SI24298A2 - Adapter for water meter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises an adapter for a water meter with a housing having an upper part of the housing and a lower part of the housing, and a main printed circuit board, preferably with an evaluation electronics, and with at least one communication device for transmitting the captured flow data, wherein the main printed circuitry is at least one detection coil for capturing the movement of the encoder plate partially coated with metal, a water meter connected to the water meter adapter.

Description

The invention relates to a water meter adapter.

Known water meters are uniform mechanical devices having mechanical elements for capturing the flow rate of a fluid in a tube, for example in the form of wing wheels or mutually oval gears or the like, and mechanical displays. In individual cases, electronic elements may also be provided in a single common housing for converting the measured values into electronic values, for processing and displaying them.

The disadvantage is that while maintaining the electromechanical principle of capture in the further development of electronic processing and transmission, the whole meter is waterless, even when the electronic part fails because, for example, the electronic component is damaged, or fails for some other reason. In such cases, the entire water supply line must be stopped and emptied. The whole water meter must be taken out of the line and replaced with a brand new water meter. This is associated with significant costs and, in particular, inhibits the updating of water meters.

The object of the invention is therefore an improvement in the sense that in the event of a failure of the electronic part of the water meter and / or in the further technical development, replacement of the whole water meter can be avoided.

According to the invention, the solution of the said task is an adapter for a water meter with a housing having an upper part of the housing and a lower part of the housing, and with a main printed circuit board, preferably with evaluation electronics and with at least one communication device for transmitting the captured flow data, at wherein the main circuit board has at least one detection coil for capturing the movement of the encoder board - which is partly provided with a metal lining - of the water meter connected to the water meter adapter.

According to the invention, it is contemplated that the mechanical part of the water meter, including its metal coated encoder plates, which are connected to the rotating bodies of the water meter, is arranged in its housing for the water meter, while the electronic part of the water meter is in a water meter adapter according to the invention including a sensor and detection coils for detecting rotation of a partially metal coated plate of the water meter encoder. Therefore, it is contemplated according to the invention that the main circuit board has at least one detection coil for capturing the movement of the encoder board - which is at least partially provided with a metal lining - of the water meter connected to the water meter adapter.

The invention divides the water meter into a separate mechanical part of the water meter and an electronic adapter for the water meter in a separate housing, which makes it possible to replace only that part in the event of damage or failure of the electronic part, and the mechanical water meter it is left in the wiring so that the replacement of the electronic part is associated with significantly lower costs and also allows for adaptation to technical advances without greater effort and without greater cost burden.

According to a further variant of the invention, it is provided that in the bottom of the lower part of the housing there is a recess (opening) / aperture formed of two intersecting or overlapping circular partial openings in which two detection coils extend.

According to further embodiments of the invention, it is envisaged that the communication device has a plug, preferably an M-bus plug, and / or that the communication device has at least one antenna. In particular, it may be envisaged that the communication device inside the printed circuit board has a transponder and a transponder coil antenna for near-field communication. The transponder printed circuit board a may be preferably configured to be arranged with the pins parallel to and away from the main circuit board.

In further embodiments of the invention, it is contemplated that the printed circuit board of the transponder a, on its surface facing away from the main circuit board, is provided with structures of varying reflective capacity, in particular the cover portion of the adapter having a transparent window in its surface above the printed circuit board. , through which the structure on the surface of the printed circuit board is transponder a and / or thus the serial number in the memory of the circuits as well as the same serial number on the surface of the printed circuit board of the transponder a.

According to an extremely preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the lower part of the housing has a projecting inwardly protruding, not preferably circularly symmetrical, through which the main printed circuit is inserted by means of a cutout in the main printed circuit and through which the adapter is attached to the water counter by means of screws protruding from the lid. According to a further embodiment, it is envisaged that the adapter cover has a cutout to which a projecting workpiece is assigned in the lower housing part through which a screw can be inserted which is pushed into the bore of the mechanical water meter, allowing all three parts to interconnect they connect.

Following further implementation, it is envisaged that the serial number can be read from the adapter memory and compared with the serial number written on the surface of the transponder circuit board a.

Following a further preferred embodiment of the water meter, it is envisaged that the resonant oscillating circuit has, in addition to the coil through which the current flows and is located near the encoder plate, further in each case a capacitor, and that electronics are designed to evaluate the different attenuation of the voltage pulse that occurs each time. to the oscillating circuit, the rotational behavior or the rotary settings of the encoder board, with two oscillating circuits (8.1, 8.2) having one detection coil (7.8, 7.9; Ll, L2) each. The further embodiment is characterized by the fact that the microcontroller is engaged to act on the oscillating circuit (s) with the respective voltage pulse and detects the time after which the oscillation voltage of each oscillating circuit triggered by the voltage pulse drops below the threshold value, further modifying the detection frequency and thereby the frequency at which the voltage pulse acts on the oscillating circuit (s) depending on the rotation speed of the encoder board.

Therefore, the invention includes a device for capturing the flow of fluid flowing through the line, which is indicated by the adapter for the water meter according to the invention. It may be envisaged that the two detection coils are arranged relative to each other with respect to the axis of rotation of the encoder plate at an angle of 90 °.

Only one mechanical part of the water meter, including the metal-coated encoder plates connected to the rotating bodies of the water meter, is arranged in the housing of the water meter itself, while the electronic part of the water meter in the water meter adapter is the invention including a sensor and detection coils for detecting the rotation of a partially metal coated plate of the water meter encoder. According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the main circuit board has at least one detection coil for detecting movement of the encoder board - which is at least partially provided with a metal liner for the water meter connected to the water meter adapter.

In this way, the water meter is a separate mechanical part of the water meter and an electronic adapter for the water meter in a separate housing, which makes it possible to replace only that part, the mechanical water counter, in the event of damage or failure of the electronic part. however, it is left in the wiring so that the replacement of the electronic part is associated with significantly lower costs and also allows for adaptation to technical advances without greater effort and without greater cost burden.

When the encoder panel does not rotate or rotates very slowly, it is not necessary to capture the rotation of the encoder with a high interrogation frequency, but it can be performed with a low interrogation frequency, thus reducing energy consumption, as a rule, energy for such electronic measuring device available with battery. This can extend the life of the battery. However, when the encoder board rotates rapidly, higher capture rates are required. The setting of the capture rate can be performed by the evaluation electronics itself based on the rotation speed.

The manufacture of the water meter adapter according to the invention provides that the serial number is stored in the electronic memory of the water meter adapter so that it can be read from memory and recorded on at least one printed circuit board (main circuit board) and / or printed transponder circuit a.

After further implementation, it may be envisaged that the serial number is written to the printed circuit by laser marking a.

On this basis, it may also be envisaged that communication, such as programming, parameter transfer and readout of the measured data, will take place through later communication (transponder).

Further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the claims of the following description, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the water meter adapter of the invention.

Pictures show:

FIG. or a perspective view of the closed adapter for the outside water meter;

FIG. ib exploded view for assigning the adapter according to the invention to a mechanical water meter;

FIG. lc cross section through adapter;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the essential parts of the water meter adapter according to the invention;

FIG. 3a is a bottom view of the housing of the water meter adapter of the invention;

FIG. 3b is an exterior view of the underside of the lower housing of the water meter adapter according to the invention;

FIG. 4a is an inside view of the upper part of the housing of the water meter adapter of the invention;

FIG. 4b is an exterior view of the upper housing of the water meter adapter of the invention;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the water meter adapter circuits of the invention; a mafell antenna or transponder antenna a arranged above and above the main circuit board;

FIG. 5b is a bottom view of the main circuit board; and

FIG. 5c side view of the transponder master and printed circuits;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the assignment of detection coils to an electronic switch circuit board as a Black Box;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the device electronics of the invention; and

FIG. 8a-8d oscillation behavior of oscillating circuits with both detection coils assigned to the encoder • panel, depending on the setting of the encoder coil or. of its metal-coated halves relative to the detection coils.

The water meter adapter 1 of the invention, hereinafter referred to as the adapter only, has a housing 2 consisting of a lower housing part 3 and a housing housing cover portion 4 (Fig. 1).

The mechanical water meter la to which adapter 1 of the invention is to be coupled has a mechanical meter (not shown) in the upper cover plate la.l. In addition, there is a recess 1a, which is optionally covered by a counter, for connection to the adapter 1 of the invention but is open. At the bottom of the recesses la.2 is a plate la.3 of the water meter encoder, which is provided with a metal foil or other metal lining at the upper side in the partial area. The lower part 3 of adapter 1 is adapted with a projection 3a to recess la.2 of the water meter la, so that it can be inserted into recess la.2. Thus, the projection 3a has a lateral recess 3a.l that is adapted to the inner rib la.4 laterally from the recess la.2 of the water meter la. The detection coils 7.8, 7.9 (Fig. 3, Fig. 5b, 5c) of the main circuit board 7 may be in the installed state of the water meter adapter 1 adapter directly above the encoder board la.3.

To seal the inside of the housing 2, a sealing ring 5 is provided between the two parts 3, 4 of the housing.

The upper part 4 of the housing has a transparent window 4.2 through which the panel 6 of the near field printed circuit board or the transponder printed circuit board a is visible.

Further parts of the adapter according to the invention are the Printed Circuit Board (PCB), pins 7.1 through which the transponder printed circuit board 6 can be attached to the main printed circuit 7 in the cutouts 7.2, antenna 7.3, which is adapted to the circular contour of the housing , and the mounting part 7.5 at right angles to it. Detection coils 7.8, 7.9 are provided on the main printed circuit board (PCB) that cooperate with the associated water meter encoder board to which the water meter adapter is attached, with the encoder board partially enclosed with metal.

The adapter is secured by means of a screw (not shown) through bore 4.3 in cover 4, whereby the screw head can be covered by seal 4.4 (Fig. 2). The bolt (not shown) can be inserted through the guide section 3.3., Which is provided with a cylindrical bore and is substantially cylindrical projection (Fig. 2,3), which is made in the lower part 3, and can be screwed tightly to fastening thread of mechanical counter la for water. In the assembled state, the guide portion 3.3 is surrounded by a cylinder 4.5 of the cover portion 4, which is designed concentrically to the guide portion 3.3. and bore 4.3.

Furthermore, a battery 2.1 is provided for the current supply of the electrical elements of the main printed circuit board 7 and the printed circuit board 6 of the transponder. The cylindrical guiding part 3.3. the lower part 3 is provided externally with axially parallel ribs 3.4 which increase stability, otherwise it shows the orientation of the main circuit board 7 inserted through this guide portion 3.3 in the recess 7.7 with a corresponding internal contour. The lower part 3 has a recess at its bottom 3.5, which is formed by two overlapping circular projections projecting into the detection coil 7.8, 7.9 for contactless action by the panels of the water meter encoder.

• ·

A projection is further made inside the lower part 3

3.6 forming the antenna mount 7.3. The nucleus of adapter 1 for the water meter according to the invention forms the main printed circuit 7 with the associated printed circuit board 6 of the transponder. The main circuit board 7 carries, in addition to the detection coils 7.8, 7.9, electronic elements not individually shown. The main circuit board has a partial circular recess 7.10 for receiving the battery 2.1. Furthermore, the main printed circuit board 7 has a microprocessor or microcontroller and memory for processing and storing the flowmeter values of the water meter, which were captured by rotating the water meter encoder board. The transponder circuitry 6 has a transponder antenna specifically arranged in the form of a transponder circuitry.

The printed transponder circuit 6 forms an integrated circuit with a housing made of low reflectivity material o, which looks dark. The surface of the transponder a printed circuit board is equipped with a high reflectivity o, that is, a light layer 6.1. It can be removed in a structured way or it can be equipped with a contrasting, ie reflective, weak structure. This structure contains the adapter device number, which is stored electronically in the electronic part of the adapter, especially on the main circuit 6, and in the memory there. In the process, this is done by reading the serial number of the adapter in the course of production by reading the transponder antenna of the transponder circuit board and applying it directly as a structure in the described sense to the surface of the transponder. The serial number is then visible through the transparent window 4.2 in the housing cover, as stated above. Thus, from the start of the manufacturing process, the adapter circuit is permanently labeled with the device number internally as well as external, and the two device numbers match. Errors in subsequent maintenance and servicing are thus minimized.

FIG. 6 shows, for example, the plate 3 of the water meter encoder through which the fluid flows and is rotated about the A axis during rotation, whereby the flow rate of flow to the encoder plate can be carried out in various ways, for example by a turbine, a wing wheel or the like. . The encoder plate is lined halfway with a copper or aluminum metal liner la.5 (shown in black in Fig. 6), with the metal liner la.5 extending over 180 ° about the axis A of rotation. Above the encoder plate la.3, there are arranged detection coils 7.8 (equal to Ll) and 7.9 (equal to L2), which are parts of oscillating circuits 8.1, 8.2 which have capacitors Cl, C2 in parallel with the coils Ll, L2. Further, electronics 9 is shown schematically as a block or a Black Box for evaluation in FIG. 6.

The entire electronic circuit 9 located on the main circuit board 7 and the transponder circuit board 6 is shown in FIG. 7. In addition to the microcontroller 10, it has a detection circuit 11 with both resonant oscillator circuits 8.1, 8.2, a printed circuit board 12 of the transponder (in the transponder circuit board 6) and a radio transmitter 13 with an antenna 13.1. Part of detection circuit 11 is in addition to resonant oscillating circuits

8.1, 8.2 a capacitor C3 through which the oscillating circuits are

8.1, 8.2 earthed to cause a bias such that the damped oscillations of the oscillating circuits 8.1,

8.2 do not fluctuate around voltage 0 but around a predetermined positive voltage value.

Microcontroller 10 normally has a processor 10.1 (Central Processing Unit), flash memory 10.2 for storing • a program for storing and storing received measurement and detection data, RAM 10.3, measuring circuit 10.4, connected to oscillating circuits 8.1, 8.2 , time circuit 10.5, real-time clock 10.6 by which all elements of the microcontroller are synchronized, and interface 10.7. The crystal circuit oscillates on the time circuit 10.8.

Microcontroller 10 is programmatic or. software implemented in such a way that, at a specific frequency, for example, 200 Hz (corresponding to an interval of 50 ms), it operates on oscillating circuits with voltage pulses.

Interface 10.7 is intended for the transmission of measurement data as well as for programming or programming. parameter setting.

On the one hand, a printed circuit board 12 of the transponder a is connected therewith to the microcontroller 10. The printed circuit 12 of the transponder a has its own transponder 12.1 and a transponder antenna or antenna 12.2 in the near field. Further, via transmitter 10.7, the radio transmitter 13 is connected to the microcontroller 10.

When a voltage surge acts on the oscillating circuits 8.1, 8.2, a damped oscillation occurs, the damping being determined by whether the coil Ll or. L2 of each swing circle

8.1, 8.2 is located near the metal-coated half of the encoder plate la.3 or near the metal-coated half. In the first case, the damping is stronger. This can be seen from FIG. 8, in particular FIG. 8a, wherein the oscillating circuit 8.1 near the coil L1 located near the metal-coated plate 3a of the encoder has a stronger damping than the second oscillating circle 8.2 of the coil L2, which in FIG. 8a is located over the metal-lined half of the encoder plate la.3.

When positioning the encoder board of FIG. 8b, both coils L1, L2 are located through the metal-coated half of the encoder plate la.3. The damping is the same. In FIG. 8c are the ratios according to FIG. 8a inverted. In FIG. 8d, both coils are located over the metal-coated halves of the encoder plate la.3, so that they both have the same small damping compared to the illustration in FIG. 8b. By arranging the two coils across the encoder board la.3 at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the axis of rotation, it is thus possible to determine the direction of rotation of the encoder board la.3, whereby the signal sequence of FIG. 8a to FIG. 8d corresponds to the direction of rotation shown by arrow P. When rotating in the opposite direction to the sensor pattern of the two oscillating circuits 8.1, 8.2 of FIG. 8a would not, as the following, be the pattern of FIG. 8b, but the pattern of FIG. 8d.

The use of the water meter adapter according to the invention is as follows. As described above, the adapter is fastened together by means of a screw together in its own water counter so that its encoder plates extend into the recess 3.5 of the lower housing part 3 and their movement can be detected by the detection coils 7.8, 7.9 there during operation. The captured revolutions are electronically processed in the microcontroller 10 located on the main circuit board 7 and stored in the memory also located on the main circuit board. The readout of the stored values is preferably done via radio, either via the main antenna 7.3 via remote transmission or through the transponder coil of the transponder circuit board 6 by means of near-field transmission. The latter can also be used to program and / or parameterize electronic electronics via near field communication, that is, with a program provided in the memory of the main circuit board. However, it may have - not shown - the housing of the M-bus cable-based connector through which the reading and programming can be performed by means of a plug contact.

In control, the amplitude of the damped oscillation is directly observed. After a predetermined delay time after the oscillation excitation, the comparator within the circuit 11 determines whether the residual amplitude lies above or below the predetermined reference value, thereby determining whether the most damping is available in the oscillating circuit when the coil is above the metal coated half of the encoder plate la.3, or less damped oscillation when the coil is above the non-metallic part of the encoder la.3 panel.

After starting the microcontroller control program 10 (stored in the flash memory 10.2), the detection circuit 10.4 is initialized by programming its special configuration register. From that moment forward, it generates a detection circuit 10.4 of the periodically mentioned energy or voltage pulses for oscillator circuits 8.1, 8.2 and detects in a descriptive manner by comparing the damped or undamped conditions for each of the oscillator circuits 8.1, 8.2 without the need for additional software. Changes in damping conditions correspond to the rotation angle of the encoder la.3 of the encoder of both oscillating circuits 8.1, 8.2 and are detected and an interruption is made in the main program.

To save battery power, the repetition rate can be adjusted to the speed of the wheel. When there is no flow, that is, when the rate of change of the oscillatory behavior of the oscillating circuits is

8.1, 8.2 In the case of several measurements being small, the repetition rate may be reduced to, for example, 8 Hz or less. With higher flow rate and thus conditioned rotation of the encoder plate la.3, the measurement frequency can be increased to 200 Hz or more. The measurement information is received by the microcontroller and is temporarily stored in the flash memory 7.2. Within the network, multiple measuring devices may be transmitted via the radio transmitter 13 and its antenna 13.1 to a central processing unit or read with the transponder antenna 12.2 at a fixed reading time locally by communication in the near field.

List of reference labels adapter water meter la water counter la.l top cover panel

l.a.2 deepening

l.a.3 encoder plate

l.a.4 inner rib la.5 metal lining housing 2

2.1 battery bottom housing

3a bulge

3a.1 well

3.1 section

3.3 leading part

3.4 ribs

3.5 well

3.6 bulge cover part

4.1. The receiving cylinder

4.2 window window

4.3 bore • · · ·

. 4

4.5

6.1

7.1

7.2, 7.7

7.3

7.5

7.8, 7.9 7.10

8.1, 8.2

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

12.1

12.2

13.1 seal cylinder seal ring printed circuit board transponder a bright layer main printed circuit board pins sections antenna mounting part detection coil cutout (in 7) swing circuit electronics evaluation microcontroller processor flash memory

RAM measuring circuit time switch circuit real-time clock returns with n i k crystal oscillation circuit detection printed circuit printed circuit transponder transponder antenna transponder or near field antenna radio transmitter antenna

And the axis of rotation

C1-C3 capacitors

P arrow

Claims (18)

An adapter (1) for a water meter with a housing (2) having an upper housing part (4) and a lower housing part (3) and a main circuit board (7), preferably with evaluation electronics and at least one a communication device for transmitting the captured flow data, the main circuit board (7) having at least one detection coil (7.9) for capturing the movement of the encoder board, which is at least partially provided with a metal lining, of a water meter connected to the meter adapter for water. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that a recess (3.5) is formed in the bottom of the lower part (3) of the housing, which is formed of two openings or overlapping partial openings in which two detection coils (7.9. ). Adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication device has a plug, preferably an M-bus plug. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device has at least one antenna. Adapter according to claim 4, characterized in that the communication device within the printed circuit (6) has a transponder coil antenna transponder. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a printed circuit board (6) of the transponder, which is arranged over the pins (7.1) on the main printed circuit board (7) at an oblique distance from its surface. Adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that the circuit (6) is a transponder a on its surface, facing away from the main printed circuit board (7), provided with structures with different reflective capacities. Adapter according to claim 7, characterized in that the cover part (4) of the adapter has a transponder in its surface above the circuit board (6), a transparent window (4.2) through which the structure on the surface of the circuit board (7) is transponder a. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (3) of the housing has a protuberance (3.4) projecting inward, preferably not circularly symmetrical, through which the main printed circuit (7) can be cut through (7.7) Insert into the main circuit board (7) and through which the adapter is attached to the water counter by means of a screw projecting through the cover (4). Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover part (4) of the adapter has a section (4.3) to which a projecting piece (3.3) through which a screw can be inserted, is provided in the lower part (3) of the housing, which is pushed into the bore of the mechanical water meter (1a), allowing all three parts to be connected. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the serial number is stored in the memory of one of the printed circuits (6, 7) as well as the same serial number is written on the surface of the transponder a circuit (6). Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the serial number can be read from the adapter memory and compared with the serial number written on the surface of the transponder circuit a. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a resonant oscillating circuit (8.1, 8.2) in addition to the coil (7.8, 7.9; L1, L2) through which the current flows and is positioned near the plate (1a) further, the capacitor (Cl, C2) and that the evaluation electronics (10) is designed to evaluate the different voltage pulse attenuation of the respective oscillating circuit (8.1, 8.2) based on the rotational behavior or rotational position of the encoder plate (1a). Adapter according to claim 13, characterized by two oscillating circuits (8.1, 8.2), each with one detection coil (7.8, 7.9; L1, L2). Adapter according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a microcontroller (10) is present to act on the oscillating circuit (s) (8.1, 8.2) with the respective voltage pulse and to detect the time after which the oscillation voltage of each oscillation circuit (8.1, 8.2) triggered by the voltage pulse falls below a predetermined threshold value. Adapter according to one of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the detection frequency and, therefore, the frequency at which the voltage pulse oscillator (s) can be operated can be varied depending on the rotational speed the speed of the encoder (la.3). 17. A device for capturing the flow of fluid flowing in a line with a water meter with an encoder plate which rotates due to the liquid and is partially coated with metal. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the two detection coils (7.8, 7.9; L1, L2) are arranged at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the axis (A) of rotation of the encoder board (1a 3).