System and method for retrofitting utility meter reading modules |
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申请号 | US10293083 | 申请日 | 2002-11-13 | 公开(公告)号 | US07397389B2 | 公开(公告)日 | 2008-07-08 |
申请人 | Kim Buhl; | 发明人 | Kim Buhl; | ||||
摘要 | The system and methods of the present invention generally include retrofitting at least one shrouding device that is associated with a meter reading module drive shaft that operates within a meter reading module housing. Including at least one shrouding device about the meter reading module drive shaft substantially reduces rotational wiggle or play of the drive shaft within the housing of the meter reading module during operation by reducing the void between an outer surface of the drive shaft and an inner surface of a drive shaft channel of the housing, and/or by reducing the effects of tapered shafts or drive channels. In one embodiment, the shrouding device includes a sleeve device substantially secured around a portion of the shaft confined within the drive channel during rotational operation. In alternative embodiments, at least one bushing is secured to the shaft at one or more predefined portions of the shaft. | ||||||
权利要求 | The invention claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/356,983 filed Feb. 12, 2002 , which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The present invention relates generally to utility meters and, more particularly, to a system and method for retrofitting utility meter reading modules to substantially stabilize operational rotation of a meter reader module drive shaft within a drive shaft channel by utilizing at least one shrouding device. Remote utility meter reading modules are implemented with stand-alone utility meters to provide a means of transmitting consumption data from the meter to various remote meter reading devices and/or networks. These meter reading modules can promote efficiency and accuracy since they enable utility companies to read the consumption data without the need for an army of manual meter readers. Conventional utility meter systems include a meter unit and a register index operably connected to the meter unit. Fluid flow, such as gas, through the meter unit drives an internal meter drive system in operable communication with the register index such that rotations from the meter drive system are communicated through to the register. Generally, a series of external dials on the register index provide various indicators of consumption. However, while mechanically efficient, manual reading of consumption data from such utility meter systems presents innate drawbacks. First, manual reading can introduce a measurable degree of error into the process. Second, even in rural areas and small towns, the shear number of people and hours required to visually inspect, record, and collate the data for each operational meter can equate to substantial monetary costs. To get away from manual and isolated utility metering systems, meter reading modules are often employed. These meter reading modules are operably connected between the meter and the register index. As such, the meter reading modules are intended to communicate and intercept the mechanical rotations described. Generally, the meter reading module includes interfaces on opposite sides of a meter reading module drive shaft for rotationally communicating with and between the register index and the meter. The intercepted rotations are transmitted by a transmitter, or transceiver, on to various remote reading devices and/or networks, generally through radio frequency (RF) communications. Unfortunately, some of these meter reading modules have experienced malfunctions and problems. Rotational communications through the meter reading modules are often jumpy and binding. Such undesirable mechanical rotations through the meter reading modules can seriously damage the internal gear system of the meter unit, and can produce inaccurate consumption readings, or no readings at all. In some cases, these malfunctions can further cause dangerous gas leaks and/or a complete breakdown of the meter units. As a result, dwellings, commercial buildings, and the like become vulnerable to the real and potentially catastrophic effects of the defects. To date, these malfunctions and their effects on the respective equipment have been blamed on user installation errors. Specifically, it is generally believed that field personnel apply too much pressure on the meter reading modules during installation. This belief is based on the assumption that installation procedures are driving the meter reading drive shaft and its interfaces into forceable contact with components such as the meter drive system, thus resulting in distortion and buckling of the drive shaft. In response, procedures have been implemented wherein installers are instructed in great detail on how much optimal pressure should be applied during installation, the minimum torque required to properly fasten the meter reading module to the meter unit, and the like. Despite these precautions, the malfunctions and resulting damage from malfunctions in the meter reading module continue to occur. While it is always possible to change the design of new meter reading modules, there are already millions of existing meter reading modules installed in the field that are subject to potential malfunction. Replacing all of the existing meter reading modules with new modules is economically impractical. As a result, there is a need for a system and method of repairing these defective meter reading modules and their mechanical interconnections such that the costs and dangers resulting from these malfunctions are substantially minimized. The system and methods of the present invention generally include retrofitting at least one shrouding device that is associated with a meter reading module drive shaft that operates within a meter reading module housing. Including at least one shrouding device about the meter reading module drive shaft substantially reduces rotational wiggle or play of the drive shaft within the housing of the meter reading module during operation by reducing the void between an outer surface of the drive shaft and an inner surface of a drive shaft channel of the housing, and/or by reducing the effects of tapered shafts or drive channels. In one embodiment, the shrouding device includes a sleeve device substantially secured around a portion of the shaft confined within the drive channel during rotational operation. In alternative embodiments, at least one bushing is secured to the shaft at one or more predefined portions of the shaft. The system and method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention addresses these meter reading module defects by providing various solutions to existing mechanical design flaws in the interfacing between the meter reading module and the meter and register index interfaces. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are directed to minimizing unacceptable wiggle in the meter reading module drive shaft during operational rotation. Various features of the present invention can be employed universally for numerous brand name meters, while other features will be directed to known problems present with specific brand name meters and interfaces. Conventional attempts at fixing defective meter reading modules through the implementation of elaborative installation procedures have failed to address innate design flaws within the meter reading modules themselves. These design flaws generally relate to the rotational tolerances and the mechanical motion of the meter reading module components, and the interfaces between the drive shaft and the corresponding meter and/or register index. In conventional gas meters, a meter drive system translates gas usage through the meter into measurable readings on the outside of the meter. Generally, this translation occurs through the interlinking of the internal workings of the meter to an index register housed external to the meter. Gas flow through the meter will cause rotation of an internal meter drive. This meter drive is operably connected to a corresponding index drive on the index register and, specifically, rotational elements on the index register that cause a corresponding rotation of visible register dials. A key functional requirement in advancing accurate indications on the register dials that are truly representative of the gas flow through the meter lies in the operable engagement of the driving components mentioned. The meter drive and the index drives must be operably engaged in a manner that promotes fluid mechanical motion transfer therebetween. As such, the respective drive systems must be properly linked at an engagement region, wherein each of the drives has an end engagement device matable with the engagement device of the other drive. The engagement device of the register index drive is referred to as an index interface mechanism. The engagement device of the meter drive is referred to as a meter interface mechanism. The index interface connects to a corresponding gear network within the register index drive system that permits translation of turns of the index interface into measurable movements within the gear network. While various brand name meters will often employ different meter and index interfaces, each is engageably linked to the other such that proper motion transfer is advanced. Companies can expend substantial research and development to providing a proper linkage of the interfaces to ensure proper conversion of the rotating motion representing fluid flow through the meter into consumption indications on the register. The meter reading modules must provide means of engaging both the meter interface and the index interface such that mechanical rotation of the register index, and its corresponding dials, is maintained. Further, this intermediate or replacement rotational system must be electronically read to determine consumption While much forethought and innovation generally goes into the various electronic and related technologies for these meter reading modules, they are often lacking in mechanical efficiency and fluidity. The present invention realizes that it is these mechanical design defects, and not the installation procedures, that are the cause of the problematic and potentially dangerous mechanical malfunctions described herein. First, the drive shaft within the meter reading module that engages both the meter and the register index is generally housed within a drive channel in a manner promoting undesirable slop or wiggle during operational rotation. Wear and tear, drive shaft and/or drive channel tapering, and similar problems can disrupt fluid rotational motion of the