Meter register and remote meter reader utilizing a stepper motor

• US 8,448,845 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd
• Original Assignee: Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd
• Inventors: Winter, Dan, Koch, Ronald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/366,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 235/200.R, 235/201.FS, 235/200.PF, 235/94.A, 235/94.R, 235/95.R, 235/375, 235/376, 235/435, 705/412, 73/11.6, 738/61, 738/618.8, 738/619.3
• US Class Current: 235/200.R
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/07 Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism

Abstract

A meter for flowing material, e.g., water, has a meter register having an electronic display, e.g., an LED or LCD display, and a mechanical read-out display driven by a stepper motor to record units of water that flowed through the meter. In the event of an electrical power failure, the LED or LCD readout values are lost, however, the mechanical read-out values remain. Further, signals are transmitted to a microprocessor of a meter register to change the rotation of the stepper motor so that the meter register can be used with different types of meters. Still further, a meter generator co-acting with a meter register forwards an electrical pulse signal after a quantity of material or utility passes through a water meter to a microprocessor of a remote reader. The remote reader includes an odometer coupled to a stepper motor.

Claims

1. A retrofit meter register mounted in a sealed unit, the retrofit meter register comprising:

a measuring system capable of being operatively connected to a moveable measuring element mounted in a flow chamber of a body of a utility meter, the measuring system generating a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding a volume of utility passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, wherein the body of the utility meter and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics that are used in determining the volume flow of utility through the flow chamber of the utility meter;

a signal receiver to receive transmitted signals from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signals identifying the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected; and

a microprocessor to receive the transmitted signal from the signal receiver and the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different models of utility meters, including the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, wherein the microprocessor is configured to analyze the transmitted signal to identify the model of the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, and act on the first signal using the physical and performance characteristics stored in the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter to which the register is connected, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter.

2. The retrofit meter register of claim 1, comprising a display system to receive a signal defined as a third signal from the microprocessor and to operate in response to the third signal to display the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter.

3. The retrofit meter register of claim 2, wherein the display system comprises a numerical display to visually present flow information of the utility meter.

4. The retrofit meter register of claim 3, wherein the third signal energizes a stepper motor to move a wheel of a bank of wheels of an odometer.

5. The retrofit meter register of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor comprises means to make a measured flow rate of the utility moving through the flow chamber available, and the microprocessor converts the measured flow rate to a flow rate signal and forwards the flow rate signal to a transmitting antenna.

6. The retrofit meter register according to claim 1, wherein the measuring element comprises a drive magnet and a magnetic force of the drive magnet is acted on by the measuring system to generate the first signal.

7. A retrofit meter register mounted in a sealed unit, the retrofit meter register comprising:

a measuring system capable of being operatively connected to a moveable measuring element mounted in a flow chamber of a body of a utility meter, the measuring system generating a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding a volume of utility passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, wherein the body of the utility meter and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics that are used in determining the volume flow of utility through the flow chamber of the utility meter;

a signal receiver to receive transmitted signals from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signals identifying the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected; and

a microprocessor to receive the transmitted signal from the signal receiver and the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different models of utility meters, including the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, wherein the microprocessor is configured to analyze the transmitted signal to identify the model of the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, and act on the first signal using the physical and performance characteristics stored in the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter to which the register is connected, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter,

wherein the signal receiver is a bank of switches which, when set in a particular position, sends the second signal to the microprocessor to configure the microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the data of the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the meter.

8. A retrofit meter register mounted in a sealed unit, the retrofit meter register comprising:

a measuring system capable of being operatively connected to a moveable measuring element mounted in a flow chamber of a body of a utility meter, the measuring system generating a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding a volume of utility passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, wherein the body of the utility meter and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics that are used in determining the volume flow of utility through the flow chamber of the utility meter;

a signal receiver to receive transmitted signals from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signals identifying the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected; and

a microprocessor to receive the transmitted signal from the signal receiver and the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different models of utility meters, including the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, wherein the physical and performance characteristics comprise a performance curve which is a measure of accuracy for each flow rate, magnetic pulses per minute that correspond to flow rate, and inside diameter of conduits flowing the utility into and out of the flow chamber, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to analyze the transmitted signal to identify the model of the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, and act on the first signal using the physical and performance characteristics stored in the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter to which the register is connected and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter, wherein the utility meter comprises a display system to receive a signal defined as a third signal from the microprocessor and to operate in response to the third signal to display the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter.

9. A utility meter and retrofit meter register system, comprising:

a meter body comprising a flow chamber through which a utility passes, and a moveable measuring element mounted in the flow chamber, the moveable measuring element moves in response to the utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the meter body and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics defined as first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a retrofit meter register, wherein the retrofit meter register is in a sealed unit and the unit is mounted on the meter body, the retrofit meter register comprising;

a measuring system operatively connected to the moveable measuring element in the flow chamber to generate a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding the volume of utility passing through the flow chamber;

a microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different types of utility meters including the first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a signal receiver to receive a transmitted signal from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signal identifying the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, the signal receiver passing a signal defined as a second signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to analyze the second signal to identify the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter.

10. The utility meter and retrofit meter register system of claim 9, comprising a display system to receive a signal defined as a third signal from the microprocessor and to operate in response to the third signal to display the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter.

11. The utility meter and retrofit meter register system of claim 10, wherein the display system comprises a numerical display to visually present flow information of the utility meter.

12. The utility meter and retrofit meter register system of claim 11, wherein the third signal energizes a stepper motor to move a wheel of a bank of wheels of an odometer.

13. The utility meter and retrofit meter register system of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor comprises means to make a measured flow rate of the utility moving through the flow chamber available and the microprocessor converts the measured flow rate to a flow rate signal and forwards the flow rate signal to a transmitting antenna.

14. The retrofit meter register according to claim 9, wherein the moveable measuring element comprises a drive magnet and a magnetic force of the drive magnet is acted on by the measuring system to generate the first signal.

15. A utility meter and retrofit meter register system, comprising:

a meter body comprising a flow chamber through which a utility passes and a moveable measuring element mounted in the flow chamber, the moveable measuring element moves in response to the utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the meter body and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics defined as first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a retrofit meter register, wherein the retrofit meter register is in a sealed unit and the unit is mounted on the meter body, the retrofit meter register comprising;

a measuring system operatively connected to the moveable measuring element in the flow chamber to generate a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding the volume of utility passing through the flow chamber;

a microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different types of utility meters including the first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a signal receiver to receive a transmitted signal from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signal identifying the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, the signal receiver passing a signal defined as a second signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to analyze the second signal to identify the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter,

wherein the signal receiver is a bank of switches which, when set in a particular position, sends the second signal to the microprocessor to configure the microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the data of the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the meter.

16. A utility meter and retrofit meter register system, comprising:

a meter body comprising a flow chamber through which a utility passes and a moveable measuring element mounted in the flow chamber, the moveable measuring element moves in response to the utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the meter body and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics defined as first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a retrofit meter register, wherein the retrofit meter register is in a sealed unit and the unit is mounted on the meter body, the retrofit meter register comprising;

a measuring system operatively connected to the moveable measuring element in the flow chamber to generate a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding the volume of utility passing through the flow chamber;

a microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different types of utility meters including the first identifying physical and performance characteristics;

a signal receiver to receive a transmitted signal from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signal identifying the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the first identifying physical and performance characteristics comprise a performance curve which is a measure of accuracy for each flow rate, magnetic pulses per minute that correspond to flow rate, and an inside diameter of conduits flowing the utility into and out of the flow chamber, and wherein the signal receiver passing a signal defined as a second signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to analyze the second signal to identify the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter; and

a display system to receive a signal defined as a third signal from the microprocessor and to operate in response to the third signal to display the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter.

17. A method of making a retrofit meter, comprising:

providing a meter body comprising a flow chamber through which a utility passes, and a moveable measuring element mounted in the flow chamber, the moveable measuring element moves in response to the utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the meter body and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics defined as first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

providing a retrofit meter register in a sealed unit

mounting the sealed unit on the meter body, wherein the retrofit meter register mounted in the sealed body comprises;

a measuring system operatively connected to the moveable measuring element in the flow chamber to generate a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding the volume of utility passing through the flow chamber;

a microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising data that identifies physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different types of utility meters, wherein the data includes the first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a signal receiver to receive a transmitted signal from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signal identifying the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, the signal receiver passing a signal defined as a second signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor analyzes the second signal to identify the data of the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the data of the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility and the retrofit meter register is physically connected to said existing utility meter and said retrofit meter register measures the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter.

18. The method of claim 17, providing a display system in the sealed unit, wherein the display system receives a signal defined as a third signal from the microprocessor and operates in response to the third signal to display the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter.

19. The method of making a retrofit meter register according to claim 17, wherein the measuring system comprises a drive magnet and a magnetic force of the drive magnet is acted on by the measuring system to generate the first signal.

20. A retrofit meter register mounted in a sealed unit, the retrofit meter register comprising:

a measuring system capable of being operatively connected to a moveable measuring element mounted in a flow chamber of a body of a utility meter, the measuring system generating a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding a volume of utility passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, wherein the body of the utility meter and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics that are used in determining the volume flow of utility through the flow chamber of the utility meter, wherein the first signal is a magnetic force from a drive magnet of the utility meter that coacts with a follower magnet provided within the retrofit meter register;

a signal receiver to receive transmitted signals from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signals identifying the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected; and

a microprocessor to receive the transmitted signal from the signal receiver and the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different models of utility meters, including the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, wherein the microprocessor is configured to analyze the transmitted signal to identify the model of the utility meter to which the retrofit meter register is to be connected, and act on the first signal using the physical and performance characteristics stored in the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter to which the register is connected, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter, and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter.

21. A utility meter and retrofit meter register system, comprising:

a meter body comprising a flow chamber through which a utility passes and a moveable measuring element mounted in the flow chamber, the moveable measuring element moves in response to the utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the meter body and the moveable measuring element have identifying physical and performance characteristics defined as first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a retrofit meter register, wherein the retrofit meter register is in a sealed unit and the unit is mounted on the meter body, the retrofit meter register comprising;

a measuring system operatively connected to the moveable measuring element in the flow chamber to generate a signal defined as a first signal having information regarding the volume of utility passing through the flow chamber, wherein the first signal is a magnetic force from a drive magnet of a utility meter that coacts with a follower magnet provided within the retrofit register;

a microprocessor to receive the first signal from the measuring system, the microprocessor comprising physical and performance characteristics for a plurality of different types of utility meters including the first identifying physical and performance characteristics; and

a signal receiver to receive a transmitted signal from a source external of the sealed unit, the transmitted signal identifying the utility meter having the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, the signal receiver passing a signal defined as a second signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to analyze the second signal to identify the first identifying physical and performance characteristics, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal from the measuring system and operate on the first signal using the first identifying physical and performance characteristics of the microprocessor to measure the volume of material passing through the flow chamber of the utility meter, and wherein the utility meter is an existing utility meter operable to measure a volume of utility, the retrofit meter register is operable to be connected to said existing utility meter and said retrofit meter register is operable to measure the volume of utility via the microprocessor when connected to the utility meter.