Patent US5659300A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5659300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Meter for measuring volumetric consumption of a commodity
Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1996-09-10
•
Granted: 1997-08-19
•
Expires: 2016-09-10
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Donn R. Dresselhuys
- 👤 Kimbel Nap
- 👤 Lance A. Ehrke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/06; G01F15/061; G01F15/063; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/006; G01F15/07; G01F15/075; G01F15/0755; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/2208; H01Q1/2233; H01Q1/04; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
309 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
309 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said meter sensing unit housing is watertight and is permeable to electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radio transceiver is further defined as generating and receiving radio frequency digitally encoded signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said meter sensing unit has a visual indicator panel and a totalizing circuit board in said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
326 words
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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
326 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter sensing unit housing is watertight and is permeable to electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The metering apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said radio transceiver is further defined as generating and receiving radio frequency digitally encoded signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4132981A
Cited
US4463354A
Cited
US4758836A
Cited
US4969365A
Cited
US4953368A
Cited
US4918995A
Cited
US4940976A
Cited
JPH01255100A
Cited
US4908600A
Cited
US4885943A
Cited
US4848164A
Cited
US4998102A
Cited
US4953386A
Cited
US4965756A
Cited
US5126934A
Cited
US5111407A
Cited
US5199307A
Cited
US5251149A
Cited
US5372048A
Cited
US5298894A
Cited
US5455781A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-18 | 2001-02-17 | 2001-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-18 | 2005-02-17 | 2005-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-18 | 2009-02-17 | 2009-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |