Pit mount interface device

• US 8,378,847 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elster AMCO Water LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster AMCO Water LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartram, Stephen J., Ortiz, Jorge I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, JEFFREY M
• Application Number:
  US12/855,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 343/719, 439/277
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/061 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/18 Supports or connecting means for meters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• 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 pit mount interface device includes a body having a head and an elongate stem extending from a bottom surface of the head. The elongate stem is sized and configured to be received in and extend through a hole formed in a cover of a pit. A nut defines a central aperture that is sized and configured to receive the elongate stem of the body. A passive radiator is disposed within the body and configured receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an automatic meter reading (AMR) device located below the cover through inductive coupling and to radiate the RF signal from a position located above the cover of the pit.

Claims

1. A pit mount interface device, comprising:

a body having a head and an elongate stem extending from a bottom surface of the head, the elongate stem sized and configured to be received in and extend through a hole formed in a cover of a pit;

a nut defining a central aperture sized and configured to receive the elongate stem of the body, the nut for coupling the body to pit cover;

a passive radiator disposed within the body and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an automatic meter reading (AMR) device located below the cover through inductive coupling and radiate the RF signal from a position located above the cover of the pit; and

a pair of spaced apart tabs extending from an interior surface of the elongate stem, the pair of spaced apart tabs sized and configured to slidably receive a conducting section of the passive radiator.

2. The pit mount interface device of claim 1, wherein the passive radiator includes a radiating section, a coupling section, and the conducting section disposed between the radiating section and the coupling section.

3. The pit mount interface device of claim 2, wherein a plane defined by the coupling section is spaced apart from a plane defined by the radiating section.

4. The pit mount interface device of claim 2, wherein the coupling section includes a plurality of segments, each of the segments extending from an adjacent segment in a substantially orthogonal direction from a direction in which the adjacent segment extends.

5. The pit mount interface device of claim 2, wherein the head of the body defines a channel in which the radiating section of the passive radiator is disposed.

6. The pit mount interface device of claim 1, wherein an interior of the body defines a pair of slots that extend from a bottom of the elongate stem, each of the slots communicating with a respective opening defined by the elongate stem and configured to slidably receive an ear extending from the AMR device.

7. A pit mount interface device, comprising:

a body having a head and an elongate stem extending from a bottom surface of the head, the elongate stem having a width that is smaller than a width of the head and including at least one thread disposed on an external surface;

a nut defining a central aperture that is sized and configured to receive the elongate stem of the body, an interior surface of the nut including a thread configured to engage the thread disposed on the external surface of the elongate stem;

a passive radiator disposed within a channel defined by the head of the body and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an automatic meter reading (AMR) device disposed adjacent to a coupling section of the passive radiator through inductive coupling and to radiate the RF signal from a radiating section of the passive radiator positioned above a cover of a pit;

a cap configured to be coupled to the head of the body such that the radiating section of the antenna is secured within a slot; and

a pair of spaced apart tabs extending from an interior surface of the elongate stem, the pair of spaced apart tabs sized and configured to slidably receive a conducting section of the passive radiator.

8. The pit mount interface device of claim 7, wherein a plane defined by a coupling section of the passive radiator is spaced apart from a plane defined by the radiating section by the conducting section of the passive radiator.

9. The pit mount interface device of claim 7, wherein an interior of the body defines a pair of slots that extend from a bottom of the elongate stem, each of the slots communicating with a respective opening defined by the elongate stem and configured to slidably receive a projection extending from the AMR device.

10. The pit mount interface device of claim 7, wherein the coupling section includes a plurality of segments, each of the segments extending from an adjacent segment in a substantially orthogonal direction from a direction in which the adjacent segment extends.

11. The pit mount interface device of claim 7, wherein the elongate stem has a cylindrical shape.

12. The pit mount interface device of claim 8, wherein the conducting section has a substantially rectangular shape extending between the radiating section and the coupling section.

13. The pit mount interface device of claim 9, wherein the elongate stem has a circular cross sectional area and the openings defined by the elongate stem are diametrically opposed from one another.

