High Output Integrated Utility Meter Reporting System

摘要

A water meter transmission system reads data from a water meter and wirelessly transmits data to a central billing or receiving system. Disclosed transmission systems are fully integrated and contained within pit housings such that the electronic components are well protected. A flat spiral VHF antenna is integrated into a specially configured integrated antenna cover which fits into the top cover of a pit housing. The antenna cover and/or upper lip area of the upper lip of the main housing comprises protrusions complementary to the distal barrier and medial barrier of the integrated cover and is used to exclude water and contaminates. Disclosed transmission systems offer high output and low power consumption and vitiate the need for meter readers to physically access a water meter or other meters.

主权项

1. A meter transmission system comprising:
a) a main housing comprising: an installation nut, the installation nut comprising internal female threads, an outer threaded area of the main housing comporting to the female threads of the installation nut, an upper lip area comprising a support shelf, the support shelf defining a center void; b) an electronics board comprising of (i) a battery pack (ii) a horizontal index tab to give simple and sturdy electrical connection to the electronic board which is connected with a water meter through an electric cable; (iii) a vertical index tab embedded to a water proof seal connected to the water meter through the electric cable; and (iii) a connector for antenna, the connector for antenna attached to a spiral antenna; c) an upper antenna assembly comprising a support disk, the support disk defining a insulator center void, an antenna insulator, the antenna insulator comprising spiral protrusions, and the spiral protrusions defining spiral voids, the spiral antenna configured to comport to the spiral voids of the antenna insulator and an integrated antenna cover, the integrated antenna cover comprising a distal barrier and a medial barrier; d) wherein the connector for antenna is disposed through the insulator center void of the support disk and is attached to the spiral antenna; e) wherein the upper lip area of the main housing comprises protrusions complementary to the distal barrier and the medial barrier of the integrated antenna cover; and f) wherein a top cover of a pit housing is attached to the integrated antenna cover.