GB2187010A

GB2187010A - Remote reading of mechanical counting device

Info

Publication number: GB2187010A
Application number: GB08604177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Henry Lokkerbol; Michael Stuart Partington; John Arthur Roberts
Original assignee: Smith Meters Ltd
Current assignee: Smith Meters Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-20
Filing date: 1986-02-20
Publication date: 1987-08-26
Also published as: GB2187010B; GB8604177D0

Abstract

A gas meter has a counting device comprising parallel decimal and binary systems (20, 16) mechanically locked together. The binary index (16) sets up a binary representation by reed switches (15). A remote reading device interrogates the switches (15) in order to set up a display of the counted number. The binary output signals may be converted to a serial form to reduce the number of output lines which otherwise connect the remote reading device to the gas meter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Remote reading of mechanical counting device This invention relates to reading the number setup in a mechanical counting device at a location remote from the device. Specifically, though not exclusively, it relates to reading the index of a commodity meter.

The invention provides a mechanical counting device having a decimal counter mechanically driven in parallel with a binary counter, the binary counter setting up an electrically-readable representation ofthe binary number, and electrical output lines whereby said representation can be transferred to a remote reading device.

Preferably said electrically-readable representation comprises a number of electrical switches which represent binary 0 and binary 1 by being open or closed. Each switch may have its own output line whereby its open or closed state may be ascertained. Alternatively, the binary signals may be translated into a serial form and transmitted over a single output line.

The counting device may be used in combination with a receiver which is adapted to interrogate the binary counter and to receive and de-code the answering signals.

The mechanical counting device may be the index of a commodity meter, e.g. a gas meter, A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view, partly cut away and only partly detailed, of a gas meter index including a binary encoder, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic layout of a reading system for the encoder of Figure 1.

The encoder is included in a gas meter index in which a mechanical counter comprises a series of rotatable drums (20) each displaying one digit of a decimal number. It is desired to reproduce the reading ofthe mechanical counterata remote location.As shown in Figure 1 ,the geartrain (12) which drives the mechanical counter also drives a coding device (16) which reproducesthenumberas an electrically-represented binary code. The coding device comprises twenty-five drums (13) made of a ferrite nylon material and mounted to rotate about a common axis. Each drum is driven by one of a series of pinions (14)from the previous drum, so that each drum is stepped on once for each two steps ofthe previous drum.The periphery of each drum is magnetised to provide magnetic poles at opposite sides of the drum. The presence or absence of a magnetic pole at a reading position is sensed by operation of a series of reed switches (15) one for each drum. The switches are mounted on a printed circuit board (17) adjacent the drums. The presence of a magnetic pole is seen as a binary'1',whilethe absence of a magnetic pole is seen as a binary'0'.

The system as described is capable of setting up a binary-coded number equivalent to 225-1.

The 0 or 1 output of each reed switch is led through printed circuit ways to a 26-way plug (not shown ). A multicore cable transmits the signals to a remote receiver. Alternatively, the binary output signals may be electronically converted to a serial form which allows a smaller number of cablewires, e.g. 4wires, to be used. The binary coded number is read by applying electrical impulses to the reed switches.

Since the drums (13) are mechanically driven they remain synchronised with the mechanical counter and the reed switches are maintained operated in correct sequence ready to provide binary coded electrical signals whenever they are interrogated.

Permanent electrical energisation of the encoder is not therefore necessary.

As seen in Figure 2,the serialized signals from the nineteen bit parallel to serial shift register (21) are received at a remote receiver (22). The serialized signals are re-converted to parallel form at (23), converted to a decimal number at (24) and displayed at (25).

Receiver (22) also includes a power supply (26), which is connected by a meter reader through control (27) to interrogate the meter and cause the reading to appear on display (25) for him to read.

Alternatively, the reading may be automatically transferred to a billing computer.

Whi le the above em bodiment describes twenty-five drums capable of counting to 225-1, 1 it is clearthatwhen a smaller maximum number is called for a smaller number of drums is used.

1. A mechanical counting device having a decimal counter mechanically driven in parallel with a binarycountersothatthere are decimal and binary versions of the same counted number, the binary counter setting up an electrically-readable representation of the counted number, there being electrical output lines whereby said electrically-readable binary representation can be transferred to a remote device.

2. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-readable representation comprises a number of electrical switches which represent binary 0 and binary 1 by being open and closed.

3. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said switches are magnetically operated reed switches.

4. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said binarycounter comprises a series of rotatable drums, each carrying magnet means for operating an adjacent one of the electrical switches.

5. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each drum is driven from a previous one, so that each drum is stepped on once for each two steps ofthe previous drum, whereby the mechanical count is made in binaryterms.

6. A mechanical counting device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each said switch has a separate output line over which its binary state may be ascertained.

7. A mechanical counting device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, including meansforconverting the binary states of the switches to a serial form which may be conveyed over fewer output lines.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Remote reading of mechanical counting device This invention relates to reading the number setup in a mechanical counting device at a location remote from the device. Specifically, though not exclusively, it relates to reading the index of a commodity meter. The invention provides a mechanical counting device having a decimal counter mechanically driven in parallel with a binary counter, the binary counter setting up an electrically-readable representation ofthe binary number, and electrical output lines whereby said representation can be transferred to a remote reading device. Preferably said electrically-readable representation comprises a number of electrical switches which represent binary 0 and binary 1 by being open or closed. Each switch may have its own output line whereby its open or closed state may be ascertained. Alternatively, the binary signals may be translated into a serial form and transmitted over a single output line. The counting device may be used in combination with a receiver which is adapted to interrogate the binary counter and to receive and de-code the answering signals. The mechanical counting device may be the index of a commodity meter, e.g. a gas meter, A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view, partly cut away and only partly detailed, of a gas meter index including a binary encoder, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic layout of a reading system for the encoder of Figure 1. The encoder is included in a gas meter index in which a mechanical counter comprises a series of rotatable drums (20) each displaying one digit of a decimal number. It is desired to reproduce the reading ofthe mechanical counterata remote location.As shown in Figure 1 ,the geartrain (12) which drives the mechanical counter also drives a coding device (16) which reproducesthenumberas an electrically-represented binary code. The coding device comprises twenty-five drums (13) made of a ferrite nylon material and mounted to rotate about a common axis. Each drum is driven by one of a series of pinions (14)from the previous drum, so that each drum is stepped on once for each two steps ofthe previous drum.The periphery of each drum is magnetised to provide magnetic poles at opposite sides of the drum. The presence or absence of a magnetic pole at a reading position is sensed by operation of a series of reed switches (15) one for each drum. The switches are mounted on a printed circuit board (17) adjacent the drums. The presence of a magnetic pole is seen as a binary'1',whilethe absence of a magnetic pole is seen as a binary'0'. The system as described is capable of setting up a binary-coded number equivalent to 225-1. The 0 or 1 output of each reed switch is led through printed circuit ways to a 26-way plug (not shown ). A multicore cable transmits the signals to a remote receiver. Alternatively, the binary output signals may be electronically converted to a serial form which allows a smaller number of cablewires, e.g. 4wires, to be used. The binary coded number is read by applying electrical impulses to the reed switches. Since the drums (13) are mechanically driven they remain synchronised with the mechanical counter and the reed switches are maintained operated in correct sequence ready to provide binary coded electrical signals whenever they are interrogated. Permanent electrical energisation of the encoder is not therefore necessary. As seen in Figure 2,the serialized signals from the nineteen bit parallel to serial shift register (21) are received at a remote receiver (22). The serialized signals are re-converted to parallel form at (23), converted to a decimal number at (24) and displayed at (25). Receiver (22) also includes a power supply (26), which is connected by a meter reader through control (27) to interrogate the meter and cause the reading to appear on display (25) for him to read. Alternatively, the reading may be automatically transferred to a billing computer. Whi le the above em bodiment describes twenty-five drums capable of counting to 225-1, 1 it is clearthatwhen a smaller maximum number is called for a smaller number of drums is used. CLAIMS

8. A gas meter index substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings.

9. A mechanical counting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 combined with a remote receiver device connected to the output lines from the counting device.

10. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 9,wherein said receiverdevice includes an electrical powersupplywhich may be connected to read said electrically-readable representation ofthe counter number as desired.

11. A mechanical counting device as claimed in claim 9 as appendantto claim 7, including means four converting said serial form backto a parallel form.

12. A gas meter index combined with a remote index reading device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figure2 of the accompanying drawings.