EP0344931A2 - Compteur - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0344931A2
EP0344931A2 EP89304691A EP89304691A EP0344931A2 EP 0344931 A2 EP0344931 A2 EP 0344931A2 EP 89304691 A EP89304691 A EP 89304691A EP 89304691 A EP89304691 A EP 89304691A EP 0344931 A2 EP0344931 A2 EP 0344931A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
digit
indicator
drive
counter
displaying
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP89304691A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0344931A3 (fr
Inventor
John William Shadrach
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Smith Meters Ltd
Original Assignee
Smith Meters Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Smith Meters Ltd filed Critical Smith Meters Ltd
Publication of EP0344931A2 publication Critical patent/EP0344931A2/fr
Publication of EP0344931A3 publication Critical patent/EP0344931A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/14—Design features of general application for transferring a condition from one stage to a higher stage
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
    • G06M1/27—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum
    • G06M1/272—Design features of general application for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum using photoelectric means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to counters of the kind comprising a series of rotating digit-displaying indicators mechanically connected together so that a rotating input drive causes an increasing number to be set up which is a measure of the angular rotation of the input drive.
  • Such counters have had to be read by inspection of the indicators, but efforts have been made to enable the readings to be made electronically from remote location by, for instance, causing each indicator to operate electrical means setting up a coded electrical representation of the reading.
  • the invention provides a counter comprising a series of rotating decimal digit-displaying indicators, mechanically interconnected to be driven from a single rotary input drive, said mechanical interconnection including means for producing a drive impulse, associated with a lower significance digit-displaying indicator and triggered as said indicator approaches a changeover point for its displayed digit, the drive impulse being directed to drive that indicator over the changeover point and, once triggered, being independent of the motion of the input drive, some or all of the said indicators carrying or driving coded patterns rotating with the indicators or set up readable representations of the displayed digits and means for enabling transmission of the codes to a remote location.
  • Said coded patterns may be comprised by optical encoders having optical means for reading light patterns which change as the indicators rotate.
  • the light patterns may be by light source means shining through slots forming the codes.
  • the coded patterns may comprise a binary code, in which four binary numbers are set up to represent the decimal digit being displayed.
  • the binary numbers may be read or translated into electronic form for transmission over electrical wires to the remote location.
  • optical fibres may transmit the light to the remote location.
  • the drive impulse is triggered before the changeover point and drives the indicator over and past the changeover point, it will be understood that the indicators cannot come to rest over a changeover area which extends each side of the changeover point. Readings are not therefore taken in this area and it may be found desirable for these sections of the coded patterns to be omitted. In any case, because no readings are taken here there is no need for any great degree of accuracy in forming the changeover points in the coded patterns.
  • the impulse drives the indicators ahead of the rotary input drive, so that there is a higher reading than is warranted, but this is cancelled out by the indicators remaining stationary until the rotary input drive catches up.
  • the impulse drive may comprise an off-centre rotating weight which is driven to a top position by the rotary input drive and then drops under the force of gravity, driving the indicator in advance of the rotary input drive.
  • the counter shown is intended for use in a gas meter of the kind in which back-and-forth movement of flexible diaphragms caused by flowing gas is translated into rotational drive movement of gear (11).
  • This rotation is transmitted by gear (12) to a series of five hollow indicator drums (13, 14, 15, 16, 17), each bearing a circle of decimal digits 0 - 9.
  • a row of viewing windows on the far side of the drums define the digits to be read.
  • Mechanical drive gears (18, 19, 20, 21) are arranged in known manner to drive succeeding drums through an angle subtending one of the digits, each time the previous drum changes over from 9 to 0.
  • the succeeding drums show successively higher significance digits in a total decimal number which is related to the angle through which gear (11) has rotated, and is a measure of the volume of gas which has passed through the meter.
  • the lowest digit in the decimal number carried on drum (13) is not normally read and has no viewing window, or may be coloured differently to show that it does not form part of the reading.
  • This drum has no encoder associated with it.
  • Each of the other drums (14 - 17) is extended to provide a cylindrical encoding surface, shown in plan at (22) in Figure 2.
  • the encoding surface provides four cylindrical tracks (23, 24, 25, 26), each having a different pattern of slots (27) cut through the thickness of the drum to the hollow interior.
  • Stationary photo-electric reading devices (30, 31, 32, 33) are of U-section, with one limb of the U-shape extending across the four tracks inside the drum and the other limb extending across the four tracks outside the drum.
  • Each device comprises a light source in one limb and four sensors in the other limb, aligned with the four tracks.
  • the digit being read is set up by the slots in binary form, the open portions appearing as binary 1, the closed portions as binary 0.
  • the four tracks provide four binary numbers, and the patterns of slots are devised as described in more detail hereinafter, so that each decimal number is represented by a specific pattern of four binary numbers.
  • Electrical signals from each photo-sensor comprise a binary electrical code for the decimal number, these signals being taken on electrical wires (35) to a reading or transmitting station (not shown).
  • the drum (13) bearing the lowest value decimal number has no encoder, but in its place operates an impulse drive, shown best in Figures 3 and 4.
  • An impulse disc (40) is mounted to rotate about the same axis as drum (13), but does not have a rigid drive connection to it. Instead, a drive peg (41) secured to or integral with drum (13) extends into the path of a weight (42) which is secured near to or at a point on the periphery of the impulse disc. When drum (13) is rotated in its normal direction, the peg (41) contacts the weight (42) and drives the disc in the same direction.
  • the mechanical drive gear (18) operating to transmit drive to the next drum (14) has no permanent connection to drum (13). While not operating, it rests as shown in Figure 4, with two teeth sliding on the outer periphery of the impulse disc.
  • each number is tied to the centre position of each section of the binary tracks.
  • the location of the peg (41) and slot (44) are located so that the movement of gear (18) takes place at the changeover point and through an angle such that the next decimal number takes up a central position in the viewing window.
  • drum (14) always takes up stable positions in which a decimal number and the related optical code are at central positions, not left at changeover points. This has a knock-on effect on the remainder of the drums (15, (16) and (17) which similarly always take up the stable, central positions.
  • four binary-coded signals as provided by the four tracks can provide up to 16 different codes, and so represent up to 16 decimal numbers. Since only 10 are required, and there is no need to provide for reduction of coinciding changeover points, there is some latitude for selection of which coded arrangements to use.
  • the codes have been selected to simplify the cutting pattern so that no slot extends over only one sector, i.e., all the slots are at least two sectors long, and there is thus a reduced number of different slots.
  • the codes have also been selected so that a simple logic arrangement will disclose if the counter has been reverse driven (for instance, by fraudulent means to reduce the apparent gas usage).
  • track (24) changes from binary 1 to binary 0 only once in every revolution.
  • each drum could bear the slots in concentric circles.
  • a separate encoder drum or disc can be driven from each indicator drum, either directly or through gears.
  • the counter could be used with other kinds of gas meter, or indeed with any form of meter in which it is desired to read a mechanical counter electrically.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Optical Transform (AREA)
  • Displays For Variable Information Using Movable Means (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
EP19890304691 1988-05-28 1989-05-09 Compteur Withdrawn EP0344931A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8812760 1988-05-28
GB888812760A GB8812760D0 (en) 1988-05-28 1988-05-28 Counter

