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US 11,473,933 B2Granted
Meters having integrated pressure regulators and related methods and systems
AssigneeSensus Spectrum, LLC
InventorChristian Heizenroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Gas meters are provided including a housing and a pressure regulator integrated with the housing. The pressure regulator is configured to adjust pressure of gas flowing through the gas meter responsive to a signal from a remote location or automatically based on a predetermined pressure threshold programmed into the gas meter.
Claims14
An integrated gas meter comprising:
- a single meter housing;
- a radio module integrated in the meter housing;
- a pressure regulator integrated with the meter housing and in communication with the radio module, wherein the pressure regulator adjusts pressure of gas flowing through the gas meter responsive to a signal received from a remote location using the radio module or automatically based on a predetermined pressure threshold programmed into the gas meter;
- and
- a shut off valve integrated into the meter housing and coupled to a pressure sensor in the meter housing, wherein the shut off valve turns the gas meter off and on remotely responsive to sensed pressure or the signal from the remote location communicated using the radio module,
- wherein the gas meter is positioned at a residential or commercial customer location and is a flow meter that measures a volume of gas flowing through the gas meter that is being consumed by a residential or commercial customer;
- and
- wherein the radio module, pressure regulator, shut off valve and pressure sensor are all integrated into the single meter housing.
5 more elements
A pressure regulating system comprising:
- a single gas meter housing;
- a radio module integrated in the gas meter housing;
- a pressure regulator integrated with the gas meter housing and in communication with the radio module;
- a pressure sensor associated with the pressure regulator and integrated with the gas meter housing, wherein the pressure sensor senses pressure of gas flowing through a gas meter;
- an electronics module that receive sensor information including the sensed pressure and processes the received sensor information, wherein the pressure regulator automatically adjusts the pressure of gas flowing through the gas meter based on a comparison of the sensed pressure of the gas flowing through the gas meter and a predetermined pressure threshold;
- a shut off valve coupled to the pressure sensor, the shut off valve configured to turn the gas meter off and on remotely responsive to the sensed pressure or a signal from a remote location,
- wherein the gas meter is positioned at a residential or commercial customer location and is a flow meter that measures a volume of gas flowing through the gas meter that is being consumed by a residential or commercial customer;
- and
- wherein the radio module, pressure regulator, electronics module, shut off valve and pressure sensor are all integrated into the single gas meter housing.
6 more elements
A method of adjusting pressure in a gas meter having an integrated pressure regulator and radio module in a single gas meter housing, the method comprising:
- sensing pressure of gas flowing through a gas meter using a pressure sensor;
- receiving a predetermined pressure threshold from a remote location using the integrated radio module;
- comparing the sensed pressure to a predetermined pressure threshold to provide a comparison result;
- adjusting the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas meter based on the comparison result, using the pressure regulator;
- and turning the gas meter off and/or on remotely responsive to the sensed pressure or a signal from a remote location, using a shut off valve;
- wherein the gas meter is positioned at a residential or commercial customer location and is a flow meter that measures a volume of gas flowing through the gas meter that is being consumed by a residential or commercial customer;
- and
- wherein the radio module, the pressure regulator, the pressure sensor and the shut off valve are integrated into the single gas meter housing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.