Utility meter antenna for ground mounted meter boxes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for transmitting utility meter data from an underground meter pit including a utility meter and having a pit lid including an opening therethrough, the device comprising:
- an antenna housing comprising a top cap and a base having an upper support portion supported by the pit lid;
a radiating antenna mounted within the antenna housing, the radiating antenna including a ground plate and a radiator plate spaced from the ground plate;
a transmitter housing supported beneath the pit lid, the transmitter housing including an extending transmitter post at least partially received within the antenna housing;
a transmitter circuit enclosed within the transmitter housing, the transmitter circuit including an antenna element positioned within the transmitter post; and
a metallic isolation sleeve circumferentially surrounding with the antenna element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transmitting utility meter data from an underground meter pit. The device includes a radiating antenna that is positioned entirely above the top surface of the pit lid. The radiating antenna conductively contacts a portion of the transmitter supported on the pit lid by the antenna housing. The transmitter housing includes an isolation sleeve that physically contacts a portion of the radiating antenna to enhance the signal transfer from the transmitter to the radiating antenna.
36 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for transmitting utility meter data from an underground meter pit including a utility meter and having a pit lid including an opening therethrough, the device comprising:
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an antenna housing comprising a top cap and a base having an upper support portion supported by the pit lid; a radiating antenna mounted within the antenna housing, the radiating antenna including a ground plate and a radiator plate spaced from the ground plate; a transmitter housing supported beneath the pit lid, the transmitter housing including an extending transmitter post at least partially received within the antenna housing; a transmitter circuit enclosed within the transmitter housing, the transmitter circuit including an antenna element positioned within the transmitter post; and a metallic isolation sleeve circumferentially surrounding with the antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for transmitting utility meter data from an underground meter pit including a utility meter and having a pit lid including an opening therethrough, the device comprising:
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an antenna housing extending through the opening in the pit lid, the antenna housing including a base having an upper support portion in contact with the pit lid and a dependent attachment section extending through the pit lid and into the meter pit; a radiating antenna mounted within the antenna housing and positioned entirely above the pit lid, the antenna including a ground plate supported on the upper support portion of the antenna housing and a radiator plate; a transmitter housing supported within the meter pit, the transmitter housing including a transmitter post at least partially received within the attachment section of the antenna housing when the transmitter housing is supported within the meter pit; a transmitter circuit enclosed within the transmitter housing, the transmitter circuit including an antenna element positioned within the transmitter post; and a metallic isolation sleeve circumferentially surrounding with the antenna element of the transmitter circuit, wherein the isolation sleeve mechanically contacts the radiating antenna when the transmitter post is received within the attachment section of the antenna housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. The method of removably installing a pit lid antenna configured to transmit utility meter data from a utility meter contained within an underground meter pit including a pit lid having an opening therethrough, the method comprising:
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providing an antenna housing having a base having an upper support portion and a depending attachment section; positioning a radiating antenna within the antenna housing, the radiating antenna including a ground plate supported on the upper support portion of the antenna housing and a radiator plate; positioning the antenna housing on the pit lid where the upper support portion contacts a top surface of the pit lid and the attachment section extends through the opening and into the meter pit, wherein the entire radiating antenna is positioned above the pit lid and out of the meter pit; fitting a retainer nut around the attachment section of the antenna housing to capture the pit lid between the retainer nut and the upper support portion of the antenna housing; providing a transmitter housing that encloses a transmitter circuit, the transmitter housing having a transmitter post enclosing an antenna element; positioning an isolation sleeve along an exterior surface of the transmitter post, the isolation sleeve being circumferentially surrounding the antenna element of the transmitter circuit; and positioning the transmitter post within the attachment section of the antenna housing such that the isolation sleeve mechanically contacts the radiating antenna. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification