Meter register transmitting flow rate warning

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring a fluid and determining a leak comprising the steps of providing a meter and a meter register coacting with the meter. When a leak is detected, a signal is transmitted from the meter register regarding fluid consumption. The transmitted signal indicates a leak either when the measured flow rate remains a fixed volume over a fixed period of time, or the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold value.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of detecting a leak in a liquid consumption system, comprising the following steps:
 providing a meter housing having a liquid inlet opening, a liquid outlet opening, a measuring chamber between, and in fluid communication with, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet openings, and a cavity having an access opening; 
 providing a sealed meter register in the access opening of the meter housing, wherein the meter register comprises a microprocessor and an antenna sealed within wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically-conductive member connected to an extending leg and a second electrically-conductive member spaced an axial distance from the first conductive member, and the meter register is magnetically coupled with the measuring chamber to coact with the measuring chamber to receive liquid flow information from the measuring chamber, wherein the microprocessor of the meter register receives the liquid flow information and measures the amount of liquid flowing through the measuring chamber as a function of time defined as a measured flow rate, wherein the sealed meter register and the meter housing form a meter; 
 passing a liquid from a liquid source, through the liquid inlet opening of the meter, through the measuring chamber of the meter and through the liquid outlet opening of the meter to the liquid consumption system, wherein as the liquid moves the measuring chamber, the measuring chamber generates the liquid flow information, and the microprocessor provides the measured flow rate; and 
 generating a signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs: 
 (i) the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time, or 
 (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value 
 programming the microprocessor to determine; 
 (i) if the measured flow rate is greater than zero; 
 (ii) if the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time; and 
 (iii) if the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value; and 
 wherein a signal is generated to indicate a leak when the microprocessor determines conditions (i) and (ii) are present, or conditions (i) and (iii) are present, 
 wherein the signal generated indicating a leak is an alarm emitted from the meter and a wireless signal is transmitted through the antenna from the meter to a location other than the meter indicating leak, and 
 wherein comprising the further step of providing shut-off means in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter and opening and closing said shut-off means depending on the volume of liquid passing through said meter. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps monitoring performance of said meter register to determine if said meter register has been tampered with and of transmitting information when said meter has been tampered with. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising providing a magnetically activated device with the meter register, the magnetically activated device coupled with the microprocessor, and monitoring performance of the meter register to determine if the meter register has been tampered with and transmitting information when said meter has been tampered with, wherein said tampering comprises subjecting said meter register magnetically activated device to a magnetic field above a threshold value for a fixed period of time, and wherein the antenna emits a signal that indicates the meter register has been tampered with. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said meter is adapted to receive signals from an external source. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing shut-off means in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter and opening and closing said shut-off means depending on the volume of liquid passing through said meter. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signal is an identification signal. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein further comprising an automated meter reading step, where information is collected and transmitted automatically, based on information related to the operation of the meter register and meter are part of an automated meter reading system. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the signal is transmitted to indicate a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the signal is transmitted to indicate a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
       11. A method of detecting a leak in a fluid consumption system, comprising the following steps:
 providing a fluid meter to pass a fluid from a fluid source, through the meter to the fluid consumption system, the fluid meter comprising a body and a sealed meter register; 
 providing a sealed meter register with one or more rotating magnetic couplings to coact with the meter to measure the amount of fluid flowing through the meter from the fluid source to the fluid consumption system; 
 providing a microprocessor within the sealed meter register to receive fluid flow information from the meter register to measure the amount of fluid moving through the meter from the fluid source to the fluid consumption system as a function of time defined as a measured flow rate; 
 generatingproviding an antenna within the sealed meter register, wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically-conductive member connected to an extending leg and a second electrically-conductive member spaced an axial distance from the first conductive member; the antenna acting with the microprocessor to transmit a transmitted signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs: 
 (i) the measured flow rate remains constant a fixed volume over a fixed period of time, or 
 (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value, 
 programming the microprocessor to determine: 
 (i) if the measured flow rate is greater than zero; 
 (ii) if the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time; and 
 (iii) if the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value; and 
 wherein a signal is generated to indicate a leak when the microprocessor determines conditions (i) and (ii) are present, or conditions (i) and (iii) are present; and 
 said method further comprises the step of determining reverse flow through said meter and transmitting such information; and 
 wherein the signal generated indicating a leak is an alarm emitted from the meter and a wireless signal is transmitted through the antenna from the meter to a location other than the meter indicating leak, and 
 wherein comprising the further step of providing shut-off means in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter and opening and closing said shut-off means depending on the volume of liquid passing through said meter. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of detecting a leak in a liquid consumption system, comprising the following steps:
 providing a meter having a measuring chamber, wherein a liquid passes from a liquid source, through the measuring chamber of the meter to the liquid consumption system; and  
 providing a sealed meter register having a microprocessor and an antenna connected to the microprocessor within the sealed meter register wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically-conductive member connected to an extending leg and a second electrically-conductive member spaced an axial distance from the first conductive member, wherein the sealed meter register is magnetically coupled with the measuring chamber to coact with the meter to measure the amount of liquid flowing from the liquid source through the meter to the liquid consumption system, and wherein the microprocessor receives liquid flow information from the meter register to measure the amount of liquid from the liquid source moving through the meter to the liquid consumption system as a function of time defined as a measured flow rate; and 
 generating a signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs: 
 (i) the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time, or 
 (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value, 
 programming the microprocessor to determine: 
 (i) if the measured flow rate is greater than zero; 
 (ii) if the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time; and 
 (iii) if the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value; and 
 wherein a signal is generated to indicate a leak when the microprocessor determines conditions (i) and (ii) are present, or conditions (i) and (iii) are present,  
 wherein said signal includes information corresponding to an odometer reading on said meter; and 
 wherein the signal generated indicating a leak is an alarm emitted from the meter and a wireless signal is transmitted through the antenna from the meter to a location other than the meter indicating leak, and 
 wherein comprising the further step of providing shut-off means in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter and opening and closing said shut-off means depending on the volume of liquid passing through said meter. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of detecting a leak in a liquid consumption system, comprising the following steps:
 providing a meter adapted to receive signals from an external source, the meter having a measuring chamber, wherein a liquid passes from a liquid source, through the measuring chamber of the meter to the liquid consumption system; and  
 providing a sealed meter register having a microprocessor and an antenna within the sealed meter register wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically-conductive member connected to an extending leg and a second electrically-conductive member spaced an axial distance from the first conductive member, wherein the meter register is magnetically coupled with the measuring chamber to coact with the meter to measure the amount of liquid flowing from the liquid source through the meter to the liquid consumption system, and wherein the microprocessor receives liquid flow information from the meter register to measure the amount of liquid from the liquid source moving through the meter to the liquid consumption system as a function of time defined as a measured flow rate; and 
 generating a signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs: 
 (i) the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time, or 
 (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value, 
 programming the microprocessor to determine; 
 (i) if the measured flow rate is greater than zero; 
 (ii) if the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time; and 
 (iii) if the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value; and 
 wherein a signal is generated to indicate a leak when the microprocessor determines conditions (i) and (ii) are present, or conditions (i) and (iii) are present; and 
 transmitting to the meter a first signal from the external source to adjust a transmitting second signal from the meter, the second signal indicating an odometer reading; and 
 wherein the signal generated indicating a leak is an alarm emitted from the meter and a wireless signal is transmitted through the antenna from the meter to a location other than the meter indicating leak, and 
 wherein comprising the further step of providing shut-off means in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter and opening and closing said shut-off means depending on the volume of liquid passing through said meter. 
 
     
     
       14. A system for determining a leak in a liquid consumption system, comprising:
 a sealed register body having a face portion and a body defining an internal cavity, the internal cavity under negative pressure;   a rotatable follower magnetic member provided in said internal cavity, said follower magnetic member adapted to be rotated by a driving magnetic member external of said sealed register body, said follower magnetic member provided within said internal cavity;   an antenna provided within said internal cavity, and a visual display provided within said internal cavity and visible through said face portion wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically-conductive member connected to an extending leg and a second electrically-conductive member spaced an axial distance from the first conductive member; and   a microprocessor within the internal cavity and coacting with the antenna, wherein the rotatable follower member coacts with the microprocessor to determine a volume of flow and/or a flow rate through a meter, wherein the antenna is adapted to transmit a signal defined as a first signal identifying the flow rate and/or the volume of flow measured by the sealed register body, wherein said visual display displays a volume of flow measured by the sealed register body that corresponds to a number of rotations of said rotatable follower member, and wherein the microprocessor generates a signal defined as a second signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs:   (i) the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time, or   (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value, and   the antenna is adapted to transmit the second signal indicating a leak,   wherein the signal generated indicating a leak is an alarm emitted from the meter and a wireless signal is transmitted from the meter to a location other than the meter indicating leak,   a meter body coupled to said sealed register body; and   a shut-off valve in a liquid line which is coupled to said meter.   
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein interior of the meter register has a negative pressure. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the magnetically activated device is a reed switch.