Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for sensing rotation of a dial arm of a utility meter

US4607527A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
3References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 19, 1983
Grant dateAug 26, 1986
Priority date—
Expiry dateDec 19, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01F15/063
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Trip devices are disclosed for attachment to existing utility meters to detect revolutions of a dial arm of the meter. Two embodiments are disclosed, each including a spring-biased shaft extending through a base and a shoe on the end of the shaft. As the dial arm rotates, it catches and deflects the shoe, thus rotating the shaft. The shoe then slips off of the dial arm and returns to its original position under the urging of the spring. In one embodiment, shaft rotation is detected using a magnet and reed switch arrangement. In the other a mercury switch is instead used.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.