WO2013087849A1 - Fluid meter, in particular for water - Google Patents

Fluid meter, in particular for water Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2013087849A1
WO2013087849A1 PCT/EP2012/075570 EP2012075570W WO2013087849A1 WO 2013087849 A1 WO2013087849 A1 WO 2013087849A1 EP 2012075570 W EP2012075570 W EP 2012075570W WO 2013087849 A1 WO2013087849 A1 WO 2013087849A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
meter
housing
electronic card
contact
electronic
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2012/075570
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony Renoud
Sebastien Schwenter
Serge Bulteau
Original Assignee
Itron France
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Itron France filed Critical Itron France
Publication of WO2013087849A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013087849A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/007—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus comprising means to prevent fraud

Definitions

  • Fluid meter in particular for water
  • a fluid meter in particular for water
  • a fluid meter in particular for water
  • a totaliser which makes it possible to determine the flow rate or the volume of water passing through the reservoir is mounted and connected on this reservoir.
  • This totaliser includes various electrical, mechanical and electronic elements and is contained in a metal housing which is itself covered by a cover, generally made from plastic material, which ensures that it is retained and which includes a window for viewing a metering screen, generally a liquid crystal display.
  • This cover in turn is covered with a cap which bears markings specific to the meter, ensures tamper-proof operation and has an external window for viewing the screen.
  • the object of the invention is to detect electronically the fraudulent removal of the cap and of the cover.
  • the invention discloses a fluid meter, in particular for water, including a totaliser having electronic elements and an upper electronic card, this totaliser being contained in a metal cylindrical housing covered by a cover fixed on a reservoir, the said meter being characterised in that it includes two metal spring strips retained between the said housing and the said electronic card in the mounted position of the meter, a first end of each spring strip being in contact with the said housing and a second end of each spring strip being in contact with an electrical contact element of the said electronic card connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips.
  • the said two metal spring strips are compressed between the said housing and the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card in the mounted position of the meter.
  • each spring strip is preferably secured to the said electrical contact element with electrical conduction.
  • the said two metal spring strips advantageously have a substantially U-shaped cross-section, one branch of the U being in contact with the said housing and the other branch of the U being in contact with the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card.
  • the said first end is preferably in contact with an upper rim directed towards the interior of the said housing.
  • Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a meter according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a meter according to the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a sectional detail view of a meter according to the invention.
  • FIG 4 shows a sectional perspective view of a detail of a meter according to the invention.
  • a fluid meter in particular for water, includes a reservoir 1 provided with an inlet duct and an outlet duct for water and contains a measurement chamber which may be a turbine measurement chamber, an oscillating piston measurement chamber or a static measurement chamber, for example an ultrasonic measurement chamber.
  • a totaliser 2 which makes it possible to determine the flow rate or the volume of water passing through the reservoir is mounted and connected on this reservoir 1.
  • This totaliser 2 includes various electrical, mechanical and electronic elements 2A and is contained in a metal housing 2B, and includes an upper electronic card 2C including a metering screen 2D covered by a transparent panel 2E made from plastic material or glass.
  • This totaliser 2 is covered by a cover 3, generally made from plastic material, which ensures that it is retained by screwing on the reservoir, preferably by four screws disposed at the corners thereof, and which includes a window 3A for viewing the screen 2D.
  • This cover 3 is screwed on the reservoir 10 by means of four screws 10 disposed at the four lower corners of the cover.
  • the cover 3 in turn is covered with a cap 4 which bears markings specific to the meter, ensures tamper-proof operation by preventing access to the fixing screws of the cover 3 and also has an external window 4 A for viewing the screen 2D. It may contain a remote meter reading antenna as shown in Figure 1.
  • a screen cover 5 is mounted on the cap 4 in order to cover and protect this screen from ultraviolet rays and to protect this external window 4A in order to prevent the introduction of external elements such as mud or dust.
  • the cap 4 is fixed to the cover 3 by means of at least one fixing element which is accessible from the exterior and of which the removal necessitates its destruction.
  • This fixing element is a plug 7 passing through the cap via an orifice 9 and clipped in an orifice 8 of the said cover.
  • the meter includes two such fixing elements 7 disposed on two opposing faces of the cap 4.
  • FIGS 3 and 4 show the subject matter of the invention in greater detail.
  • the meter includes two metal spring strips 11 A, 11B retained between the housing 2B and the electronic card 2C, in the mounted position of the meter, a first end 12 A, 12B of each spring strip 11 A, 1 IB being in contact with the housing 2B and a second end 13A 13B of each spring strip 11A, 1 IB being in contact with an electrical contact element of the electronic card 2C connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips.
  • the two metal spring strips 11A, 1 IB are compressed between the housing 2B and the contact element of the electronic card 2C, in the mounted position of the meter.
  • each spring strip 11 A, 1 IB is preferably secured to the said electrical contact element with electrical conduction.
  • SMD surface mounted device
  • the two metal spring strips 11 A, 11B have a substantially U-shaped cross- section, one branch 12 A, 12B of the U being in contact with the housing 2B and the other branch 13 A, 13B of the U being in contact with the electrical contact element of the said electronic card.
  • the first end 12 A, 12B is in fact in contact with an upper rim 2B' directed towards the interior of the housing 2B and intended to support a sealing joint 14 disposed between this rim and the transparent plate 2E.
  • the meter as described previously is provided with two types of means for detection of fraudulent removal.
  • the first type consists of plugs 7 of which the removal necessitates destruction and which ensures visual detection of the fraud.
  • the second type consists of spring strips 11 A, 1 IB which ensures the electronic recording of the removal of the cover 3 and the transmission of this indication during reading of the meter, for example remote reading.
  • a meter may be equipped with one and/or the other of these types of detection.

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid meter, in particular for water, including a totaliser (2) having electronic elements and an upper electronic card (2C), this totaliser (2) being contained in a metal cylindrical housing (2B) covered by a cover (3) fixed on a reservoir (1). According to the invention the meter includes two metal spring strips 11A, 11B) retained between the said housing (2B) and the said electronic card (2C) in the mounted position of the meter, a first end (12A, 12B) of each spring strip being in contact with the said housing and a second end (13A, 13B) of each spring strip being in contact with an electrical contact element of the said electronic card connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips (11A, 11B).

Description

Fluid meter, in particular for water
The invention relates to a fluid meter, in particular for water. Conventionally, a fluid meter, in particular for water, includes a reservoir provided with an inlet duct and an outlet duct for water and contains a measurement chamber which may be a turbine measurement chamber, an oscillating piston measurement chamber or a static measurement chamber, for example an ultrasonic measurement chamber. A totaliser which makes it possible to determine the flow rate or the volume of water passing through the reservoir is mounted and connected on this reservoir. This totaliser includes various electrical, mechanical and electronic elements and is contained in a metal housing which is itself covered by a cover, generally made from plastic material, which ensures that it is retained and which includes a window for viewing a metering screen, generally a liquid crystal display.
This cover in turn is covered with a cap which bears markings specific to the meter, ensures tamper-proof operation and has an external window for viewing the screen.
The object of the invention is to detect electronically the fraudulent removal of the cap and of the cover.
The patent documents FR 2 777 079 and US 2005/0122094 disclose such arrangements for detection of the opening of a meter but are of complex and bulky construction. The invention discloses a particularly simple and inexpensive arrangement for detection of the removal of the meter. Moreover this arrangement is totally integrated into the meter and does not necessitate any additional bulk.
For this purpose, the invention discloses a fluid meter, in particular for water, including a totaliser having electronic elements and an upper electronic card, this totaliser being contained in a metal cylindrical housing covered by a cover fixed on a reservoir, the said meter being characterised in that it includes two metal spring strips retained between the said housing and the said electronic card in the mounted position of the meter, a first end of each spring strip being in contact with the said housing and a second end of each spring strip being in contact with an electrical contact element of the said electronic card connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips.
In this way, if the cover is removed the metal housing is released or removed and the first end of each spring strip is no longer in contact with the housing. The resistance between the two spring strips becomes infinite and this process is detected electronically by the electronic card. Thus it can be signalled electronically, for example remotely.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said two metal spring strips are compressed between the said housing and the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card in the mounted position of the meter.
The said second end of each spring strip is preferably secured to the said electrical contact element with electrical conduction.
The said two metal spring strips advantageously have a substantially U-shaped cross-section, one branch of the U being in contact with the said housing and the other branch of the U being in contact with the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card.
The said first end is preferably in contact with an upper rim directed towards the interior of the said housing.
