Meter for measuring volumetric consumption of a commodity

• US 5,659,300 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovatec Communications LLC
• Original Assignee: InnovaTec SL
• Inventors: Ehrke, Lance A., Nap, Kimbel, Dresselhuys, Donn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/707,945
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.05, 340/870.07, 340/870.11, 73/861.77, 73/861.78, 73/861.79, 364/510
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• 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

Disclosed is a meter for mounting in flow-sensing relationship to a pipeline conductor or electrical line having a commodity such as water, natural gas or electricity flowing through it. In one embodiment, the meter has a transceiver inductively-coupled to a remote signal-radiating device such as a repeater antenna for sending an encoded signal to a remote receiver. Another embodiment of the meter includes a rechargeable device such as a nickel-cadmium battery for storing meter-powering electricity and a charging generator coupled to such device. The generator has a turbine driven "bootstrap fashion" by the commodity flowing through the conductor. Preferably, solid state digital technology is used for minimizing power consumption during meter operation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a meter measuring the flow of a commodity through a conductor, said apparatus providing radio frequency data communication to and from the antenna of a remote data transmitter/receiver, said apparatus being suitable for use with a meter located in a subsurface pit enclosure having an exposed pit lid and comprising:

a meter sensing unit couplable to the meter and positionable in the pit enclosure, said meter sensing unit having;

a pick up unit in signal sensing relationship with the meter for obtaining a signal indicative of commodity flow through the conductor;

a radio transceiver in communication with said pick up unit, said radio transceiver generating and receiving radio frequency signals;

a first antenna coupled to said radio transceiver for radiating and receiving radio frequency signals; and

a housing containing said pick up unit, said radio transceiver, and said first antenna, such that the exterior of said housing is free of conductors carrying electricity; and

a second antenna mountable in the pit lid, said second antenna serving as a meter sensing unit relay antenna link, said second antenna having a first portion extending into the pit enclosure when said second antenna is mounted in the pit lid, said first portion being proximate to, but spaced from, said meter sensing unit for being inductively coupled to said meter sensing unit first antenna, said second antenna having a second portion positioned on the exterior of the pit lid when said second antenna is mounted in the pit lid, said second portion being coupled to said first portion for radiating and receiving radio frequency signals to and from the antenna of the remote data transmitter/receiver,

wherein said second antenna comprising the relay antenna link provides a communication path between the meter sensing unit for the commodity flow measuring meter when positioned in the pit enclosure and the remote transmitter/receiver.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said meter sensing unit housing is watertight and is permeable to electromagnetic radiation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radio transceiver is further defined as generating and receiving radio frequency digitally encoded signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said meter sensing unit has a visual indicator panel and a totalizing circuit board in said housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the meter has a flow sensor including a magnet and wherein said pick up unit includes a component for sensing magnetic fields.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the meter measures the flow of a gaseous commodity through the conductor and wherein said apparatus is further defined as suitable for use with a gaseous commodity flow measuring meter.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the meter measures the flow of liquid commodity through the conductor and wherein said apparatus is further defined as suitable for use with a liquid commodity flow measuring meter.

8. Metering apparatus for measuring the flow of a commodity through a conductor and for providing radio frequency data communication to and from the antenna of a remote data transmitter/receiver, said metering apparatus being suitable for being located in a subsurface pit enclosure having an exposed pit lid and comprising:

a meter locatable in the pit enclosure and interposable in the conductor for measuring the flow of a commodity through the conductor;

a meter sensing unit coupled to said meter and positionable in the pit enclosure, said meter sensing unit having;

a pick up unit in signal sensing relationship with said meter for obtaining a signal indicative of commodity flow through the conductor;

a radio transceiver in communication with said pick up unit, said radio transceiver generating and receiving radio frequency signals;

a first antenna coupled to said radio transceiver for radiating and receiving radio frequency signals; and

a housing containing said pick up unit, said radio transceiver, and said first antenna, such that the exterior of said housing is free of conductors carrying electricity; and

a second antenna mountable in the pit lid, said second antenna serving as a meter sensing unit relay antenna link, said second antenna having a first portion extending into the pit enclosure when said second antenna is mounted in the pit lid, said first portion being proximate to, but spaced from, said meter sensing unit for being inductively coupled to said meter sensing unit first antenna, said second antenna having a second portion positioned on the exterior of the pit lid when said second antenna is mounted in the pit lid, said second portion being coupled to said first portion for radiating and receiving radio frequency signals to and from the antenna of the remote data transmitter/receiver,

wherein said second antenna comprising the relay antenna link provides a communication path between the meter sensing unit for the commodity flow measuring meter when located in the pit enclosure and the remote transmitter/receiver.

9. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter sensing unit housing is watertight and is permeable to electromagnetic radiation.

10. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said radio transceiver is further defined as generating and receiving radio frequency digitally encoded signal.

11. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter sensing unit has a visual indicator panel and a totalizing circuit board in said housing.

12. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the meter has a flow sensor including a magnet and wherein said pick up unit includes a component for sensing magnetic fields.

13. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter is a gaseous commodity flow measuring meter for measuring the flow of a gaseous commodity through the conductor.

14. The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter is a liquid commodity flow measuring meter for measuring the flow of a liquid commodity through the conductor.