Gas meter having ultra-sensitive magnetic material retrofitted onto meter dial and method for performing meter retrofit
US8334787B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/30
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Device, structure and method for retrofitting a utility meter such as a gas meter with a retrofit module or for new installations to conventional meters so that it can be read remotely and so that retrofit may be accomplished simply by unskilled workers and without damage or alteration of meter. The method for retrofitting a meter of the type having shaft driven dial with dial index pointer and index cover involves removing the meter index cover to access the meter index dial pointer; attaching a magnet to the pointer so that it is carried in orbit around the pointer shaft to which the pointer is attached; and mounting a sensor to the meter adapted to sense the passage of the pointer-mounted magnet and to detect the orbit of index pointer; the attaching of the magnet and the mounting of the sensor being performed without removing the meter dial index assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.