drive shaft within the meter reading module. Second, the interface devices interlinking the meter reading module drive system to the index and the meter are often changed from the original design of the link between the meter and the register. These differences can result in jumpy and non-fluid binding rotations from the meter, through the meter reading module, and into the register index. Referring to The shrouding device 12 can be made of various materials and can be of various shapes and sizes depending on the particular meter reading module, and meter reading module component designs. As will be discussed further herein, the configuration of the meter reading module can greatly influence the particular shape, size, and implementation of the shrouding device 12. To properly understand these variables, it is first necessary to describe various meter reading module embodiments, and their interaction with existing utility meters. Referring primarily to Typically, a register index 16 is operably connected to the meter interface mechanism 26, as best shown in The interlinking connection between the meter interface mechanism 26 and the index interface mechanism 32 is vitally important as it greatly influences the accuracy of the consumption readings at the register dials 28. Further, fluid motion through the described mechanical translation is required to preserve the functionality and life of the meter and index components. Binding, jumping, drive wiggle, and other undesirable events are preferably avoided since they can be quite costly and dangerous. As a result of this desire to obtain efficient and reliable mechanical performance, the tolerances of the individual components and their interaction with other components is relatively precise in design and execution. With the advancement of remote transmissions and consumption reading devices and networks, standard meters 14 and register indexes 16 must be retrofitted with electronic meter reading module devices 18, either upon assembly or in the field. The housing and mechanical drive components of these meter reading modules 18 are designed to serve as an intermediary system for intercepting consumption data between the meter 14 and the register index 16. A conventional meter reading module 18 generally includes at least a meter reading module housing 34, and a meter reading module drive system 36. In alternative embodiments, the meter reading module 18 can include an integral register index. Referring to The interfaces 38, 40 are positioned at each of the distal ends of the drive shaft 42. In one embodiment, at least one of the interfaces 38, 40 will be integral to an end of the drive shaft 42, with the other end having a lockable tip 48, as shown in Various commercial embodiments of the described drive system 36 employ various drive shaft 42 designs like those shown in The plurality of longitudinal members 46 and the right-angled shape created along the outer surfaces of the shaft 42 result in a substantially rectangular cross-section. This rectangular shape is not optimally compatible with conventional cylindrical drive channels 35. Similarly, the tapered effect of this common shaft 42 does not promote smooth or fluid rotational movement within the drive channel 35 since the relatively narrowed portion is susceptible to erratic movement due to the void or clearance between the narrowed portion and the inner surface of the drive channel 35. Both of the described structural design flaws cause inefficient and potentially damaging slop and wiggle in the rotation of the shaft 42 within the drive channel 35. The slop and wiggle effect of the design can translate through interlinking connections to the register index 16 and the meter 14 by way of the index interface mechanism 32 and the meter interface mechanism 26, respectively. As the shaft 42 erratically rotates within the drive channel 35, binding is likely, with the binding motion putting additional pressure on the interconnections and causing jumpy readings through the meter reading module 18 to the register index 16. As stated, this can damage the meter reading module, cause leaks, and even break precision gear mechanisms within the meter. Referring primarily to In other embodiments of the present invention, the at least one shrouding device 12 can include at least one bushing 52 employed at predefined portions of the shaft 42 to eliminate binding effects, as shown in As described and shown, the shrouding devices 12 of the present invention can also be employed with drive shafts 42 having tapered portions, shafts 42 including the longitudinal members 46 or a relatively non-circular cross-section, shafts 42 not having tapered portions, and cylindrical shafts 42 having a substantially circular cross-section. When employed around such shafts 42, the shrouding device 12 provides increased stability during rotation, decreases noise and binding due to the self-lubricative nature of the embodiments of the at least one shrouding device 12, and provides other securement and operational benefits. In addition to the solutions presented with the implementation of the at least one shrouding device 12, tapering effects of the drive channel 35 can also be remedied utilizing additional methods and apparatus to substantially reduce the negative effects of the taper. For instance, the drive channel 35 can be bored out to