Magnetically-impervious retrofit kit for a metered-commodity consumption meter

摘要

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a Metered-Commodity Consumption Meter (MCCM) utilizing a rotationally occluded optical beam to simultaneously measure flow/consumption and verify operational integrity. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an existing MCCM may be retrofit by sealably attaching a module containing an optical system which may generate one or more optical beams. Each optical beam may have a defined optical path originating from an optical source and terminating at an optical sensor within the module. In an exemplary embodiment, a Rotational Retrofit Member (RRM) may be attachable to a rotational metering gear responsive to a flow/consumption of the metered commodity. The RRM may have an occluding blade which may partially occlude the optical beams periodically when the RRM rotates. In various embodiments, the MCCM may be retrofit to make the measurement of the metered commodity impervious to external magnetic fields.

主权项

1. A metered-commodity measurement device to measure a consumption of a metered-commodity, the device comprising:
a retrofit enclosure housing configured to mechanically couple to an existing commodity meter; one or more optical sources within the retrofit enclosure housing, the one or more optical sources to generate a first optical beam having a first optical path, and a second optical beam having a second optical path; a first optical sensor within the retrofit enclosure housing, the first optical sensor to receive the first optical beam and output a first intensity signal indicative of a measure of an intensity of the first optical beam; a second optical sensor within the retrofit enclosure housing, the second optical sensor to receive the second optical beam and output a second intensity signal indicative of a measure of an intensity of the second optical beam; a rotational retrofit member mechanically coupled to a rotational metering gear of the existing commodity meter, the rotational metering gear is responsive to a consumption of a metered-commodity, the rotational retrofit member and the rotational metering gear having a shared axis of rotation, the rotational retrofit member having an occlusion blade extended radially out from an arc portion of the rotational retrofit member about the axis of rotation; and a controller that receives the first intensity signal and the second intensity signal, the controller generates a battery-health status signal based upon the received first intensity signal and second intensity signal; wherein the first optical path passes adjacent to the rotational retrofit member at a first angular position relative to the axis of rotation; wherein the second optical path passes adjacent to the rotational retrofit member at a second angular position relative to the axis of rotation; wherein the first optical beam is attenuated by the occlusion blade when the rotational retrofit member has an angular orientation within a first predetermined angular range; and wherein the second optical beam is attenuated by the occlusion blade when the rotational retrofit member has an angular orientation within a second predetermined angular range.