Utility meter transmitter assembly for subsurface installations
AssigneeBadger Meter, Inc.
InventorsKenneth R. Bloss, Jr., H. Paul Walding, Jr., Jeffrey L. Sell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved assembly (10) for housing electronics for remote reading of meter reading data in a subsurface enclosure (11) includes a first inner enclosure (40) of metal for housing the receiver/transmitter circuitry (90), a second inner enclosure (69, 86) for housing a battery (65) and an outer enclosure (24) of plastic which encloses both of the inner enclosures and additionally provides a sealed compartment for an antenna (50).
Claims25
An assembly for communication of utility meter signals between a utility meter and a collection unit, the assembly comprising:
- an antenna;
- transmitter circuitry electriclly connected to the antenna for transmitting utility meter signals to the collection unit;
- inner and outer enclosures, wherein the transmitter circuitry is disposed completely within the inner enclosure and wherein the inner enclosure is disposed completely within the outer enclosure to form a double-walled enclosure for the transmitter circuitry;
- and
- wherein the outer enclosure has a seal and wherein the inner enclosure has a seal that is isolated from the seal for the outer enclosure by interruption of substantial fluid communication with the seal for the outer enclosure.
An assembly for communication of utility meter signals between a utility meter and a collection unit, the assimbly comprising:
- an antenna;
- transmitter circuitry electrically connected to the antenna for transmitting utility meter signals to the collection unit;
- inner and outer enclosures, wherein the transmitter circuitry is disposed completely within the inner enclosure and wherein the inner enclosure is disposed completely within the outer enclosure to form a double-walled enclosure for the transmitter circuitry;
- wherein the inner enclosure is made of metal, and wherein the outer enclosure is made of plastic;
- and
- wherein the outer enclosure has a cylindrical body with an open bottom end and a bottom cover which is attached to cover the open bottom end of the cylindrical body.
An assembly for communication of utility meter signals between a utility meter and an external collection unit, the assembly comprising:
- an antenna;
- transmitter circuitry electrically connected to the antenna for transmitting utility meter signals to the external collection unit;
- an inner top enclosure in which the receiver/transmitter circuitry is positioned;
- an inner bottom enclosure for receiving a battery assembly, said bottom enclosure being secured in a position below the inner top enclosure to provide a sealed bottom enclosure for the battery assembly;
- and
- an outer enclosure which receives both the inner top enclosure for the transmitter circuitry the inner bottom enclosure for the battery, said outer enclosure having a removable part for access to, and removal of, the battery assembly.
An assembly having an antenna and transmitter circuitry for communication of utility meter signals between a utility meter and an external collection unit, the assembly further comprising:
- an inner top enclosure in which the transmitter circuitry is positioned;
- an outer enclosure which receives the inner top enclosure for the transmitter, said outer enclosure having an open bottom end;
- and
- an inner bottom enclosure for receiving a battery and sealing material disposed in and around the battery, said bottom enclosure being inserted through the open bottom end of the outer enclosure and secured in a position below the inner top enclosure to provide a sealed bottom enclosure for the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.