EP0354975B1 - Commodity meters - Google Patents

Commodity meters Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0354975B1
EP0354975B1 EP19880307584 EP88307584A EP0354975B1 EP 0354975 B1 EP0354975 B1 EP 0354975B1 EP 19880307584 EP19880307584 EP 19880307584 EP 88307584 A EP88307584 A EP 88307584A EP 0354975 B1 EP0354975 B1 EP 0354975B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
credit
solenoid
signal
commodity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19880307584
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0354975A1 (en
Inventor
Patrick Bass
Constantine Michaelides
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Smith Meters Ltd
Original Assignee
Smith Meters Ltd
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 Smith Meters Ltd filed Critical Smith Meters Ltd
Priority to DE19883852639 priority Critical patent/DE3852639T2/en
Publication of EP0354975A1 publication Critical patent/EP0354975A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0354975B1 publication Critical patent/EP0354975B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/08—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred
    • B67D7/30—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred with means for predetermining quantity of liquid to be transferred
    • B67D7/305—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred with means for predetermining quantity of liquid to be transferred in function of money to be spent therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F15/00—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
    • G07F15/001—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity for gas
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/20—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks specially adapted for registering coins as credit, e.g. mechanically actuated

Definitions

  • This invention relates to commodity meters through which a flowing commodity is supplied, the meter measuring the volume of commodity for payment or other purposes.
  • Such meters have commonly been arranged as prepayment meters into which coins are inserted, thus freeing the meter to supply a specific volume of the commodity.
  • Such meters are liable to attempts at theft of the money in them and efforts have been made to meet this problem by replacing the coins with tokens of negligible intrinsic value.
  • meters using tokens are liable to attempts to avoid payment.
  • GB-A-2144566 discloses a metering apparatus arranged to operate on a prepayment system, having metering elements and a contactor arranged to control the availability of a commodity, and a separate token operated device adapted to control the opening and closing of the contractor.
  • a prepayment system having metering elements and a contactor arranged to control the availability of a commodity, and a separate token operated device adapted to control the opening and closing of the contractor.
  • CA-A-963577 discloses the use of a valve from controlling the availability of a commodity.
  • This invention provides a metering apparatus for a flowing commodity of the kind arranged to operate on a prepayment system, having metering elements enclosed in a casing, valve means located in the same casing in the flow path of the commodity so as to control the availability of the commodity, a separate token-operated device adapted to provide an electrical credit signal to credit storage means, which credit storage means controls the opening and closing of the valve means and an electrical connection extending between the token-operated device and the casing, characterized by sensing means for sensing tampering or damage to the apparatus, the sensing means being adapted to provide a 'valve close' signal, and by electrical drive means for said valve means arranged to cause the valve to close in response to both a zero credit signal and a 'valve close' signal produced when tampering or damage is sensed.
  • the electrical drive means includes an electric motor and a self-holding solenoid, said solenoid having a release circuit which is adapted to be operated by a zero credit signal and when damage to the said connection
  • the credit storage means may comprise an electronic memory controlling the electrical drive means which opens and closes the valve means.
  • the memory receives data from the metering elements which progessively reduces the credit recorded in the memory until at zero credit the valve means is caused to close.
  • the commodity meter is a gas meter.
  • a gas meter 11 is of the kind comprising flexible diaphragms driven back-and-forth by flowing gas, which is of proven accuracy and reliability.
  • the meter has a mechanical counter mechanism of conventional kind providing a read-out of the measured volume of gas which has passed through the meter, and also has means for providing an electrical reproduction of the read-out, either as a series of electrical pulses or as a coded representation of the number. Suitable examples of such means are described in our patent specification GB-A-2187010 and GB-A-2187011.
  • Valve 14 Located in a main gas flow path through the meter is an on/off valve 14. Valve 14 is located in the same meter casing as the metering elements.
  • a card reader and eraser unit 30 is located at a position convenient to a user and may be remote from the gas meter 11. It is connected to the meter 11 by a multicore cable 21.
  • the unit has a slot into which a gas card may be manually inserted.
  • the gas card carries a magnetic code relating to its face value.
  • the unit 30 When the unit 30 has read the card, it erases the magnetic code so that the card cannot be used again.
  • the magnetically coded gas cards may be purchased at appropriate retail outlets, and discarded when used. Alternatively, the same card may be re-activated at the retail outlet on payment of the face value. Thus there is nothing to be collected from the meter, neither money nor token.
  • the apparatus described has a high degree of inbuilt security against fraud.
  • the valve 14 will close when the device is tampered with or when the prepaid gas is used up and all that will happen is that the user is unable to insert more credit into the meter.
  • the valve 14 being mounted inside the meter has the same degree of security as the meter index.
  • the valve 14 is driven to an open position by a DC motor 40 mounted on the outer surface of the meter.
  • a gas card is inserted into the unit 30, the face value is read and transferred to an electronic credit storage unit 41 which is also mounted inside the unit 30.
  • a signal to motor 40 causes it to open valve 14.
  • the meter 11 produces electrical pulses which are sensed by the credit storage unit 41 and subtracted from the credit stored.
  • another signal releases a solenoid 42 to close valve 14 as described hereinafter.
  • both the card reading unit 30 and the meter have their own replaceable dry batteries 34 and 34′.
  • the DC motor 40 drives cam 44 through a gear train 45.
  • a roller 46 mounted on a pivoted cradle 47 runs on the cam so that cradle 47 rocks.
  • a shaft 48 is secured at one end to a closure member 49 of the gas valve 14 within the meter and extends out through the wall of the meter (not shown) to extend freely through bearings in the cradle 47.
  • a lever 50 is secured at one end to rotate with the shaft 48 and at the other end carries an armature 51 which co-operates with solenoid 42.
  • a valve closing spring 52 is urging the lever 50 upwards so as to rotate shaft 48 in the sense to maintain the gas valve 14 in the closed position.
  • Solenoid 42 is of the 'self holding' type, incorporating a permanent magnet strong enough to hold the valve open, but also having means for producing a flux in opposition to the holding flux which thus cancels it and releases the armature 51.
  • the 'release' signal is produced on the occurrence of several different situations. The main one is of course when the credit in storage unit 41 runs out, but it is also used for safety features. In the event of tampering with the gas meter, for instance tilting or cutting of the electrical connection wire 21, or tampering with the card reading and erasing unit 30, a 'release' signal is produced which causes the valve to close. It will be noted that the release will work even whilst credit has been added and the motor is opening the valve.
  • the battery 34′ may be a long life, high density primary cell or a rechargeable battery or a low leakage capacitor charged by external means.
  • the apparatus can incorporate an emergency supply system in which the user is allowed a limited free supply on demand, payment for which is then deducted from the next credit input.
  • This may be provided by a button-operated circuit in the card reader 3C, which provides one only free credit input to the motor and then deducts the same credit from the next card inserted.
  • this is provided by a special memory section of the credit store 41 which provides one only free credit and then deducts this from the next input from the card reader 30.
  • valve 14 is driven to open and shut positions by the same DC motor under the control of the credit storage unit.
  • the motor and credit storage unit may be mounted within the meter casing.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)

Description

  • This invention relates to commodity meters through which a flowing commodity is supplied, the meter measuring the volume of commodity for payment or other purposes.
  • Such meters have commonly been arranged as prepayment meters into which coins are inserted, thus freeing the meter to supply a specific volume of the commodity. Such meters are liable to attempts at theft of the money in them and efforts have been made to meet this problem by replacing the coins with tokens of negligible intrinsic value. However, meters using tokens are liable to attempts to avoid payment.
  • Specification GB-A-2144566 discloses a metering apparatus arranged to operate on a prepayment system, having metering elements and a contactor arranged to control the availability of a commodity, and a separate token operated device adapted to control the opening and closing of the contractor. However there is no security against tampering.
  • Specification CA-A-963577 discloses the use of a valve from controlling the availability of a commodity.
  • This invention provides a metering apparatus for a flowing commodity of the kind arranged to operate on a prepayment system, having metering elements enclosed in a casing, valve means located in the same casing in the flow path of the commodity so as to control the availability of the commodity, a separate token-operated device adapted to provide an electrical credit signal to credit storage means, which credit storage means controls the opening and closing of the valve means and an electrical connection extending between the token-operated device and the casing, characterized by sensing means for sensing tampering or damage to the apparatus, the sensing means being adapted to provide a 'valve close' signal, and by electrical drive means for said valve means arranged to cause the valve to close in response to both a zero credit signal and a 'valve close' signal produced when tampering or damage is sensed. Preferably the electrical drive means includes an electric motor and a self-holding solenoid, said solenoid having a release circuit which is adapted to be operated by a zero credit signal and when damage to the said connection is sensed.
  • The credit storage means may comprise an electronic memory controlling the electrical drive means which opens and closes the valve means. The memory receives data from the metering elements which progessively reduces the credit recorded in the memory until at zero credit the valve means is caused to close.
  • By using an internal valve means with an external token-operated device it is found that a higher degree of security can be achieved than at first appears. Attempts to interfere with the device simply stop further credit being inserted without causing the valve means to stay open.
  • Preferably the commodity meter is a gas meter.
  • One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
    • Figure 1 comprises a representation of a token-operated gas metering apparatus, and
    • Figure 2 is a three dimension representation of part of the apparatus of Figure 1.
  • A gas meter 11 is of the kind comprising flexible diaphragms driven back-and-forth by flowing gas, which is of proven accuracy and reliability. The meter has a mechanical counter mechanism of conventional kind providing a read-out of the measured volume of gas which has passed through the meter, and also has means for providing an electrical reproduction of the read-out, either as a series of electrical pulses or as a coded representation of the number. Suitable examples of such means are described in our patent specification GB-A-2187010 and GB-A-2187011.
  • Located in a main gas flow path through the meter is an on/off valve 14. Valve 14 is located in the same meter casing as the metering elements.
  • A card reader and eraser unit 30 is located at a position convenient to a user and may be remote from the gas meter 11. It is connected to the meter 11 by a multicore cable 21. The unit has a slot into which a gas card may be manually inserted. The gas card carries a magnetic code relating to its face value.
  • When the unit 30 has read the card, it erases the magnetic code so that the card cannot be used again. The magnetically coded gas cards may be purchased at appropriate retail outlets, and discarded when used. Alternatively, the same card may be re-activated at the retail outlet on payment of the face value. Thus there is nothing to be collected from the meter, neither money nor token.
  • The apparatus described has a high degree of inbuilt security against fraud. The valve 14 will close when the device is tampered with or when the prepaid gas is used up and all that will happen is that the user is unable to insert more credit into the meter. The valve 14 being mounted inside the meter has the same degree of security as the meter index. The valve 14 is driven to an open position by a DC motor 40 mounted on the outer surface of the meter. When a gas card is inserted into the unit 30, the face value is read and transferred to an electronic credit storage unit 41 which is also mounted inside the unit 30. When credit is thus established, a signal to motor 40 causes it to open valve 14. As the gas is used, the meter 11 produces electrical pulses which are sensed by the credit storage unit 41 and subtracted from the credit stored. When the credit has returned to zero, another signal releases a solenoid 42 to close valve 14 as described hereinafter. In this arrangement, both the card reading unit 30 and the meter have their own replaceable dry batteries 34 and 34′.
  • Referring now to the detail of Figure 2, the DC motor 40 drives cam 44 through a gear train 45. A roller 46 mounted on a pivoted cradle 47 runs on the cam so that cradle 47 rocks. A shaft 48 is secured at one end to a closure member 49 of the gas valve 14 within the meter and extends out through the wall of the meter (not shown) to extend freely through bearings in the cradle 47. A lever 50 is secured at one end to rotate with the shaft 48 and at the other end carries an armature 51 which co-operates with solenoid 42. As shown in full lines in the Figure, a valve closing spring 52 is urging the lever 50 upwards so as to rotate shaft 48 in the sense to maintain the gas valve 14 in the closed position. In order for the valve to be opened, armature 51 must take up the position shown in dotted lines. Solenoid 42 is of the 'self holding' type, incorporating a permanent magnet strong enough to hold the valve open, but also having means for producing a flux in opposition to the holding flux which thus cancels it and releases the armature 51.
  • When credit is established in storage unit 41 an electrical signal actuates motor 40. This drives cam 44, rocking cradle 47 first to raise solenoid 42 from the position shown in dotted lines until it contacts armature 51. The permanent magnet then carries the armature down as the solenoid returns to the position shown in dotted lines, thus opening the valve. The cam 44 rotates until homing microswitch 53 is operated, indicating that the cam has completed a full circle, at which point motor 40 ceases to operate. The valve then remains open until an electrical 'release' signal is received by the opposition flux circuit of the solenoid 42. This releases the armature 51 so that spring 52 can lift lever 50 and close the valve. On cessation of the release signal, the armature 51 is too far distant from the solenoid for the holding magnet to attract it against the spring force. Thus the valve can only be opened when cam 44 again rotates and lifts solenoid 42 into close proximity to the armature 51.
  • The 'release' signal is produced on the occurrence of several different situations. The main one is of course when the credit in storage unit 41 runs out, but it is also used for safety features. In the event of tampering with the gas meter, for instance tilting or cutting of the electrical connection wire 21, or tampering with the card reading and erasing unit 30, a 'release' signal is produced which causes the valve to close. It will be noted that the release will work even whilst credit has been added and the motor is opening the valve.
  • The battery 34′ may be a long life, high density primary cell or a rechargeable battery or a low leakage capacitor charged by external means.
  • Although a gas card with magnetic information is described above, it is within the invention to use other tokens for inserting credit. For instance, rechargeable tokens each incorporating a micro-processor which can be programmed to represent any credit sum desired may be used.
  • The apparatus can incorporate an emergency supply system in which the user is allowed a limited free supply on demand, payment for which is then deducted from the next credit input. This may be provided by a button-operated circuit in the card reader 3C, which provides one only free credit input to the motor and then deducts the same credit from the next card inserted. Alternatively, this is provided by a special memory section of the credit store 41 which provides one only free credit and then deducts this from the next input from the card reader 30.
  • In another apparatus (not shown) the valve 14 is driven to open and shut positions by the same DC motor under the control of the credit storage unit. The motor and credit storage unit may be mounted within the meter casing.
  • Although the invention has been described in relation to gas meters, it may be used in any other kind of meter in which a flowing commodity is controlled by a valve.

Claims (6)

  1. A metering apparatus for a flowing commodity of the kind arranged to operate on a prepayment system, having metering elements enclosed in a casing, valve means (14) located in the same casing in the flow path of the commodity so as to control the availability of the commodity, a separate token-operated device (30) adapted to provide an electrical credit signal to credit storage means (41), which credit storage means controls the opening and closing of the valve means (14) and an electrical connection (21) extending between the token-operated device and the casing, characterized by sensing means for sensing tampering or damage to the apparatus, the sensing means being adapted to provide a 'valve close' signal, and by electrical drive means (40) for said valve means (14) arranged to cause the valve to close in response to both a zero credit signal and a 'valve close' signal produced when tampering or damage is sensed.
  2. A metering apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the electrical drive means includes an electric motor (40) and a self-holding solenoid (42), said solenoid having a release circuit which is adapted to be operated by a zero credit signal and when damage to the said connection (21) is sensed.
  3. A metering apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further characterized in that said motor (40) is arranged to move the solenoid (42) in the sense to cause the solenoid to hold the valve means (14) open, while said release circuit, when energized causes the solenoid to release the valve means so that it returns to a closed position.
  4. A metering apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, further characterized by the credit storage means comprising an electronic memory (41).
  5. A metering apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the electric motor (40) is located in the casing.
  6. A metering apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that it is a gas meter.
EP19880307584 1987-07-18 1988-08-16 Commodity meters Expired - Lifetime EP0354975B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19883852639 DE3852639T2 (en) 1988-08-16 1988-08-16 Consumption meter.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB878716987A GB8716987D0 (en) 1987-07-18 1987-07-18 Commodity meters

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0354975A1 EP0354975A1 (en) 1990-02-21
EP0354975B1 true EP0354975B1 (en) 1994-12-28

Family

ID=10620884

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880307584 Expired - Lifetime EP0354975B1 (en) 1987-07-18 1988-08-16 Commodity meters

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0354975B1 (en)
GB (2) GB8716987D0 (en)
HK (1) HK79191A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0545550A1 (en) * 1991-11-30 1993-06-09 Schlumberger Industries Limited Prepayment water supply systems
EP0811957A2 (en) 1996-06-05 1997-12-10 Landis & Gyr Technology Innovation AG Method for paying products and services

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8716987D0 (en) * 1987-07-18 1987-08-26 Smith Meters Ltd Commodity meters
GB8920446D0 (en) * 1989-09-09 1989-10-25 Schlumberger Ind Ltd Electricity metering systems
FR2665504A1 (en) * 1990-08-01 1992-02-07 Tilhet Daniel System for enabling the operation of a controlled element, especially of a solenoid valve for dispensing flushing water
GB9121759D0 (en) * 1991-10-14 1991-11-27 Philips Electronic Associated Communications receiver
GB2305252B (en) * 1995-09-12 1999-04-28 Siemens Measurements Ltd Improvements in or relating to gas meters
EP0843287B8 (en) * 1996-11-16 2006-05-10 Landis+Gyr Limited Improvements in or relating to modular gas meters
GB9623844D0 (en) * 1996-11-16 1997-01-08 Siemens Measurements Ltd Improvements in or relating to modular gas meters

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1278675A (en) * 1960-11-02 1961-12-15 Th Pernin & Fils Liquid distribution installation, in particular domestic fuel oil
US3254749A (en) * 1961-03-03 1966-06-07 Scherer Albert Automatic self-service mechanisms for dispensing merchandise, for example, fuel and/or oil and grease for motor vehicles
GB1204111A (en) * 1966-05-26 1970-09-03 London Electricity Board Improvements in or relating to consumers electric supply meters
DE2037580A1 (en) * 1970-07-29 1972-02-03 J. Hengstler Kg, 7207 Aldingen Device for controlling a self-operated goods dispensing device by means of identification data carriers
US3778637A (en) * 1971-06-18 1973-12-11 K Arita Apparatus for supplying a predetermined quantity of electric power
US3786421A (en) * 1972-05-25 1974-01-15 Atlantic Richfield Co Automated dispensing system
CA963577A (en) * 1972-12-20 1975-02-25 Alfred L. Martin Liquid dispensing machine
EP0063893B1 (en) * 1981-04-21 1988-06-29 Mainmet Limited Energy controller
DE3373231D1 (en) * 1983-01-18 1987-10-01 Atlantic Richfield Co System for use in gasoline station or the like for monitoring and controlling fuel dispensers
GB2144566A (en) * 1983-08-05 1985-03-06 Hawker Siddeley Revenue Contr Remote metering system
CH653789A5 (en) * 1983-09-09 1986-01-15 Gatoil Suisse S A INSTALLATION FOR AUTOMATIC PREPAYMENT FUEL.
GB8400809D0 (en) * 1984-01-12 1984-02-15 De La Rue Co Plc Prepayment metering system
CH664226A5 (en) * 1984-12-20 1988-02-15 Landis & Gyr Ag CASH PAYER FOR CASH-FREE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY BY PRE-PAID VALUE CARDS.
US4731575A (en) * 1986-12-08 1988-03-15 Sloan Joseph W Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards
GB8716987D0 (en) * 1987-07-18 1987-08-26 Smith Meters Ltd Commodity meters

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0545550A1 (en) * 1991-11-30 1993-06-09 Schlumberger Industries Limited Prepayment water supply systems
EP0811957A2 (en) 1996-06-05 1997-12-10 Landis & Gyr Technology Innovation AG Method for paying products and services

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8816236D0 (en) 1988-08-10
HK79191A (en) 1991-10-18
GB8716987D0 (en) 1987-08-26
GB2207269A (en) 1989-01-25
EP0354975A1 (en) 1990-02-21
GB2207269B (en) 1991-05-29

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