obtain a non-tapered inner surface of the drive channel 35. Further, tapes and other filler apparatus and techniques can be placed along at least a portion of the inner surface of the drive channel 35 and/or the shaft 42 to create a substantially non-tapered surface. Teflon or like tapes and/or securable materials can be placed along a portion of the drive channel 35 wall or the shaft 42. While many drive channel 35 and drive shaft 42 designs are inherently problematic, there are often additional design flaws that contribute to undesirable binding rotation of the drive system 36 during operation. In operably attaching a meter reading module 18 intermediate the meter 14 and the register index 16, imprecise interfaces are often employed which do not functionally mimic the interconnection precision of the original structures. For instance, certain meter reading module systems manufactured and/or sold by Schlumberger Limited (“Schlumberger Module”) or its affiliate companies to read and transmit utility meter consumption data to remote reading devices and networks have such innate design flaws. In addition to the at least one shrouding device 12, various embodiments of the present invention will include first and/or second interfaces 38, 40 integral with, or thereby attachable to, the drive shaft 42 to facilitate rotational engagement with the meter mechanism 26 and/or the index mechanism 32, respectively. The structure and functionality of the interfaces 38, 40 are greatly dependent upon the structure and functionality of the corresponding mechanisms 26, 32. One embodiment of the meter interface system shown in Another embodiment of the meter interface system shown in Alternative embodiments of the first meter interfaces 38 and the second index interfaces 40 can include employment of matable gear devices, shrouding devices, and other known structures and techniques that provide precision mechanical interfaces between index interface mechanisms 32 and meter interface mechanisms 26. For instance, preferred embodiments of the first meter interface 38 for a particular application will employ systems and/or devices substantially similar to those index interface mechanisms employed prior to installment of the meter reading module 18 on a specific meter 14. As such, precision matability and rotational communication will be substantially maintained after installing the meter reading module 18 as was present with the original index 16 and meter 14 systems and component engagements. In operation, the at least one shrouding device 12 is shroudably engaged with at least a portion of the drive shaft 42 at the manufacturing and/or assembly of the various meter components and systems, or is installed in the field to repair existing or operational meters 14 and meter reading modules 18. Further, the shaft 42 of the meter reading module 18 can be equipped with the at least one shrouding device 12 during manufacturing. Certain embodiments will include manufacturing a substantially cylindrical shaft 42 to replace shafts having undesirable longitudinal members 42 and/or a rectangular cross-section for use in retrofitting the meter reading module 18. One method of installation in the field includes removing the register index 16 from the intermediate meter reading module 18, and then removing the meter reading module 18 from the meter 18. Next, at least one of the first and second interfaces 38, 40 is disengaged from a corresponding end portion of the shaft 42, such as disengaging the shaft tip 48 from the respective interface 38 or 40. Once the at least one interface has been removed, the remaining module drive system 36 (i.e., the drive shaft 42 and remaining interface) can be removed from the housing 34. At this point, the shaft 42, in particular, can be removed from the drive channel 35. Certain embodiments of the present invention include at this point replacing the original shaft 42 having longitudinal members 46 or a rectangular-like cross-section with the replacement substantially cylindrical shaft 42. Once the meter reading module drive system 36 and its components have been removed or replaced, the at least one shrouding device 12 can be secured around the shaft 42. Alternatively, if a single bushing 52 is being employed, the shaft 42 can remain within the channel 35 and the bushing 52 can be secured around the portion of the shaft 42 proximate the disengaged interface. If a sleeve 50, or bushing 52 at each end portion of the shaft 42, is employed, then the appropriate shrouding device(s) 12 can be secured and the shaft 42 can be re-inserted through the drive channel 35, and the disengaged interface can be reconnected. Next, each of the register index 16 and meter reading module 18 systems can be reconnected as they were prior to the repair. In embodiments employing at least an improved first meter interface 38a or 38b, the drive shaft 42 is generally replaced with a replacement shaft 42, rectangular or cylindrical, comprising the interface 38a, 38b and the same, or similar, steps for securing the at least one shrouding device 12 to the shaft 42 can be performed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments in addition to the ones described herein are indicated to be within the scope and breadth of the present application. Accordingly, the applicant intends to be limited only by the claims appended hereto. |