Dual magnetic register for a utility meter

• US 6,755,148 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pine Tree Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datamatic, Ltd. (R&P Print)
• Inventors: Holowick, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US09/999,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 116/264, 116/204, 116/265, 116/267, 116/271, 116/273, 116/274, 116/285, 116/305, 116/DIG.6, 116/DIG.7, 738/617.7, 738/617.8, 340/609, 340/688, 340/606, 340/610, 340/618
• US Class Current: 116/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/007 comprising means to prevent fraud

Abstract

The present invention provides a device, system, and method for detecting and measuring the bi-directional flow of a fluid through a fluid meter, such as a household or business water meter. In one device embodiment the invention comprises a logical switch collar (12) disposed over an analog fluid meter (14) having a sweep-hand (18) with a magnet (16) coupled thereto. In operation, the logical switch collar (12) consists of at least two magnetic switches that are triggered to open or close in response to the rotational movement of the sweep-hand (18) as fluid flows through a fluid meter (14) in both the forward and reverse directions. These switching events are detected and recording by an electronic module (19). Advantageously, the present invention accurately monitors and records fluid consumption at predetermined intervals when the fluid flows through the meter in either direction (14).

Claims

1. A remote monitoring device adapted to couple to and read visual indicator device of a fluid meter having at least one rotating member indicating a quantity of fluid passing through the fluid meter, the remote monitoring device comprising:

an electronic module accessory adapted to externally couple to and read the fluid meter indicator device, the electronic module distinguishing when the indicator device rotating member is rotating in the forward direction and the reverse direction, the electronic module accessory providing an electronic output indicative of the indicator device rotating member position and direction of rotation, wherein the electronic module accessory further includes a first sensing switch and a second sensing switch, wherein the rotating member triggers the first switch operating as an event detector at predetermined intervals in response to fluid flowing through the fluid meter.

2. The remote monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the rotating member comprises a rotating sweeping hand indicative of product flow and having a magnet coupled thereto.

3. The remote monitoring device of claim 2 wherein the first switch and the second switch each a comprise magnetic switch.

4. The remote monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the rotating member is adapted to rotate in a first direction in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction through the fluid meter.

5. The remote monitoring device of claim 4 wherein the rotating member is adapted to rotate in the second opposite direction in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction through the fluid meter.

6. The remote monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the first switch is triggered in response to the rotating member passing a predetermined location.

7. The remote monitoring device of claim 6 wherein the second switch is triggered while the first switch is triggered to a first position in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction, and triggers the second switch to a second position in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction.

8. The remote monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the fluid meter is a water meter, wherein the remote monitoring device is adapted to monitor the quantity of water flowing through the water meter.

9. In combination:

a fluid meter having a visual indicator device having at least one rotating member indicating a quantity of fluid passing through the fluid meter in a forward direction and a reverse direction; and

an electronic module accessory externally coupled to and reading the fluid meter indicator device, the electronic module distinguishing when the indicator device rotating member is rotating in the forward direction and the reverse direction, the electronic module accessory providing an electronic output indicative of the indicator device rotating member position and direction of rotation, wherein the electronic module accessory further includes a first sensing switch and a second sensing switch, wherein the rotating member triggers the first switch operating as an event detector at predetermined intervals in response to fluid flowing through the fluid meter.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the fluid meter rotating member has a magnet couple thereto.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the first switch and the second switch each comprise a magnetic switch.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein the fluid meter rotating members is adapted to rotate in a first direction in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction through the fluid meter.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the rotating member is adapted to rotate in the second opposite direction in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction through the fluid meter.

14. The combination of claim 9 wherein the rotating member triggers the second switch to a first position in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction while the first switch is triggered.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the rotating member triggers the second switch to a second position in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction while the first switch is triggered.

16. A method of using an electronic module external to a fluid meter to ascertain a reading of the fluid meter having a visual indicator device having at least one rotating member indicating a quantity of fluid passing through the fluid meter in a forward and reverse direction, the electronic module further including a first sensing switch and a second sensing switch, wherein the rotating member triggers the first switch operating as an event detector at predetermined intervals in response to fluid flowing through the fluid meter, comprising the step of:

using the electronic module to externally detect the position of the fluid meter rotating member rotating in a forward and reverse direction.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the fluid meter rotating member has a magnet coupled thereto.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first and second sensing switches each comprise a magnetic switch.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the fluid meter rotating member is adapted to rotate in a first direction in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction through the fluid meter.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid meter rotating member is adapted to rotate in a second opposite direction in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction through the fluid meter.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the rotating member triggers the second switch to a first position in response to the fluid flowing in the forward direction while the first switch is triggered.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the rotating member triggers the second switch to a second position in response to the fluid flowing in the reverse direction while the first switch is triggered.

23. A device for ascertaining product delivery adapted to externally couple to a fluid meter, wherein the fluid meter includes a visual rotating sweeping hand indicative of product flow, the device comprising:

a first switch adapted to generate a first signal in response to the sweeping hand passing a predetermined location;

a second switch adapted to generate a second signal indicative of a direction the sweeping hand is rotating while the first signal is generated; and

a recording module having at least two inputs, wherein the recording module, in response to the first and second signals, monitors and records product flowing in both a forward and a reverse direction through the fluid meter.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the sweeping hand rotates in a counterclockwise direction in response to the product flowing in the reverse direction through the fluid meter.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the sweeping hand rotates in a clockwise direction in response to the product flowing in the forward direction through the fluid meter.

26. The device of claim 23 wherein the first and second switches are magnetic switches.