Patent US3599022A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3599022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impulse generator for meters
Assignee: AMERICA METER Co
•
Filing: 1970-07-07
•
Granted: 1971-08-10
•
Expires: 1990-07-07
Abstract
Abstract An impulse generator powered by a meter to generate an AC voltage which is rectified to a DC pulse. Each DC pulse corresponds to a predetermined quantity of fluid medium flowing through the meter. The DC pulse is transmitted to a remote counter located for easy access to permit convenient reading of the register thereof. The impulse generator is compact so as to fit within the housing of a conventional meter or a modified housing of a previously installed meter.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Adair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/06; G01F15/061; G01F15/063; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1503; Y10T74/1524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An impulse generator assembly for a meter comprising: a. a drive means operatively connected to be rotated by the meter, b. a driven means journaled in the meter, c. spring means connected to the driven means and to be energized responsive to the rotative operation of the drive means, d. a lock-and-release means interconnecting the drive means and the driven means selectively to release said driven means upon the spring means being energized a predetermined amount, whereby the spring drives the driven means, e. an annular magnet having a plurality of alternately oppositely magnetized poles circumferentially spaced hereon, f. a coil assembly disposed in the meter and including a winding having a plurality of pole pieces circumferentially spaced about the magnet adjacent each of the magnetized poles, g. a one-way clutch drivingly connecting the driven means and the magnet to permit the magnet to continue rotation after the driven means has stopped to generate within said winding an AC voltage, and h. a rectifier electrically connected to the winding to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An impulse generator assembly for a meter comprising: a. a drive means operatively connected to be rotated by the meter, b. a driven means journaled in the meter, c. spring means connected to the driven means and to be energized responsive to the rotative operation of the drive means, d. a lock-and-release means interconnecting the drive means and the driven means selectively to release said driven means upon the spring means being energized a predetermined amount, whereby the spring drives the driven means, e. an annular magnet having a plurality of alternately oppositely magnetized poles circumferentially spaced hereon, f. a coil assembly disposed in the meter and including a winding having a plurality of pole pieces circumferentially spaced about the magnet adjacent each of the magnetized poles, g. a one-way clutch drivingly connecting the driven means and the magnet to permit the magnet to continue rotation after the driven means has stopped to generate within said winding an AC voltage, and h. a rectifier electrically connected to the winding to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. a shaft is stationarily mounted in the meter to fixedly carry the coil assembly, and to journal the magnet, the driven means and the drive means thereon, b. the spring means is interconnected between he driven means and the driven means to be wound each revolution, c. the lock release means is pivotally mounted in spaced relation to the shaft and has offset arms oppositely extending, with one arm engaging the driven means and the other arm engaging the driven means to prevent rotation thereof, d. a cam is formed on the drive means against which the said one arm is biased, e. the other arm is pivoted to release the driven means once each revolution, whereby the driven means is spring driven to drive the magnet through the one-way clutch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein: a. the drive means and the driven means are journaled on the shaft in superposition, one above the other, b. an annular flange is formed on the drive means to extend axially toward the driven means, c. an annular flange is formed on the driven means, in radially spaced relation to the flange on the drive means, and to extend axially toward the drive means, d. the spring has one end connected to the flange of the drive means, and the other end connected to the flange of the driven means, with several spiral windings therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein: inwardly a. the flange on the driven means is formed radially i5wardly of the flange on the drive means, b. each of the flanges of the drive means and the driven means axially overlap each other, c. the cam of the drive means is formed on the outer circumference of the flange of the drive means. 5, The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. the spring means includes a spiral spring interconnected between the drive means and driven means, b. the spiral spring is wound by the rotation of the drive means, c. the lock-and-release means releases the driven means during each revolution of the drive means after the spiral spring is wound to permit said spring to drive the driven means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein: a. the spiral spring drives the driven means for one revolution as the spiral spring unwinds, b. the lock-and-release means engages the driven means at the end of the revolution to prevent rotation thereof during rewinding of the spiral spring by the drive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein: a. the driven means is rotated in a single direction of rotation by the successive intermittent action of the spiral spring, b. the magnet is rotated through the one-way clutch in the same direction of rotation as the driven means, c. the magnet continues to rotate for more than one revolution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The combination claimed in claim 7 wherein: /. the one-way clutch defines a plate affixed to the bottom of the annular magnet, b. the plate has a plurality of circumferentially spaced sprags formed thereon extending in the direction of the driven means, c. annular saw Tooth projections are formed on the driven means adjacent to and engaged by said sprags whereby on the driven means rotating the sprags and magnet will partake of like motion, and on the driven means stopping the sprags will slip over said projections and the sprags and magnet will rotate until the magnet has exhausted all of its momentum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3004179A
Cited
US3125890A
Cited
US2105719A
Cited
US2261073A
Cited
US3214715A
Cited
US3422700A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |