Method for detecting water meter malfunction, calculating the duration thereof, and device for implementing same

• US 6,082,169 A
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societe Anonyme De Production De Procedes De Comptage De L'Eau Et Autres Liquides, Sappel
• Original Assignee: Societe Anonyme De Production De Procedes De Comptage De L'Eau Et Autres Liquides, Sappel
• Inventors: Bach, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US09/142,866
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 73/1.27, 73/1.34, 702/100
• US Class Current: 73/1.34
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A method for detecting water meter malfunction and calculating the duration thereof, includes measuring the average flow rate for each volume unit detected after the preceding volume unit, comparing this average flow rate with two limit flow rates which are a first flow rate corresponding to the minimal flow rate when the meter is operating normally and a second flow rate corresponding to the minimal flow rate when the meter is operating defectively, calculating, when an average flow rate is found to be higher than the first flow rate, the relation between the sum of recorded volume units between the two flow rates and the sum to which is added the sum of volume units recorded at flow rates higher than the second flow rate, starting a clock when this relation is lower than a defectiveness threshold and stopping it when the relation is once more higher than the said threshold.

Claims

1. Process for the detection of malfunction of a water meter and for evaluation of the duration of said malfunction, comprising the steps of:

measuring the mean flow rate of each unit of volume detected following the preceding unit of volume,

comparatively analyzing this mean flow rate at two limit flow rates which are a first flow rate corresponding to minimum normal operating flow rate of the meter and a second flow rate corresponding to the minimum operating flow rate of the meter when the meter is operating in a submarine mode,

computing, when a mean flow rate is detected higher than the first flow rate, the ratio between the sum of the units of volume (V1) counted between the first and the second flow rates and this said sum to which is added the sum of the units of volume (V2) counted at flow rates higher than the second flow rate,

starting a clock when this ratio is below a threshold of submarine operation and stopping said clock when the ratio is again higher than this threshold of submarine operation.

2. Process according to claim 1,

characterized in that the measurement of the mean flow rate detecting a value of the flow rate below said first flow rate reflects the absence of an event.

3. Device for the detection of malfunction of a water meter operating in a submarine mode and the evaluation of the duration of said malfunction according to the process of claim 1,

comprising means for measuring units of volume passing through the water meter, means for computing a mean flow rate, means for comparing the flow rate measured by said measuring means with a minimum normal operating flow rate of the meter and a minimum operating flow rate of the meter operating in a submarine mode, means for computing, when a mean flow rate is detected higher than the minimum normal operating flow rate of the meter, the ratio between the sum of the units of volume (V1) counted between the first and second flow rates and this sum to which is added the sum of the units of volume (V2) counted at flow rates higher than the second flow rate, means for comparing said ratio to a threshold of submarine operation and means for stopping and starting a clock as a function of the performed comparison.

4. Device according to claim 3,

characterized in that the means for measuring the units of volume passing through the water meter are constituted by an emitter of electrical impulses disposed on the meter.

5. Device according to of claim 3,

characterized in that the computing and analysis means are constituted by an electronic computer.

6. Device according to claim 5,

characterized in that said electronic computer comprises a screen on which are displayed the results of the measurements carried out.

7. Device according to claim 5,

characterized in that the computer is connected to a data bank permitting computerized retrieval of the results.