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0344931A2 true EP0344931A2 (fr) 1989-12-06
EP0344931A3 EP0344931A3 (fr) 1991-10-30

Family

ID=10637761

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890304691 Withdrawn EP0344931A3 (fr) 1988-05-28 1989-05-09 Compteur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0344931A3 (fr)
GB (2) GB8812760D0 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0939380A1 (fr) * 1998-02-27 1999-09-01 MR Engineering AG Dispositif de lecture pour un compteur à tambours
US6407377B1 (en) 1998-02-27 2002-06-18 Mr Engineering Ag Apparatus for reading-out a setting of number wheels
WO2002101481A3 (fr) * 2001-06-11 2003-02-20 Nikolai Pavlovich Matukhno Dispositif de calcul
DE102009003976A1 (de) 2009-01-07 2010-07-08 Hengstler Gmbh Vorrichtung zur optischen Abtastung der Teilstriche eines mechanischen Rollenzählwerkes

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102768295A (zh) * 2012-06-28 2012-11-07 华立仪表集团股份有限公司 计量仪表计度器信息处理装置
CN106767966A (zh) * 2016-11-30 2017-05-31 重庆市渝水仪表有限公司 一种计数器读数模糊推论识别算法

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3223322A (en) * 1964-08-07 1965-12-14 Tri Tech Transfer counter
GB1126522A (en) * 1966-02-09 1968-09-05 Evershed Vignoles Ltd Improvements relating to telemetering apparatus
US3369746A (en) * 1966-05-24 1968-02-20 Hersey Sparling Meter Company Storing data
GB1213125A (en) * 1966-12-16 1970-11-18 United Gas Industries Ltd Meter reading attachment
GB1390349A (en) * 1971-03-04 1975-04-09 Sangamo Weston Integrating meter register mechanisms
US3896298A (en) * 1971-11-10 1975-07-22 Tri Tech Counting device
US3787663A (en) * 1971-11-10 1974-01-22 Tri Tech Counting device
US3721806A (en) * 1971-11-26 1973-03-20 Gulf Research Development Co Digital encoder for mechanical counters
NL120305C (fr) * 1981-02-16
CH650089A5 (de) * 1981-03-17 1985-06-28 Landis & Gyr Ag Anordnung zur darstellung des inhalts von zahlenrollen-zaehlwerken in form elektrischer signale.
US4551621A (en) * 1984-11-27 1985-11-05 General Electric Company Flip-over mechanism
IT1183556B (it) * 1985-04-02 1987-10-22 Sacofgas Spa Dispositivo di trasduzione di misure in base al posizionamento di almeno un elemento girevole meccanico

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0939380A1 (fr) * 1998-02-27 1999-09-01 MR Engineering AG Dispositif de lecture pour un compteur à tambours
US6407377B1 (en) 1998-02-27 2002-06-18 Mr Engineering Ag Apparatus for reading-out a setting of number wheels
WO2002101481A3 (fr) * 2001-06-11 2003-02-20 Nikolai Pavlovich Matukhno Dispositif de calcul
DE102009003976A1 (de) 2009-01-07 2010-07-08 Hengstler Gmbh Vorrichtung zur optischen Abtastung der Teilstriche eines mechanischen Rollenzählwerkes
WO2010079129A2 (fr) 2009-01-07 2010-07-15 Hengstler Gmbh Dispositif de détection optique des graduations d'un compteur à rouleaux mécanique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2219112A (en) 1989-11-29
GB8812760D0 (en) 1988-06-29
EP0344931A3 (fr) 1991-10-30
GB8907789D0 (en) 1989-05-17
GB2219112B (en) 1992-08-26

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