The invention is described below in greater detail with the aid of drawings which only show a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a meter according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a meter according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a sectional detail view of a meter according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a sectional perspective view of a detail of a meter according to the invention. As shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, a fluid meter, in particular for water, includes a reservoir 1 provided with an inlet duct and an outlet duct for water and contains a measurement chamber which may be a turbine measurement chamber, an oscillating piston measurement chamber or a static measurement chamber, for example an ultrasonic measurement chamber. A totaliser 2 which makes it possible to determine the flow rate or the volume of water passing through the reservoir is mounted and connected on this reservoir 1. This totaliser 2 includes various electrical, mechanical and electronic elements 2A and is contained in a metal housing 2B, and includes an upper electronic card 2C including a metering screen 2D covered by a transparent panel 2E made from plastic material or glass. This totaliser 2 is covered by a cover 3, generally made from plastic material, which ensures that it is retained by screwing on the reservoir, preferably by four screws disposed at the corners thereof, and which includes a window 3A for viewing the screen 2D. This cover 3 is screwed on the reservoir 10 by means of four screws 10 disposed at the four lower corners of the cover.
Finally, the cover 3 in turn is covered with a cap 4 which bears markings specific to the meter, ensures tamper-proof operation by preventing access to the fixing screws of the cover 3 and also has an external window 4 A for viewing the screen 2D. It may contain a remote meter reading antenna as shown in Figure 1.
A screen cover 5 is mounted on the cap 4 in order to cover and protect this screen from ultraviolet rays and to protect this external window 4A in order to prevent the introduction of external elements such as mud or dust. The cap 4 is fixed to the cover 3 by means of at least one fixing element which is accessible from the exterior and of which the removal necessitates its destruction. This fixing element is a plug 7 passing through the cap via an orifice 9 and clipped in an orifice 8 of the said cover. Preferably, the meter includes two such fixing elements 7 disposed on two opposing faces of the cap 4.
Figures 3 and 4 show the subject matter of the invention in greater detail.
According to the invention the meter includes two metal spring strips 11 A, 11B retained between the housing 2B and the electronic card 2C, in the mounted position of the meter, a first end 12 A, 12B of each spring strip 11 A, 1 IB being in contact with the housing 2B and a second end 13A 13B of each spring strip 11A, 1 IB being in contact with an electrical contact element of the electronic card 2C connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips.
Preferably, the two metal spring strips 11A, 1 IB are compressed between the housing 2B and the contact element of the electronic card 2C, in the mounted position of the meter.
The said second end of each spring strip 11 A, 1 IB is preferably secured to the said electrical contact element with electrical conduction. Thus it is possible to use a SMD (surface mounted device) contact element and to manufacture the electronic card 2C so that it is pre- equipped with others of these two spring strips. Therefore this contact element disposed between each spring strip and the electronic card is not visible in the drawings.
More precisely, the two metal spring strips 11 A, 11B have a substantially U-shaped cross- section, one branch 12 A, 12B of the U being in contact with the housing 2B and the other branch 13 A, 13B of the U being in contact with the electrical contact element of the said electronic card.
The first end 12 A, 12B is in fact in contact with an upper rim 2B' directed towards the interior of the housing 2B and intended to support a sealing joint 14 disposed between this rim and the transparent plate 2E.
Therefore the meter as described previously is provided with two types of means for detection of fraudulent removal. The first type consists of plugs 7 of which the removal necessitates destruction and which ensures visual detection of the fraud.
The second type consists of spring strips 11 A, 1 IB which ensures the electronic recording of the removal of the cover 3 and the transmission of this indication during reading of the meter, for example remote reading.
Of course, a meter may be equipped with one and/or the other of these types of detection.

