US 6,617,976 B2 · Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method

Abstract

Apparatus and methodology for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a utility meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level. An RF utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box includes a utility meter and has a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough. An antenna element has an upper member extending at least partly through such pit lid opening. A depending base of the antenna element extends from the upper element and passes through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box. The depending antenna element is capacitively coupled or provided with some other form of non-mechanical coupling to the output of an RF transmitter also included within the pit box. The antenna element components are nested for ease of attachment to or removal from a pit lid, with a rotatable threaded nut received about a depending antenna element for drawing tight against the underside of the pit lid, with an upper antenna element received above such pit lid. An antenna element may be directly coupled with a metallic pit lid so that such metallic pit lid functions as part of the antenna. Alternative embodiments may be provided for structure of the antenna element, so as to minimize the structure and components needed for removably securing or installing the antenna arrangement, supported on the removable pit lit of a conventional pit box.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A radio frequency utility meter communication apparatus for transmitting utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box receiving a utility meter and having a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough, said communication apparatus comprising:

an antenna element having a top cap larger than the pit lid opening and received thereabove, and having a depending base extending from said top cap and passing through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box, wherein said top cap comprises a separate component joined with a ground plane component forming an upper portion of said depending base;
antenna securement means for securing said antenna element in a fixed position relative to an associated pit lid with said top cap of said antenna element received above the pit lid opening and with said depending base thereof extending through said pit opening, wherein said antenna securement means includes radially outward threads carried on an outside diameter portion on said antenna element depending base;
an RF transmitter situated inside the underground pit box and associated with said antenna element depending base such that RF signals transmitted by said RF transmitter are propagated by said antenna element;
and
utility meter interconnection means for interconnecting data from a utility meter with an underground pit box to said RF transmitter situated inside such underground pit box;
whereby said antenna element top cap, at least partly situated above an exterior, above ground portion of the pit box lid, propagates utility meter data from the utility meter within the pit box to a remote utility meter data collection unit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method

Life of this patent

Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna antenna assembly and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16