14. A method of installing a pit mount interface device, comprising:

inserting a passive radiator into a mounting body having an elongate stem extending from a head, the elongate stem having a substantially circular cross-sectional area defining a central passageway, wherein inserting the passive radiator into the mounting body includes sliding edges of a conducting section of the passive radiator along a pair of spaced apart tabs that extend from an interior surface of the elongate stem until a radiating section of the passive radiator is received within a channel defined by the head of the mounting body;

attaching a cap to the head of the mounting body to secure the passive radiator within the mounting body;

inserting the elongate stem into a hole defined by a cover of a pit until a bottom surface of the head of the elongate body contacts a surface of the cover; and

fastening a clamp nut to the elongate stem to secure the mounting body to the cover.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

aligning a pair of projections that extend from a neck of the AMR device with a pair of slots defined by an interior surface of the elongate stem;

advancing the neck of the AMR device into the central passageway of the elongate stem; and

rotating the AMR device such that the projections are received within a pair of openings defined by the elongate stem, each opening in communication with a respective one of the slots defined by the interior surface of the elongate stem.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a coupling section of the passive radiator is disposed adjacent to the neck of the AMR device within the central passageway after the passive radiator has been inserted into the mounting body and the neck of the AMR device has been advanced into the central passageway.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the conducting section of the passive radiator is disposed between the radiating section and a coupling section of the passive radiator.

18. A pit mount interface device, comprising:

a body having a head and an elongate stem extending from a bottom surface of the head, the elongate stem sized and configured to be received in and extend through a hole formed in a cover of a pit;

a nut defining a central aperture sized and configured to receive the elongate stem of the body, the nut for coupling the body to pit cover; and

a passive radiator disposed within the body and configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an automatic meter reading (AMR) device located below the cover through inductive coupling and radiate the RF signal from a position located above the cover of the pit, the passive radiator including a radiating section, a coupling section, and a conductor section disposed between the radiating section and the coupling section comprising a plurality of segments, each of the segments of the coupling section extending from an adjacent segment in a substantially orthogonal direction from a direction in which the adjacent segment extends.

19. The pit mount interface device of claim 18, wherein a plane defined by the coupling section is spaced apart from a plane defined by the radiating section.

20. The pit mount interface device of claim 18, wherein the head of the body defines a channel in which the radiating section of the passive radiator is disposed.

21. The pit mount interface device of claim 18, wherein an interior of the body defines a pair of slots that extend from a bottom of the elongate stem, each of the slots communicating with a respective opening defined by the elongate stem and configured to slidably receive an ear extending from the AMR device.

22. The pit mount interface device of claim 18, further comprising a pair of spaced apart tabs extending from an interior surface of the elongate stem, the pair of spaced apart tabs sized and configured to slidably receive the conducting section of the passive radiator.

23. A method of installing a pit mount interface device, comprising:

inserting a passive radiator into a mounting body having an elongate stem extending from a head, the elongate stem having a substantially circular cross-sectional area defining a central passageway;

attaching a cap to the head of the mounting body to secure the passive radiator within the mounting body;

inserting the elongate stem into a hole defined by a cover of a pit until a bottom surface of the head of the elongate body contacts a surface of the cover;

fastening a clamp nut to the elongate stem to secure the mounting body to the cover;

aligning a pair of projections that extend from a neck of the AMR device with a pair of slots defined by an interior surface of the elongate stem;

advancing the neck of the AMR device into the central passageway of the elongate stem; and

rotating the AMR device such that the projections are received within a pair of openings defined by the elongate stem, each opening in communication with a respective one of the slots defined by the interior surface of the elongate stem.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a coupling section of the passive radiator is disposed adjacent to the neck of the AMR device within the central passageway after the passive radiator has been inserted into the mounting body and the neck of the AMR device has been advanced into the central passageway.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein inserting the passive radiator into the mounting body includes sliding edges of a conducting section of the passive radiator along a pair of spaced apart tabs that extend from an interior surface of the elongate stem until a radiating section of the passive radiator is received within a channel defined by the head of the mounting body.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the conducting section of the passive radiator is disposed between the radiating section and a coupling section of the passive radiator.