Claims

Claims
1. Fluid meter, in particular for water, including a totaliser (2) having electronic elements and an upper electronic card (2C), this totaliser (2) being contained in a metal cylindrical housing (2B) covered by a cover (3) fixed on a reservoir (1), the said meter being characterised in that it includes two metal spring strips (11 A, 1 IB) retained between the said housing (2B) and the said electronic card (2C) in the mounted position of the meter, a first end (12A, 12B) of each spring strip being in contact with the said housing and a second end (13 A, 13B) of each spring strip being in contact with an electrical contact element of the said electronic card connected to an electronic arrangement for detection of the electrical conduction between these two spring strips (11 A, 1 IB).
2. Meter as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the said two metal spring strips (11A, 11B) are compressed between the said housing (2B) and the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card (2C) in the mounted position of the meter.
3. Meter as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said second end (13 A, 13B) of each spring strip is secured to the said electrical contact element with electrical conduction.
4. Meter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said two metal spring strips (11 A, 11B) have a substantially U-shaped cross-section, one branch of the U being in contact with the said housing (2B) and the other branch of the U being in contact with the said electrical contact element of the said electronic card (2C).
5. Meter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said first end (12A, 12B) is preferably in contact with an upper rim (2Β') directed towards the interior of the said housing (2B).
PCT/EP2012/075570 2011-12-15 2012-12-14 Fluid meter, in particular for water WO2013087849A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11306673.2 2011-12-15
EP11306673.2A EP2604985B1 (en) 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 Fluid meter, in particular of water

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013087849A1 true WO2013087849A1 (en) 2013-06-20

Family

ID=47504897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2012/075570 WO2013087849A1 (en) 2011-12-15 2012-12-14 Fluid meter, in particular for water

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2604985B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2013087849A1 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3828650A1 (en) * 1988-08-24 1990-03-08 Licentia Gmbh Device (meter), especially charging device (meter)
FR2777079A1 (en) 1998-04-06 1999-10-08 Schlumberger Ind Sa DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE OPENING OF A COUNTER
WO2002073735A2 (en) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-19 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter register and antenna
US20050122094A1 (en) 2003-10-03 2005-06-09 Ekstrom Industries, Inc. Modular watthour meter socket and test switch
EP1569182A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-08-31 Robert Bosch GmbH Tamper detection for security system
US20060049941A1 (en) * 2004-09-03 2006-03-09 Hunter Steve B Reusable tamper respondent enclosure
US20090133610A1 (en) * 2007-11-28 2009-05-28 Baker David L armed junction box enclosure

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3828650A1 (en) * 1988-08-24 1990-03-08 Licentia Gmbh Device (meter), especially charging device (meter)
FR2777079A1 (en) 1998-04-06 1999-10-08 Schlumberger Ind Sa DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE OPENING OF A COUNTER
WO2002073735A2 (en) * 2001-03-09 2002-09-19 Arad Measuring Technologies Ltd. Meter register and antenna
US20050122094A1 (en) 2003-10-03 2005-06-09 Ekstrom Industries, Inc. Modular watthour meter socket and test switch
EP1569182A1 (en) * 2004-02-26 2005-08-31 Robert Bosch GmbH Tamper detection for security system
US20060049941A1 (en) * 2004-09-03 2006-03-09 Hunter Steve B Reusable tamper respondent enclosure
US20090133610A1 (en) * 2007-11-28 2009-05-28 Baker David L armed junction box enclosure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2604985B1 (en) 2018-09-05
EP2604985A1 (en) 2013-06-19

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