooperating with a shaft journaled for rotation in the meter, said apparatus comprising a disc mounted on the shaft, a printed circuit board mounted on the meter in juxtaposition to the disc, the board including a cut-out portion, sensing means including at least a pair of inductors mounted on the printed circuit board in juxtaposition to the cut-out portion, means on the disc for cooperation with the pair of inductors on the printed circuit board for generating a signal at a predetermined circumferential positon of the disc, means for generating a plurality of said signals, in sequence, corresponding to the continued rotation of the shaft, an electronic control circuit carried by the printed circuit board asnd responsive to the plurality of signals for generating respective output pulses, and a remote digital counter responsive to the plurality of output pulses for indicating the accumulated meter reading.