Protective cover for smart meters

Abstract

To solve conventional problems such as a disconnection of a signal line and the lack of suitable installation locations when the installation location of the transmitter is far from a smart meter without clear standards for the installation locations of the transmitters for transmitting water usage.SOLUTION: A protective cover for a smart meter comprises: covering pieces 11 and 12 attached from both sides along the longitudinal direction of a meter unit base; and a lid 2 with space 21 for setting a transmitter of the smart meter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective cover for a water meter equipped with a transmitter that transmits usage amounts and the like by radio waves, that is, a so-called smart meter.

Background Art

[0002] A transmitter that transmits water usage amounts and the like is connected to a water meter by a signal line and is to be installed in a pipe shaft in an apartment house. However, there is no fixed installation location, such as attaching it to a building wall or attaching it to a pipe. It is necessary to take measures according to the installation site.

[0003] As a conventional technology, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is to maintain a stable adhering state in response to an adhering operation to an adherent with a complex shape. Regarding the covering of the bottom of the meter, a bottom covering part that penetrates the gap between the bottom of the meter and the release base is formed to project on the side abutment plate. A fitting convex part formed at the tip of the bottom covering part is fitted into a fitting concave part in a side abutment plate that faces and pairs with this side abutment plate, and the bottom covering cover is configured to be simultaneously covered on the bottom of the meter by means of concave-convex fitting.

[0004] [[ID=Z0]]In addition, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is to cope with an adverse effect on meter performance caused by an external magnetic field such as the proximity of a strong permanent magnet to a meter device in which a flow rate integration detection operation by a magnetic sensor is performed, such as an electronic water meter. A magnetic shielding member made of a high magnetic permeability material is integrally formed with a heat insulating member and configured as a heat insulating cover that covers the water meter.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, there are no clear standards for the installation location of the transmitters that transmit water usage data, and when using them in existing piping after replacing the water meter, it is conceivable that there may be no suitable installation location, such as when residents' belongings are stored in the pipe shaft. Therefore, if the transmitter is installed far from the smart meter, problems such as broken signal wires or the lack of a suitable installation location may occur.

[0007] Furthermore, as a protective cover, it must maintain a stable attachment state to accommodate complex shapes of objects during low-temperature freezing in winter, and as a smart meter, it must also protect the water flow rate accumulation detection and display mechanism from magnetism and freezing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This invention addresses the above-mentioned problems. To that end, one water inlet of the smart meter's flow path is arranged on one side, and the other water inlet of the smart meter's flow path is arranged on the other side opposite to the one side, and the smart meter protective cover covers the smart meter, and the parts that are combined to form one side and the other side have edges that abut against the opening edge of the water inlet and abut against each other, and the smart meter is sandwiched between the edges and the ends abut against each other to form a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the upper opening is surrounded by the upper peripheral edge and the opening edges of the ends The smart meter comprises a pair of cover bodies that cover the side and bottom surfaces of the smart meter, having a hole through which the opening edge passes, surrounded by a portion that abuts against the smart meter; a housing portion for housing a transmitter that is connected to the smart meter by a signal line and transmits signals received from the smart meter to the outside by radio waves; and a lid body that covers the top surface of the smart meter by closing the upper opening with its bottom surface when the lower peripheral edge abuts against the upper peripheral edge of the pair of cover bodies. The portions where the ends of the parts constituting one surface of the pair of cover bodies abut against each other have a first fitting structure that fits together, and the lower peripheral edge of the lid body and the upper peripheral edge located on the part constituting one surface of the pair of cover bodies have a second fitting structure that fits together. The first fitting structure comprises a first fitting projection formed on the end edge of one of the pair of cover bodies, above the portion that abuts the opening edge, and a first fitting recess formed on the end edge of the other cover body, above the portion that abuts the opening edge, into which the first fitting projection fits. The second fitting structure comprises a second fitting recess formed on the lower peripheral edge of the lid, one second fitting projection formed on the upper peripheral edge where the end edge of one of the cover bodies is located, and another second fitting projection formed on the upper peripheral edge where the end edge of the other cover body is located. When the pair of cover bodies are fitted together by the first fitting structure, the upper opening is closed by the lid, causing the one second fitting projection and the other second fitting projection to fit into the second fitting recess of the lid. The location of the smart meter's transmitter has been standardized, and the transmitter is always positioned directly above the smart meter, simplifying the handling of signal lines and preventing disconnections and interference.

