WO2023275673A1

WO2023275673A1 - Adapter for remote reading of water meter indications

Info

Publication number: WO2023275673A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/055783
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jakub NOWACZYK; Karol RZEPCZYNSKI; Tomasz Szulc
Original assignee: Apator Powogaz Spolka Akcyjna
Priority date: 2021-06-30
Filing date: 2022-06-22
Publication date: 2023-01-05

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter for remote reading of water meter indications. The adapter (1) for remote reading of water meter indications comprises an electronic module (2) and a powering module (3). The electronic module (2) has a body having in its base fixing means intended for connection to a water meter, as well as a round protrusion (4) in which there is a scanning system. The powering module (3) is seated in a separate body separably connected to the body of the electronic module (2), preferably by a bayonet connection, in the area of which there is an electrical connector.

Description

Adapter for remote reading of water meter indications

The object of an invention is an adapter for remote reading of water meter indications, applicable when reading water meters indications, and constituting additional equipment of measuring devices, allowing for remote reading examination of their indications.

In the state of the art, there are known devices cooperating with various types of water meters, remotely readingthe measurement of the volume of flowing water. Devices for remote reading are equipped with electronic parts which require power supply. Power supply is usually provided by batteries placed inside this type of devices. For example, PL233072 discloses an adapter for remote reading of the indications of a water meter, combined with the counting mechanism of a water meter, and consisting of an electronic module and an intermediate ring. The electronic module has the form of a longitudinal cuboidal body, inside which there are electronic elements of the device. In the base of the electronic module there are round protrusions with a scanning system, and upon mounting the electronic module on the water meter, in the area of these protrusions there is an induction field of the water meter counting mechanism,. The electronic module can be mounted on any water meter using the intermediate ring, which is connectable to the housing of the water meter counting mechanism. On its top edge, the intermediate ring has recesses, profiles and latches intended for stable placement of the electronic module therein, while on the bottom edge it has resilient hooks entering the positioning snap sockets on the perimeter of the housing ofthe water meter counting mechanism.

US2020288594A1, on the other hand, discloses a water meter comprising an outer housing composed of two parts. Inside the housing there are an electronic module and a powering module, placed in additional casings and secured therein by an insulating filling. The electronic module comprises all measuring and processing elements as well as a display. Whereas, the powering module comprises an appropriate battery. The electronic module is connected to the battery module by a cable connection. In the case of replacing the powering module, it is necessary to cut the cable and pull the powering module out of the external housing. The new powering module has a shape corresponding to that of the module being replaced, and has a cable section having with a connector, at the free end of which a cable end from the electronic module is clamped. Therefore, a permanent and hermetic cable connection is created, isolating the connection point and protecting it, especially against corrosion. At the same time, this requires placing the connector inside the external housing, allowing for additionally securing it therein with an insulating filling. Because of the use of modules whose components are placed in the insulating filling, the inside of the external housing is not specially sealed.

CN211552960U discloses an electronic water meter having an external chamber with a powering module in the form of a battery. The chamber with the battery is mounted on the external part of the water meter body, and it has a form resembling a cavity, with a sealable opening in the upper part. The chamber with the battery can be disassembled and assembled independently, meaning without opening or disassembling parts of the water meter housing. In order to provide proper insulation, the chamber with the battery is filled with nanopaste, and the battery is immersed therein.

CN209342177U also discloses a water meter having a replaceable powering module comprising a battery. The water meter comprises, among other things, a body and a water meter counting device, as well as an electronic module equipped with a Hall sensor. The battery is connected to a printed circuit board constituting a part of the electronic module, wherein the connection between the printed circuit board and the battery might be waterproof. The powering module in which the battery is placed has a sliding socket, and the housing of the electronic module is provided with a battery bus. The socket in the powering module engages the bus of the electronic module. In order to limit the risk of tampering with the readings of the water meter, the powering module and the electronic module are additionally protected by a lead seal. The purpose of the invention is to solve the technical problem of the impossibility of a simple replacement of a battery in adapters for remote reading of indications of a water meter, not requiring time-consuming servicing operations.

The object of the invention is an adapter for remote reading of water meter indications, comprising an electronic module and a powering module, the electronic module having a body having in its base a scanning system, as well as fixing means intended for connection to a water meter. The essence of the invention is in that the powering module is seated in a separate body, separably connected to the body of the electronic module.

Preferably, the powering module is connected to the body of the electronic module via a bayonet connection.

Equally preferably, in the area of the bayonet connection there is an electrical connector.

It is preferable when, centrally in the area of the bayonet connection, there is a cable installation connector. It is equally convenient when, centrally in the area of the bayonet connection, there is an electrical plug connector.

It is also purposeful when the body of the powering module has on one wall at least one bayonet clamping ring, and the body of the electronic module has on one wall at least one bayonet plug. Preferably, the body of the powering module has a mechanical seal.

It is also recommended when the body of the powering module and the body of the electronic module have positioning markers.

The primary advantage of the invention is that it enables simple replacement of the powering module, which has been achieved due to the placement of the powering module in a separate body, and its separable connection to the body of the electronic module. The separable connection of these two bodies enables very simple and fast battery replacement, even on the site of installation of the adapter for remote reading of indications of a water meter. The use of a bayonet connection for connecting the body of the powering module to the body of the electronic module additionally guarantees high tightness of the connection, and protection of the electronic and powering modules as well as their connection point against the influence of external factors, especially against moisture. Moreover, the bayonet connection protects the adapter for remote reading of a water meter indications against accidental disconnection of the modules. The use of the bayonet connection also allows for eliminating the need to use mounting screws, the use of which makes the operations related to battery replacement in the powering module more time-consuming. Further simplification of the servicing operations involves the placement of positioning markers on the body of the powering module and the body of the electronic module, which facilitates the operations related to the connection of these elements. Moreover, the body of the powering module can be provided with a mechanical seal, mounted upon connecting the bodies and protecting the adapter for remote reading of water meters indications against tampering attempts. The invention is presented in embodiments and in the drawing, in which fig. 1 presents the adapter for remote reading of water meter indications in a perspective view, fig. 2 - the adapter for remote reading of water meter indications in a perspective view of a disconnected powering module, fig. 3 - the adapter for remote reading of water meter indications in a perspective view of a disconnected electronic module, fig. 4 - the wall of the powering module with the bayonet connector, and fig. 5 - the adapter for remote reading of water meter indications in a bottom view, and fig. 6 - the disconnected electronic module and powering module in a perspective view with an electrical plug connector.

The adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications comprises an electronic module 2 and a powering module 3. Both the electronic module 2 and the powering module 3 have bodies which, when combined, constitute an external casing of the adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications. The adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications itself has a form resembling a cuboid.

Inside the electronic module 2 there are electronic elements of the adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications, especially an inductive scanning system of the needle of the water meter counter, and a radio communication system. The elements of the inductive scanning system are placed in a round protrusion 4 made in the base of the electronic module 2. Moreover, in the body of the electronic module 2 there are fastening means intended for connection to a water meter, in the form of latching openings 5 engaging an intermediate ring seated directly on the housing of the water meter counter.

Whereas, in the powering module 3 there is a battery, supplying energy to the components of the electronic module 2.

The body of the electronic module 2 and the body of the powering module 3 are separably connected by the bayonet connector. The body of the powering module 3 has on one side wall a bayonet clamping ring 6A, and a round hollow 6B with a broadening on a part of the perimeter. The body of the electronic module 2 in turn has a bayonet plug 7 A, also made on one side wall. Moreover, the bayonet plug 7A is located inside a flange 7B, with a movement limiter on the external surface of this flange 7B. The bayonet clamping ring 6A has four grooves 11 which correspond to four arms 12 in the bayonet plug 7 . The movement limiter placed outside the flange 7B in turn corresponds to the broadening on a part of the perimeter of the hollow 6B. The closure of the connection occurs by seating the arms 12 of the bayonet plug 7 A in the grooves 11 of the bayonet clamping ring 6A, and setting the movement limiter placed on the external surface of the flange 7B in the broadening of the hollow 6B, and subsequently by turning one of the modules 2 or 3 clockwise. The rotary motion of the electronic module 2 or the powering module 3 is restricted by the size of the broadening in a part of the perimeter of the round hollow 6B, in which the movement stop moves on the external surface of the flange 7B.

In the area of the bayonet connection there is an electrical connector. In the powering module 3, centrally in the axis of the bayonet clamping ring 6A, there is a cable installation connector 8 connected to a battery placed in the powering module 3. The cable installation connector 8 in the electronic module 2 is also centrally seated in the bayonet plug 7A, and has connections to all elements requiring power supply. The ends of the electrical cable connecting the electronic module 2 to the powering module 3 are clamped in the cable installation connector 8.

In another embodiment, an electrical plug connector 13 is seated in the area of the bayonet connector. In such a case, in the body of the electronic module 2 there is a socketM, and in the body of the powering module 3 there are contacts 15 corresponding to the socket 14.

In order to simply fit the bayonet connector, positioning markers 9 have been made on the bodies of the electronic module 2 and the powering module 3. A position in which the markers of both modules 2 and 3 converge enables assembling the modules 2 and 3, and subsequently closing the bayonet connection. As a consequence, it is possible to seat the bayonet plug 7A in the bayonet clamping ring 6A using the positioning markers 9, and subsequently lock the connection by turning one of the elements.

The use of the bayonet connector allows for obtaining isolation of the adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications from external conditions. Due to this connection, tightness of the whole adapter 1 has been achieved, thus including the connection between the bodies, meeting the IP68 standard in terms of the degrees of protection provided by casings, defined inter alia by the standard PN-EN 60529:2003. Meeting this degree of tightness allows for using the adapter 1 for remote reading of indications of a water meter submerged under the water surface. Therefore, the adapter 1 comprising two combined modules - the electronic module 2 and the powering module 3 - can be used in flooded water meter wells, or other locations with exceptionally harsh conditions.

Protection of the adapter 1 for remote reading of water meter indications is realised by a mechanical seal 10, mounted after connecting the body of the electronic module 2 to the body of the powering module 3. The mechanical seal 10 is seated directly at the bayonet connection, and it has the form of a pin. Attempting to twist the body of the electronic module 2 or the body of the powering module 3 results in breaking the pin, and therefore leaves a permanent mark of tampering within the adapter 1.

Claims

1. An adapter for remote reading of water meter indications, comprising an electronic module and a powering module, the electronic module having a body having in its base a scanning system, as well as fixing means intended for connection to a water meter, characterised in that the powering module (3) is seated in a separate body separably connected to the body of the electronic module (2).

2. The adapter according to claim 1, characterised in that the body of the powering module (3) is connected to the body of the electronic module (2) via a bayonet connection.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, characterised in that in the area of the bayonet connection there is an electrical connector.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, characterised in that, centrally in the area of the bayonet connection, there is a cable installation connector (8).

5. The adapter according to claim 3, characterised in that, centrally in the area of the bayonet connection, there is an electrical plug connector (13).

6. The adapter according to claim 3, characterised in that the body of the powering module (3) has on one wall at least one bayonet clamping ring (6A), and the body of the electronic module (2) has on one wall at least one bayonet plug (7A).

7. The adapter according to one of the claims from 1 to 6, characterised in that the body of the powering module (3) has a mechanical seal (10).

8. The adapter according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, characterised in that the body of the powering module (3) and the body of the electronic module (2) have positioning markers (9).