US3662368A — Telemetering system having a continuously monitor…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 207 words

A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a meter having a measuring mechanism including a rotatable member that is rotated at a rate which is a function of the quantity of a commodity measured by the meter, sensing means operatively connected to said rotatable member for continuously sensing the amount of rotation of said rotatable member, signal means responsively coupled to the output of said sensing means for producing a different output signal for each of a number of different amounts of rotation of said rotatable member, said signal means being responsively coupled to the output of the sensing means by a transducer that operates without any direct mechanical friction producing engagement between said signal means and said sensing means, means for transmitting each of said signals to a location remote from said meter, means at said remote location for tranSlating each of said signals into readable form thereby to afford a readable indication at said remote location of the quantity of commodity measured by said meter, and means for operatively connecting said means for transmitting the signals to receive each of said signals whereby a quantity measured by said meter is indicated at said remote point when said means for connecting is actuated to its operative condition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 207 words

A telemetering system comprising, in combination, a meter having a measuring mechanism including a rotatable member that is rotated at a rate which is a function of the quantity of a commodity measured by the meter, sensing means operatively connected to said rotatable member for continuously sensing the amount of rotation of said rotatable member, signal means responsively coupled to the output of said sensing means for producing a different output signal for each of a number of different amounts of rotation of said rotatable member, said signal means being responsively coupled to the output of the sensing means by a transducer that operates without any direct mechanical friction producing engagement between said signal means and said sensing means, means for transmitting each of said signals to a location remote from said meter, means at said remote location for tranSlating each of said signals into readable form thereby to afford a readable indication at said remote location of the quantity of commodity measured by said meter, and means for operatively connecting said means for transmitting the signals to receive each of said signals whereby a quantity measured by said meter is indicated at said remote point when said means for connecting is actuated to its operative condition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

A telemetering system as in claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises an escapement mechanism permanently coupled in driving relationship with said rotatable member so that an input member of said escapement mechanism is driven in response to movement of said rotatable member, said escapement mechanism having an output member that is moved a predetermined angular distance with a snap action in response to said input member being driven a predetermined angular distance.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 199 words

A telemetering system as in claim 2 wherein said signal means is operable to produce N different signals in response respectively to one of N different codes being generated by said transducer and transmitted to the signal means, said signal means comprising a plurality of photocells mounted in a predetermined pattern adjacent said transducer; and wherein said transducer includes a photoelectric encoding mechanism for generating each of said N different codes, said encoding mechanism comprising; a light source, an opaque screen having a coded pattern of light-transmitting apertures therein, and means for coupling said screen in driven relationship to the output member of said escapement mechanism thereby to effect relative movement between said screen and the photocells of said signal means in direct response to movement of the output member of said escapement mechanism, whereby said coded pattern is moved relative to said photocells with a snap action between N rest positions, to cause different given sets of photocells to be actuated at each different rest position responsive to light passing from the light source through given apertures in said screen that are placed in alignment, respectively, with said given different sets of photocells at said respective rest positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 90 words

A telemetering system as in claim 3 wherein said coded pattern is of predetermined length and operative to enable only a given number of different photocells to be energized by the light source at each of said rest positions whereby N different combinations of photocells are sequentially energizable by successive relative movement of said screen and photocells through all of said rest positions, each of said output signals of the signal generating means being actuated respectively by energization of the photocells in a different one of said N different combinations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 171 words

A telemetering system as in claim 2 wherein said signal means is operable to produce N different signals in response respectively to one of N different codes being generated by said transducer and transmitted to the signal means, said signal means comprising a plurality of magnetically actuable reed switches mounted adjacent said transducer; and wherein said transducer includes an electro-mechanical encoding mechanism for generating each of said N different codes, said encoding mechanism comprising at least one magnetic member, means for effecting relative movement between said magnetic member and said switches of said signal means in direct response to movement of the output member of said escapement mechanism whereby said magnetic member is moved relative to said reed switches with a snap action between N rest positions to cause different given sets of reed switches to be actuated at each different rest position responsive to said magnetic member being selectively moved close enough to said sets of reed switches to actuate them as it is moved to said respective rest positions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 120 words

A telemetering system as in claim 5 wherein said means for effecting relative movement comprises a gear train coupled in driving relatiOnship to said magnetic device and driven by the output member of said escapement mechanism, and said magnetic device comprises a plurality of magnets each of which are rotatably mounted respectively on a separated disc of non-magnetic material, said plurality of switches being divided into groups each of which contain an equal number of said switches or switch positions, each of said groups of switches or switch positions being positioned respectively around one of said magnet supporting discs so that they are successively energized when the discs are rotated to move the magnets adjacent said switches or switch positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for use in a telemetering system to continuously encode into machine readable form variations in a measure of a quantity of a commodity measured by a meter in the system, comprising, in combination, a meter having a rotatable member that is rotated as a function of the quantity of a commodity measured by the meter, a sensing means operatively connected to said rotatable member for continuously sensing the amount of rotation of said rotatable member, signal generating means responsively coupled to the output of said sensing means for generating a different output signal for each of a number of different amounts of rotation of said rotatable member, said signal means being responsively coupled to the output of the sensing means by a transducer that operates without any direct mechanical friction producing engagement between said signal means and said sensing means, and means for transmitting each of said signals to a location spaced apart from said meter.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for use in a telemetering system to continuously encode into machine readable form variations in a measure of a quantity of a commodity measured by a meter in the system, comprising, in combination, a meter having a rotatable member that is rotated as a function of the quantity of a commodity measured by the meter, a sensing means operatively connected to said rotatable member for continuously sensing the amount of rotation of said rotatable member, signal generating means responsively coupled to the output of said sensing means for generating a different output signal for each of a number of different amounts of rotation of said rotatable member, said signal means being responsively coupled to the output of the sensing means by a transducer that operates without any direct mechanical friction producing engagement between said signal means and said sensing means, and means for transmitting each of said signals to a location spaced apart from said meter.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 154 words

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said sensing means comprises a mechanical escapement mechanism having a rotatably mounted input gear and a snap action output gear that rotates with a snap action through a predetermined number of rest positions located about its 360* of rotation, said input gear being continuously coupled in driven relationship with said rotatable member of said meter, and wherein said signal generating means comprises a plurality of magnetically actuable reed switches adjacent said transducer, and wherein said transducer includes an electro-mechanical encoder operatively connected to selectively energize one to N combinations of said switches in response to movement of the output gear of said escapement mechanism to each of said predetermined number of said rest positions, and a source of variable frequency signals connected to said switches and selectively energized thereby to produce a different signal for each of said predetermined number of rest positions of said output gear.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 95 words

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said electro-mechanical encoder comprises a plurality of magnets each rotatably mounted on separate non-magnetic holders, and wherein said plurality of magnetically actuable reed switches are mounted in operative position around each of said magnets for sequential energization thereby when said magnets are moved adjacent said switches, and including a reduction gear train for rotating said insulating holders in a predetermined manner thereby to selectively actuate predetermined combinations of said reed switches, said gear train being continuously coupled in driving relationship to the output gear of said escapement mechanism.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-05-09	1975-11-08	1976-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-05-09	1979-11-08	1980-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-05-09	1983-11-08	1984-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Telemetering system having a continuously monitoring encoder

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