[0009] Furthermore, the transmitter housing lid will be provided with notches as needed to accommodate the shape of the transmitter being housed and to allow for the removal of dust and debris that accumulates in the housing space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention, as described above, A protective cover for a smart meter, wherein one side of the smart meter has a water inlet for one of the flow channels of the smart meter, and the other side of the smart meter has a water inlet for the other of the flow channels of the smart meter, and the smart meter is covered by a protective cover for a smart meter, wherein the parts that are combined to form one side and the parts that form the other side have edges that abut against the opening edges of the water inlets and abut against each other, and the smart meter is sandwiched between the edges, forming a bottomed cylindrical shape, with an upper opening surrounded by an upper peripheral edge, and the edges that abut against each other's opening edges A pair of cover bodies that cover the side and bottom surfaces of the smart meter, having a hole through which the opening edge passes, surrounded by a portion, a housing for housing a transmitter that is connected to the smart meter by a signal wire and transmits signals received from the smart meter to the outside by radio waves, and a lid body that covers the top surface of the smart meter by closing the upper opening with its bottom surface when the lower peripheral edge of the pair of cover bodies abuts against the upper peripheral edge of the pair of cover bodies, wherein the pair of cover bodies The portions of the face of the cover that abut each other have a first fitting structure that fits together, and the lower peripheral edge of the cover and the upper peripheral edge located on the face of the pair of cover bodies have a second fitting structure that fits together, and the first fitting structure has a first fitting projection formed on the edge of one of the pair of cover bodies above the portion that abuts the opening edge, and a second fitting projection formed on the edge of the other cover body above the portion that abuts the opening edge, into which the first fitting projection fits A smart meter comprising: 1. a fitting recess and 2. a fitting structure having a second fitting recess formed on the lower peripheral edge of the lid, 1. a second fitting projection formed on the upper peripheral edge where the end edge of one cover body is located, and 2. a second fitting projection formed on the upper peripheral edge where the end edge of the other cover body is located, wherein when the pair of cover bodies are fitted together by the first fitting structure, the upper opening is closed by the lid, causing the 1st second fitting projection and the 2nd second fitting projection to fit into the second fitting recess of the lid. By creating a protective cover, the smart meter's transmitter was fixed in place, and the transmitter could always be positioned close to the smart meter, simplifying the handling of signal lines and significantly reducing the risk of disconnections and interference. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1]This is an overall side view of a meter unit base showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a protective cover is attached from both sides along the longitudinal direction of the meter unit base by the covering piece according to the present invention and a lid having a space for housing a transmitter. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the lid, which also includes a space for housing the transmitter. [Figure 3] Similarly, this is an overall front view of the protective cover, showing the fit of the two covering pieces attached from both sides along the longitudinal direction of the meter unit base, and the fit between the two covering pieces and the lid, with the internal space and the space for housing the transmitter indicated by dashed lines. [Figure 4] Similarly, this is a left side view of the protective cover, showing the fit between the left covering piece and the lid, with a cutout in the upper half of the lid where the transmitter housing space is set, and the internal space setting of the left covering piece indicated by a dashed line. [Figure 5] Similarly, this is a right-side view of the protective cover, with dashed lines indicating the fit between the right covering piece and the lid, and the internal space configuration between the lid and the right covering piece. [Figure 6] Similarly, this is an overall right side view of the protective cover showing the lid with the required notches set. [Figure 7] Similarly, this is a plan view of the lid showing the lid with the required notches set in place. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a covering piece that covers the meter unit base A from both sides along its longitudinal direction, and consists of a left covering piece 11 and a right covering piece 12. It fits with the lid 2 from above to enclose the measuring instrument body a, protecting it from low-temperature freezing in winter and magnetic fields emitted from the vicinity.

[0013] The protective cover is made of lightweight, easily processed materials such as expanded polystyrene, and incorporates magnetic shielding components and a robust core material as needed. The use of a core material helps prevent damage even if luggage or other items are placed on it. The meter unit base A consists of a measuring instrument body a such as a water meter, a stop valve b on its primary side, and a body member c incorporating a check valve on its secondary side, forming a complex shape. The protective cover encompasses the measuring instrument body a.

[0014] The protective cover is composed of left and right covering pieces 11 and 12 and a lid body 2. A housing space 21 for the transmitter is formed on the upper surface of the lid body 2, and the transmitter of the smart meter is to be housed therein. There are various forms of transmitters, and it is not necessarily required to fit precisely therein. In some cases, the transmitter may protrude from the space.

