Fluid meter, in particular for water

• US 8,931,337 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron France S.A.S. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Renoud, Anthony, Schwenter, Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTEY, PHILIP L
• Application Number:
  US13/646,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 731/98, 732/72.R, 732/72.A, 732/73, 732/75
• US Class Current: 73/198
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/26 Windows; Cover glasses; Sealings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/007 comprising means to prevent fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/14 Casings, e.g. of special material
• 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 fluid meter includes a totaliser having an electronic card that communicates with a remote meter reading system. The electronic card may be contained in a metal housing covered in a leakproof manner by an upper transparent panel. The totaliser may be covered by a cover which retains the upper transparent panel in a leakproof manner. The cover may be covered by a cap made from plastic material. The upper transparent panel may be made from glass and the upper transparent panel and the cover may each include an orifice to allow communication between the electronic card and antenna disposed between the cover and the cap.

Claims

1. A fluid meter, comprising a totaliser having an electronic card including a remote meter reading system contained in a metal housing covered in a leakproof manner by an upper transparent panel, the totaliser being covered by a cover which retains the upper transparent panel in a leakproof manner and the cover being covered by a cap made from plastic material, the upper transparent panel being made from glass and the upper transparent panel and the cover both including a respective aperture through which is disposed a watertight arrangement for transmission from the electronic card to an antenna, wherein the watertight arrangement comprises a metal insert secured on the upper transparent panel by a fastener, and wherein the antenna and the electronics card are on opposite sides of the upper transparent panel.

2. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is fixed to the metal insert and secured in a leakproof manner on the upper transparent panel by means of the screw and connected to a remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

3. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 2, additionally comprising a sealing joint inserted between the metal insert and the upper transparent panel.

4. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sealing joint is overmoulded on the cover.

5. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 3, additionally comprising a second sealing joint inserted between the cover and the cap.

6. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sealing joint and the second sealing joint are overmoulded on the cover by means of a channel connecting them.

7. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

8. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 4, additionally comprising a second sealing joint inserted between the cover and the cap.

9. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sealing joint and the second sealing joint are overmoulded on the cover.

10. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

11. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

12. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

13. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 6, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

14. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

15. The fluid meter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the screw is connected by a spring-loaded contact to the remote meter reading system of the electronic card.

16. A fluid meter, comprising:

a totaliser to determine a volume of fluid;

an electronic card to send data, obtained at least in part by operation of the totaliser, via radio transmission;

a metal housing to contain the totaliser;

a transparent panel to cover the totaliser within the metal housing in a leak-proof manner;

a cover to retain the upper transparent panel in the leak-proof manner;

a cap to cover the cover; and

an antenna located between the cover and the cap;

wherein the transparent panel and the cover both include a respective aperture through which is disposed a watertight arrangement for transmission from the electronic card to the antenna, the watertight arrangement comprising a metal insert secured on the upper transparent panel by a fastener.

17. The fluid meter of claim 16, wherein the transparent panel is made from glass.

18. The fluid meter of claim 16, wherein the cap is made from plastic material.

19. The fluid meter of claim 16, wherein the watertight arrangement for transmission additionally comprises a metal spring-loaded contact at a first end of the screw and the metal insert to clamp onto the antenna on a second end of the screw.

20. The fluid meter of claim 19, wherein the metal spring-loaded contact provides electrical connectivity between the electronic card and the screw.