Meter transmission unit for use with a pit set utility meter

• US 6,072,405 A
• Filed: 04/13/1998
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence M. Sears
• Inventors: Sears, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/059,323
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 361/659, 361/667, 361/616, 73/273, 73/277, 73/272 A
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters

Abstract

A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter which is adapted for use with a pit set utility meter located in a pit having a cover and an opening therein for supporting the meter transmission unit and a method of installing the meter transmission unit. The meter transmission unit includes a tubular housing having a detachable flange at one end thereof for supporting the meter transmission unit on the pit cover and includes an annular collar having vertical adjustment means extending through the annular collar for engaging with the bottom of the pit cover to pull the flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

Claims

1. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter with which the meter transmission unit is associated and which is adapted for use with a pit set utility meter which is located in a pit having a pit cover for covering the top of the pit in which the utility meter is set, the pit cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening therein in which the meter transmission unit is supported, the meter transmission unit comprising a sensor for sensing utility usage at the associated utility meter, a microprocessor connected to said sensor for storing the utility usage information, a transmitter associated with said microprocessor for transmitting a signal indicative of the utility usage related information stored in said microprocessor, an antenna connected to said transmitter for propagating said signal, a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and defined in part by a substantially cylindrical wall disposed substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis having an outer surface and an inner surface which defines in part a chamber in which microprocessor, said transmitter and said antenna are located, said tubular housing having first and second ends which cooperate with said inner surface to define said chamber, said cylindrical wall having a diameter at the outer surface thereof which is slightly less than the diameter of the opening in the pit cover to allow at least a portion of the tubular housing to pass through the opening in the pit cover, groove means located at said first end of said tubular housing for supporting said tubular housing in the opening in the pit cover, and a detachable annular flange for surrounding and engaging with said first end of said tubular housing to support said tubular housing on the top surface of the pit cover, said detachable annular flange having a cylindrical opening centrally located therein for receiving said first end of said tubular housing therein and projection means located within said cylindrical opening which are adapted to be received within said groove means in said tubular housing, said projection means cooperating with said groove means to support said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange and within the opening in the pit cover when said annular flange is located on the top surface of the pit cover, said detachable annular flange having a substantially conical surface which at one end is substantially flush with said first end of said tubular housing and which is tapered toward the top surface of the pit cover, a collar surrounding said outer surface of said substantially cylindrical wall, abutment means located on said outer surface of said substantially cylindrical wall for engaging with said collar and limiting axial movement of said collar relative to said tubular housing in a direction away from said first end of said tubular housing, and a plurality of individually adjustable means extending between said collar and the bottom surface of the pit cover for forcing said collar against said abutment means to bias the tubular housing in a direction away from the bottom surface of the pit cover to force said detachable annular flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

2. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensor is adapted to be operatively connected to a utility meter with which the meter transmission unit is associated and is spaced apart from said tubular housing, and further including conductor means permanently connecting said sensor to said microprocessor located within said chamber in said tubular housing, said conductor means passing through said second end of said housing for directing utility usage information from said sensor to said microprocessor.

3. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter as defined in claim 1 wherein said first end of said tubular housing has a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration a portion of which terminates at said outer surface of said tubular housing and which portion of said first end of said tubular housing is adapted to be disposed substantially flush to said one end of said substantially conical surface of said detachable annular flange.

4. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1 wherein said conical surface on said detachable annular flange includes another end thereof which is tapered substantially into engagement with the top surface of the pit cover when the meter transmission unit is located in the opening in the pit cover and supported on the top surface of the pit cover.

5. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of adjustable means includes a plurality of bolt members each of which extends through said collar in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing and each of which includes an end thereof which is engageable with the bottom surface of the pit cover when the meter transmission unit is supported in the opening in the pit cover, each of said plurality of said bolt members being individually adjustable to force said detachable annular flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

6. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1 wherein said antenna is disposed contiguous to said first end of said housing and is in part located above the top surface of the pit cover when said tubular housing is located in the opening in the pit cover to insure reliable propagation of said signal.

7. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical outer surface of said tubular housing has a diameter at the first end of the tubular housing which is less than the diameter of the opening in the pit cover and which enables the first end of the tubular housing to be inserted from the bottom of the pit cover through the opening in the pit cover.

8. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 1 wherein said groove means is a substantially annular groove located in said first end of said tubular housing, and said projection means is a substantially annular projection located within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange, said substantially annular projection being adapted to be received in said substantially annular groove to support said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange.

9. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 8, wherein said plurality of adjustable means includes a plurality of bolt members each of which extends through said collar in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tubular housing and each of which includes an end thereof which is engageable with the bottom surface of the pit cover when the meter transmission unit is supported in the opening in the pit cover, each of said plurality of said bolt member being individually adjustable to force said detachable annular flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

10. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 9 wherein said individual adjustment of said plurality of bolt members forces said collar against said abutment on said tubular housing to force said abutment away from the bottom surface of the pit cover to force said detachable annular flange tightly into engagement with the top surface of the pit cover.

11. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 10 wherein said antenna is disposed contiguous to said first end of said housing and is in part located above the top surface of the pit cover when said tubular housing is supported in the opening in the pit cover to insure reliable propagation of said signal.

12. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter with which the meter transmission unit is associated and which is adapted for use with a pit set utility meter which is located in a pit having a pit cover for covering the top of the pit in which the utility meter is set, the pit cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a opening therein in which the meter transmission unit comprising a sensor for sensing utility usage at the associated utility meter, a microprocessor connected to said sensor for storing the utility usage information, a transmitter associated with said microprocessor for transmitting a signal indicative of the utility usage related information stored in said microprocessor, an antenna connected to said transmitter for propagating said signal, a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis, and defined in part by a substantially cylindrical wall disposed substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis having an outer surface and an inner surface which defines in part a chamber in which said microprocessor, said transmitter and said antenna are located, said tubular housing having first and second ends which cooperate with said inner surface to define said chamber, said cylindrical wall having a diameter at the outer surface thereof which is slightly less than the diameter of the opening in the pit cover to allow at least a portion of the tubular housing to pass through the opening in the pit cover, groove means located at said first end of said tubular housing for supporting said tubular housing in the opening in the pit cover, and a detachable flange for surrounding and engaging with said first end of said tubular housing to support in the opening in the pit cover said tubular housing on the top surface of the pit cover, said detachable flange having a cylindrical opening centrally located therein for receiving said first end of said tubular housing therein and projection means located within said cylindrical opening which are adapted to be received within said groove means on said tubular housing, said projection means projecting into and engaging with said groove means to support said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange when said detachable flange is supported on the top surface of the pit cover, said projection means being deformable to enable said projection means to deform when said tubular housing is inserted into said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange to project into and engage said groove means when said groove means is aligned with said projection means, said detachable flange having a substantially conical surface which at one end is substantially flush with said first end of said tubular housing when said tubular housing is supported within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange, said conical surface being tapered toward the top surface of the pit cover.

13. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 wherein said projection means includes a substantially annular projection located within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange, said substantially annular projection being adapted to be received in said groove means on said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange when said detachable flange surrounds and is engaged with said first end of said tubular housing.

14. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 wherein said sensor is adapted to be operatively connected to a utility meter with which the meter transmission unit is associated and is spaced apart from said tubular housing, and further including conductor means permanently operatively connecting said sensor to said microprocessor located within said chamber in said tubular housing, said conductor means passing through said second end of said housing for directing utility usage information from said sensor to said microprocessor.

15. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter as defined in claim 12 wherein said first end of said tubular housing has a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration a portion of which terminates at said outer surface of said tubular housing, said portion of said first end of said tubular housing being adapted to be disposed substantially flush to said one end of said substantially conical surface of said detachable flange when said tubular housing is located within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange.

16. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 wherein said conical surface on said detachable flange includes another end thereof which is tapered substantially into engagement with the top surface of the pit cover when the meter transmission unit is located in the opening in the pit cover and supported by said detachable flange on the top surface of the pit cover.

17. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 wherein said antenna is disposed contiguous to said first end of said housing and is in part located above the top surface of the pit cover when said tubular housing is located in the opening in the pit cover to insure reliable propagation of said signal.

18. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 wherein said groove means includes a substantially annular groove located on said first end of said tubular housing with said substantially annular groove being located on said outer surface of said cylindrical wall at said first end of said tubular housing and being disposed substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis of said tubular housing.