[0015] In the housing space 21, corresponding to the form of the above transmitter, a notch 22 is formed as needed, serving as an adjustment part corresponding to the shape of the transmitter and a sweeping outlet for dust and debris accumulating in the set space. Also, a through hole 23 for passing the signal line is set in the protective cover. The signal line is led out to the outer peripheral part of the protective cover through the through hole 23 and is installed to be wound around a step flange 24 provided on the covering piece 1 so that the extra part does not slip off, thereby suppressing the occurrence of disconnection and wire mixing.

[0016] The left and right covering pieces 11 and 12 of the protective cover are configured such that the joint surfaces are fitted with a step as shown in FIG. 3, so that the fitting fastening degree is increased. Also, regarding the joint surface between the covering piece 1 and the lid body 2, a protrusion 13 is formed on the upper surface of the covering piece 1 and is fitted with a bottom recess of the lid body 2.

[0017] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it locates the installation position of the transmitter of the smart meter in a fixed position, enables the transmitter to be always set in the immediate vicinity of the smart meter, facilitates the processing of the signal line, and can significantly avoid disconnection and wire mixing.

Industrial Applicability

[0018] The protective cover for the smart meter according to the invention of the present application locates the installation position of the transmitter of the smart meter at a fixed position, enables the transmitter to be always set near the smart meter, facilitates the processing of signal lines, and can greatly avoid disconnection and wire entanglement. Therefore, it has a high utilization value in the water supply facility industry.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0019] 1 Covering pieces that cover the meter unit base from both sides 11 Left covering piece 12 Right covering piece 13 Protrusions on the upper surface of the covering piece 2 Lid 21 Transmitter accommodation space 22 Notch of the transmitter accommodation space 23 Through hole of the transmitter accommodation space A Meter unit base a Measuring instrument body b Stop valve c Barrel member

Claims

1. A protective cover for a smart meter, wherein one side of the smart meter has a water inlet for one of the flow channels of the smart meter, and the other side of the smart meter has a water inlet for the other of the flow channels of the smart meter, and the smart meter is covered by the smart meter, A pair of cover bodies covering the side and bottom surfaces of the smart meter, each having an upper opening surrounded by an upper peripheral edge, and a hole surrounded by the portions of each of the respective ends that abut the opening edge, through which the opening edge passes. The smart meter comprises a housing for a transmitter connected to the smart meter by a signal line and transmitting signals received from the smart meter to the outside via radio waves, and a cover having a lower peripheral edge that abuts against the upper peripheral edge of the pair of cylindrical cover bodies, and covering the upper surface of the smart meter by closing the upper opening with its lower surface when the lower peripheral edge abuts against the upper peripheral edge of the pair of cover bodies, The portions of the pair of cover bodies whose edges come into contact with each other have a first fitting structure that allows them to fit together. The lower peripheral edge of the lid and the upper peripheral edge located on the portion constituting one surface of the pair of cover bodies have a second fitting structure that allows them to fit together. The first fitting structure comprises, A first fitting projection is formed on one end of the cover body in a portion located above the portion that abuts the opening edge, The other end of the cover body has a first fitting recess formed in a portion located above the portion that abuts the opening edge, into which the first fitting projection fits, The second fitting structure described above is The second fitting recess formed on the lower peripheral edge of the lid, One second fitting projection is formed on the upper peripheral edge portion where the end edge of one of the cover bodies is located, It has a second fitting projection formed on the upper peripheral edge portion where the end edge of the other cover body is located, With the pair of cover bodies fitted together by the first fitting structure, the upper opening is closed by the lid, so that one second fitting projection and the other second fitting projection of the lid fit into the second fitting recess. Protective cover for smart meters.

2. The aforementioned cover is It has a through hole for passing the signal wire extending from the smart meter to the outside, The pair of cover bodies are, The outer circumference has a stepped portion for winding the excess portion of the signal wire that is exposed to the outside through the through hole. A protective cover for a smart meter as described in claim 1.

3. The aforementioned housing section is It is formed by the upper surface of the lid and a wall portion extending along the upper peripheral edge of the upper surface, The aforementioned wall portion includes, A notch is formed that corresponds to the shape of the transmitter and is used to sweep out dust and debris that accumulates in the housing. A protective cover for a smart meter according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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