Systems and methods for remote utility metering and meter monitoring

• US 7,671,480 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fairfax County Water Authority
• Inventors: Pitchford, Barth Robins, Binning, C. David, Pitchford, William Dudley, Rasmussen, David Lewis, Simon, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez; Julio Cesar
• Application Number:
  US12/201,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/54, 290/1.R, 310/114, 310/103, 310/104, 310/105, 310/268, 603/98, 604/95
• US Class Current: 290/43
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/12 Meters with nutating members, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A system and method for generating and harvesting energy in response to the flow of water through rotating device, such as a nutating or oscillating disk. Mechanical energy from flow of water is converted into electrical energy via an energy conversion unit. For example, the power generation system may be used to power electronic and mechanical devices used in automated meter reading (AMR) systems. The power generator system may recharge a storage circuit that enables long term AMR operations without the need for battery replacement. The power generation system, in various embodiments, can provide additional power for two-way communication and other sensors such as pressure, temperature, water quality and services such as remote shut-off, event-based messaging, and water quality monitoring.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

rotating a rotating device by a flow of water;

rotating a drive magnet in response to the rotation of the rotating device, wherein the rotation of the drive magnet generates a time varying magnetic flux density;

rotating a registration magnet in response to the time varying magnetic flux density;

rotating a pair of rotors with respect to a series of coils interposed between the pair of rotors, the rotation being in response to the rotation of the registration magnet, thereby generating an alternating current (AC) in the series of coils;

converting the alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC);

charging a first power storage device using the direct current (DC) and charging a second power storage device from the first power storage device; and

monitoring voltage levels of the first power storage device and second power storage device and causing a transfer of energy from the first power storage device to the second power storage device in the event that the voltage level of the first power storage device is above a first threshold and the voltage level of the second power storage device is below a second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining output voltage levels within a specified range.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the registration magnet and drive magnet are magnetically coupled.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each rotor comprises at least one magnetic pole.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein energy is harvested and stored in response to the flow of water on the rotating device.