Meter with integral register having no visual display of consumption
First Claim
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1. A combined utility meter and meter register assembly, comprising:
- a housing for both a fluid flow metering element and a meter register device, the housing having a lower housing part for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough and an upper housing part for housing electrical components, the upper housing part providing a sealed cavity for containing the meter register device;
the fluid flow metering element enclosed between the upper housing part and the lower housing part and the meter register device disposed in the sealed cavity of the upper housing part of the housing;
wherein the meter register device includes a device that converts mechanical movement of the flow metering element to electrical signals, circuitry for converting the electrical signals to metering data signals, and a means for electronically communicating the metering data signals to an external device, andwherein there is no visual indicator of metering data included within the combined utility meter and meter register assembly.
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Abstract
A combined utility meter and meter register assembly (10) is disclosed in which a housing (11, 13, 31) for both a utility metering element and a meter register has no visual readout or display of metering data. Metering data is signaled through a data port (33) or an antenna (36) to external equipment. The meter register is provided by electronic circuitry (29a, 29b) that is placed in an upper cavity (27) in the housing part (13) that is then closed by a cover (31) or a body of sealing material. A label (32) can be placed over the closure informational purposes. An additional embodiment of the housing is also disclosed.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A combined utility meter and meter register assembly, comprising:
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a housing for both a fluid flow metering element and a meter register device, the housing having a lower housing part for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough and an upper housing part for housing electrical components, the upper housing part providing a sealed cavity for containing the meter register device; the fluid flow metering element enclosed between the upper housing part and the lower housing part and the meter register device disposed in the sealed cavity of the upper housing part of the housing; wherein the meter register device includes a device that converts mechanical movement of the flow metering element to electrical signals, circuitry for converting the electrical signals to metering data signals, and a means for electronically communicating the metering data signals to an external device, and wherein there is no visual indicator of metering data included within the combined utility meter and meter register assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A combined utility meter and meter register assembly, comprising:
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a common housing for both a utility metering element and a meter register, the housing enclosing a chamber; a flow metering element disposed in the chamber; wherein the housing has an inlet and an outlet through which a liquid flows into and out of the chamber, respectively; and wherein the common housing has a body that forms a cavity disposed above and separated from the chamber and the liquid therein by a wall of plastic material; wherein a meter register device is disposed in said cavity, and is responsive to movement of the flow metering element in response to flow of a liquid through the chamber, and is further operable to transmit metering data signals indicative of units of consumption of a utility; wherein the cavity is closed by a closure; and wherein there is no visual indicator of metering data included within the combined utility meter and meter register assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification