Optically readable and human readable dial
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A utility meter reading system, comprising:
- meter means for measuring the consumption of a metered utility service or commodity by a consumer, said meter means including a plurality of indicator shafts, the angular positions of which indicate service or commodity consumption,a plurality of dial means, each such dial means being mounted for rotation on an associated one of said indicator shafts, each such dial means defininga patterned disc for concentric rotation with a shaft, anda beveled circumferential surface extending around said patterned disc and bearing a plurality of numerical indicia, anda noncontact shaft angle detector for detecting the angular positions of said patterned discs, said detector being mounted adjacent said dial means and the angular position of said dial means being viewable with ease from a lateral viewing position by the consumer by virtue of the orientation of the numerical indicia beveled surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A utility meter reading system permits reading a meter with a noncontact shaft angle detector and simultaneous visual inspection of the dials of the meter from a laterally spaced viewing position. Each of the dials defines a patterned disc for concentric rotation with the shaft and a beveled circumferential surface which extends around the patterned disc and bears a plurality of numerical indicia. The dials are configured to be adhesively mounted over dial pointers on an existing utility meter, thus permitting retrofitting of meters with noncontact shaft angle detectors.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A utility meter reading system, comprising:
-
meter means for measuring the consumption of a metered utility service or commodity by a consumer, said meter means including a plurality of indicator shafts, the angular positions of which indicate service or commodity consumption, a plurality of dial means, each such dial means being mounted for rotation on an associated one of said indicator shafts, each such dial means defining a patterned disc for concentric rotation with a shaft, and a beveled circumferential surface extending around said patterned disc and bearing a plurality of numerical indicia, and a noncontact shaft angle detector for detecting the angular positions of said patterned discs, said detector being mounted adjacent said dial means and the angular position of said dial means being viewable with ease from a lateral viewing position by the consumer by virtue of the orientation of the numerical indicia beveled surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A dial for retrofitting a utility meter to permit simultaneous detection of the position of an indicator shaft carrying a dial pointer and visual inspection of the position of said indicator shaft, comprising
a dial body, defining a mounting surface having a pointer-receiving recess therein for mounting on said dial pointer, said dial body defining a generally flat surface on the side of said body opposite said mounting surface and a beveled surface extending circumferentially therearound, an optically readable pattern on said generally flat surface, and a plurality of numerical indicia on said beveled surface for visual inspection, whereby said optically readable pattern may be read by a noncontact shaft angle detector and said numerical indicia may simultaneously be viewed from a lateral position.
Specification