19. A meter transmission unit for transmitting signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 18 wherein said projection means includes a substantially annular projection located within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange, said substantially annular projection being adapted to be received in said substantially annular groove on said tubular housing when said tubular housing is located within said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange when said detachable flange surrounds and is engaged with said first end of said tubular housing.

20. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 19 wherein said detachable flange has an annular configuration and said cylindrical opening in said detachable flange is disposed substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis of said tubular housing.

21. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 12 further including adjustment means extending between said tubular housing and the bottom surface of the pit cover for engaging with the bottom surface of the pit cover to force said tubular housing away from the bottom surface of the pit cover in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tubular housing and for forcing said detachable annular flange against the top surface of the pit cover.

22. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 21, wherein said adjustment means includes an annular collar for surrounding said tubular housing and a plurality of bolt members each of which extends through said annular collar in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing and each of which includes an end thereof which is engageable with the bottom surface of the pit cover when the meter transmission unit is supported in the opening in the pit cover, each of said plurality of said bolt members being individually adjustable to force said detachable flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover.

23. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 22 wherein said tubular housing includes a shoulder located on the outer surface of said cylindrical, and said individual adjustment of said plurality of bolt members bias said annular collar against said shoulder to bias said tubular housing away from the bottom surface of the pit cover to tightly engage said detachable flange with the top surface of the pit cover.

24. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage as defined in claim 23 wherein said antenna is disposed contiguous to said first end of said tubular housing and is in part located above the top surface of the pit cover when said tubular housing is located in the opening in the pit cover to insure reliable propagation of said signal.

25. A meter transmission unit for transmitting a signal indicative of utility usage at a utility meter with which the meter transmission unit is associated and which is adapted for use with a pit set utility meter which is located in a pit having a pit cover for covering the top of the pit in which the utility meter is set, the pit cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening therein in which the meter transmission unit is supported, the meter transmission unit comprising a sensor for sensing utility usage at the associated utility meter, a microprocessor connected to said sensor for storing the utility usage information, a transmitter associated with said microprocessor for transmitting a signal indicative of the utility usage related information stored in said microprocessor, an antenna connected to said transmitter for propagating said signal, a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and defined in party by a cylindrical wall disposed substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis having an outer surface and an inner surface which defines in part a chamber in which microprocessor, said transmitter and said antenna are located, said tubular housing having first and second ends which cooperate with said inner surface to define said chamber, said cylindrical wall having a diameter at the outer surface thereof which is slightly less than the diameter of the opening in the pit cover to allow at least a portion of the tubular housing to pass through the opening in the pit cover, groove means located at said first end of said tubular housing for supporting said tubular housing in the opening in the pit cover, and a detachable annular flange for surrounding and engaging with said first end of said tubular housing to support said tubular housing on the top surface of the pit cover, said detachable annular flange having a cylindrical opening centrally located therein for receiving said first end of said tubular housing therein and projection means located within said cylindrical opening which are adapted to be received within said groove means in said tubular housing, said projection means cooperating with said groove means to support said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange and within the opening in the pit cover when said annular flange is located on the top surface of the pit cover, said detachable annular flange having a substantially conical surface which at one end is substantially flush with said first end of said tubular housing and which is tapered toward the top surface of the pit cover, a collar surrounding said outer surface of said substantially cylindrical wall, abutment means located on said outer surface of said substantially cylindrical wall for engaging with said collar and limiting axial movement of said collar relative to said tubular housing in a direction away from said first end of said tubular housing, and a plurality of adjustable means extending between said collar and the bottom surface of the pit cover for forcing said collar against said abutment means to bias the tubular housing in a direction away from the bottom surface of the pit cover to force said detachable annular flange tightly toward the top surface of the pit cover wherein said groove means is a substantially annular groove located in said first end of said tubular housing, said projection means being a substantially annular projection located within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange, said substantially annular projection being adapted to be received in said substantially annular groove to support said tubular housing within said cylindrical opening in said annular flange, said substantially annular projection being deformable to enable said substantially annular projection to deform when said tubular housing is inserted into said cylindrical opening in said annular flange and said substantially annular projection engages with said outer cylindrical surface of said tubular housing and projects into and engages in said substantially annular groove in said tubular housing when said groove is aligned with said substantially annular projection.