Method and apparatus for coupling a meter register to an automatic meter reading communication device
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting consumption measurement data from a utility meter to a remote monitoring location, the utility meter having an electronic meter register operable to accumulate data related to the flow of a commodity through the utility meter, the accumulated data being represented by an output data signal, the system comprising:
- a data transfer wire conductively connected at a first end to the electronic meter register for receiving the output data signal, a second end of the data transfer wire including a first inductive coil enclosed within a connector module; and
a communication device inductively coupled to the data transfer wire for receiving the output data signal and transmitting the accumulated data to the remote monitoring location, wherein the communication device includes a receptacle port sized to receive the connector module, the receptacle port being generally aligned with a second inductive coil contained within the communication device, wherein the first inductive coil of the connector module is electrically spaced from the second inductive coil when the connector module is received in the receptacle port.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for coupling a meter register to a communication device such that output data signals from the meter register can be transmitted to a remote location. The coupling arrangement includes a data transfer wire that is connected to the meter register and is inductively coupled to the communication device such that the data transfer wire does not need to be conductively connected to the communication device. During installation of the communication device, the inductive coupling between the data transfer wire and the communication device eliminates the requirement of a conductive connection.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A system for transmitting consumption measurement data from a utility meter to a remote monitoring location, the utility meter having an electronic meter register operable to accumulate data related to the flow of a commodity through the utility meter, the accumulated data being represented by an output data signal, the system comprising:
-
a data transfer wire conductively connected at a first end to the electronic meter register for receiving the output data signal, a second end of the data transfer wire including a first inductive coil enclosed within a connector module; and a communication device inductively coupled to the data transfer wire for receiving the output data signal and transmitting the accumulated data to the remote monitoring location, wherein the communication device includes a receptacle port sized to receive the connector module, the receptacle port being generally aligned with a second inductive coil contained within the communication device, wherein the first inductive coil of the connector module is electrically spaced from the second inductive coil when the connector module is received in the receptacle port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for transmitting consumption measurement data from a utility meter positioned within a subsurface pit enclosure including a pit lid to a remote monitoring location, the utility meter including an electronic meter register for accumulating data related to the flow of a commodity through the meter, the accumulated data being represented by an output data signal, the system comprising:
-
at least one data transfer wire coupled at a first end to the electronic meter register for receiving the output data signal, a second end of the data transfer wire including a first inductive coil enclosed within a connector module; and a communication device mounted to the pit lid and inductively coupled to the data transfer wire for receiving the output data signal and transmitting the accumulated data represented by the output data signal to the remote monitoring location, wherein the communication device includes at least one receptacle port sized to receive one of the connector modules, the receptacle port being generally aligned with a second inductive coil contained within the communication device, wherein the first inductive coil of the connector module is electrically spaced from the second inductor coil when the connector module is received in the receptacle port. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of transmitting consumption measurement data from the utility meter to a remote monitoring location, the method comprising the steps of:
-
positioning an electronic meter register on a utility meter, the electronic meter register being operable to accumulate data related to the flow of a commodity through the meter, the accumulated data being represented by an output data signal, the electronic meter register including a data transfer wire extending from the electronic meter register, the data transfer wire including a first inductive coil enclosed within a connector module; securely mounting a communication device at a location remote from the electronic meter register, the communication device including a second inductive coil generally aligned with a receptacle port; receiving the connector module of the data transfer wire within the receptacle port of the communication device such that the first inductive coil of the connector module is generally aligned with the second inductive coil of the communication device; and inductively coupling the first inductive coil to the second inductive coil such that the output data signal present on the data transfer wire is received at the second inductive coil. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification