Compact water meter

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a compact water meter having a meter casing (1) equipped with an inlet stub (1.1) and an outlet stub (1.2), and a rotary valve (4) in the cavity (1.6) of the meter casing (1) equipped with through-flow channel. A rotatably embedded impeller (3) is placed in the cylindrical seat (4.12) of the rotary valve (4), an optical sensor (11) is mounted via the sensor mounting bores formed in its rectangular seat, and a thermometer is placed in the measuring device bore. A closing cover (8) including a switching lever (6) is affixed to the meter casing (1), on which an electric motor and at least one battery is mounted, and which furthermore has a fitting casing including an electric control unit affixed to it.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of Invention:

[0003] Compact water meter

[0004] The subject of the invention is a compact water meter that is capable of measuring and remotely reading water consumption, as well as shutting off the water supply if needed.

[0005] Conventional water meters operate on mechanical principles, and are only capable of metering and displaying water consumption. In recent years, “intelligent” or “smart” water meters have appeared on the market, allowing for the remote reading and monitoring of water consumption. These measuring devices are advantageous for both consumers and water suppliers, as they do not require a manual reading of the water meter, meaning that no workers need to be retained for this purpose. In addition, they provide real-time, or even moment-to-moment information about water consumption, reducing pipe network water loss for both water suppliers and consumers, resulting in considerable savings both in terms of cost and water resources. In particular, pipe ruptures in water supply networks can cause considerable property damage due to the high amounts of water running to waste, if the consumer does not notice the pipe rupture within a short time.

[0006] Devices capable of remotely monitoring water consumption can actually track water consumption moment-to-moment, allowing for the detection of pipe ruptures and leakage due to a malfunction in the network. If these devices are also supplemented with a remote controlled shut-off fitting, the water network can be shut off as soon as the malfunction is detected.

[0007] Water meters capable of remote reading and smart metering are the current state of the art, as noted in the patent documents put forward below.

[0008] Patent document US 2014 / 0165719 Al describes a water metering system that includes a water meter, a ball-valve, a pressure generating system with a turbine and a flow regulating opening / shutting element, as well as a wireless communication system. The measuring system contains an inlet, an impeller encased in a magnet with one or two blades, and electric switches arranged in the vicinity of the meter casing. The liquid duct of the measuring system is linear, in order to reduce pressure losses. The energy generating system has two liquid ducts, one for pressure generation and the other for maintaining the desired water pressure.

[0009] The patent document with publication number EP 0769681 A2 describes a water meter equipped with an impeller that uses optical sensors to measure the quantity of water flowing through. This impeller is built into the casing of the water meter. The impeller shaft is wide with a stud in the middle, through which it is embedded in the water meter casing in such a way that it can be rotated. The wide design of the shaft allows for the application of a reflective coating. The coating is divided into smaller sectors, with alternating reflective and non-reflective sections. An infrared light source and an infrared sensor are placed over the shaft. When the impeller and its shaft rotate, the reflective and non-reflective surface sections alternate below the light source and the sensor. The infrared light source emits short impulses, which are reflected into the sensor in a greater proportion from the reflective sections than from the non-reflective sections. The rotation of the impeller - and thus the amount of water flowing through - can be calculated by detecting the reflections, and it can be forwarded via appropriate devices to the consumer or the service provider.

[0010] The patent document with publication number DE 2715239 Al also describes a water meter equipped with an optical sensor. An impeller consisting of a disc fixed on a shaft is mounted inside the enclosure of the water meter, with a 90° angle between the disc and the shaft. There are blades installed on the disc, ensuring that the water flowing through the meter casing will rotate the impeller. There are evenly spaced bores on the disc, adjacent to the blades. A light source is mounted on one side of the disc, with a sensor transforming the light into electric impulses on the other. When the light source is switched on and the disc is rotated, light enters the sensor through the bores, and disappears in the sections between the bores. When the disc is rotated, the sensor records an intermittent signal. The speed of the disc and the amount of water flowing through can be deduced from the recorded signal, and can be forwarded via appropriate devices to the consumer or the service provider. The light source used is typically an infrared diode, and the sensor is a phototransistor.

[0011] In addition to devices using optic sensors, there are also known solutions operating on magnetic principles. These water meters are equipped with impulse transmitters. The transmitter’s impulse signal is ensured by a magnet placed on the impeller or casing of the water meter, which induces voltage as it passes in front of a coil. The emitted impulse signal indicates the amount of water flowing through, proportionally with the rotation of the impeller. Such a solution is described in the patent document with publication number DE 3608807 Al. One impeller is mounted inside the water meter, and connected to a measuring device. The measuring device has a ferromagnetic rod, which rotates along with the impeller and the measuring device. Two coils are placed in front of each other on the outside of the water meter casing in such a way that the ferromagnetic rod and the coils are collinear for certain positions of the magnet. The rotation of the ferromagnetic rod can be identified with the coils, from which it is possible to deduce the speed of the impeller and the quantity of the water flowing through.

[0012] Other existing devices are mounted on conventional water meters to get the water meter reading. The essence of these solutions is that the dial-plate of the water meters are typically equipped with a moving element, for example a hand. This moving element is connected to a rev counter magnet or a metallic disc. The devices detect the movement of the hand, or the magnet connected to it.

[0013] Patent document with publication number JP 2002-90190 A describes a water meter comprising a measuring device, a communication unit for reading the meter, and an electrically operated valve unit. The rotating magnetic field of the permanent magnet placed on the upper part of the measuring device’s impeller is detected by the magnetic sensor in the signaling unit, which then calculates water consumption with the help of a microcomputer. This data is transferred by the transceiver module in the signaling unit. The valve unit includes a permanent magnet and a coil, through which current is passed to open and close the valve.

[0014] Patent document CN 217900923 U provides a solution for meeting a special requirement, describing a valve controlled loT type water meter, designed to be suitable for long-term underwater use. The device includes a base meter, an actuator mounted on the base meter and incorporated in the bottom housing, and a valve control unit mounted on the bottom housing. The device’s control unit and a battery are arranged in the valve control unit. A drive motor is located in the bottom housing of the actuator, connected to the valve control unit via an electric wire. The device is filled and sealed with various glue structures, ensuring that the device is structurally sealed. This is emphasized in the description of the device, without disclosing the solution of the water flow regulation, or how the water meter operates. The disadvantage of the known water meters suitable for remote or smart metering is that they tend to be complicated, and their mechanism differs greatly from that of the mechanical water meters used previously. Their production is complex and costly due to their unique construction, and they are unable to shut off the water supply in case of failure or malfunction, which required human intervention at the water intake point. The high power consumption of the devices can be another disadvantage, as they cannot be operated from batteries, or only for a limited period, rendering them unusable in certain locations. They also cannot be installed to operate off-grid.

[0015] In view of the above, our objective was to design a compact water meter that takes up little space and includes vertically integrated subcomponents, one that is designed to be suitable for remote reading, and can be operated with low energy consumption.

[0016] A further goal of ours is to allow the opening and shutting of the water meter’s water supply using remote-controlled methods with low energy consumption, via an application installed on the consumer’s mobile telecommunications device.

[0017] Yet another goal of ours was to simplify the water meter’s structural design, to have it generally match the design of conventional water meters operating on mechanical principles, and to require no special procedures for the device’s maintenance.

[0018] We achieved our goals with a compact water meter, with its meter casing equipped with an inlet stub that can be connected to the public water supply network, as well as an outlet stub that can be connected to the consumer water network. The meter casing is designed with a cavity, housing a rotary valve rotating freely within a given range. The rotary valve includes a through-flow channel fitted to the inlet stub and the outlet stub of the meter casing in such a way that in a certain position, the rotary valve allows water to flow through it from the meter casing’s inlet stub to its outlet stub. The inlet and outlet stubs house splined profiled sealings, which are pressed against the rotary valve if the water is flowing, and thus seal the through- flow channel.

[0019] The rotary valve has an off-centered body and a cylindrical skirt. The surface of the cylindrical skirt has a groove with sealing inside, which prevents the ingress of water into the space above the sealing. The through-flow channel is located inside in the off-centered body, and the off-centered body is pressed against the profiled sealing of the inlet and outlet stubs once the water begins flowing. The off-centered body also has a centered, cylindrical seat housing a freely rotating impeller with blades. The impeller is mounted on a shaft stud embedded centrally inside the cavity of the meter casing, and is held in place from above with the impeller shaft stud fixed in the cylindrical seat of the off-centered body.

[0020] An arched and a rectangular seat and a centered splined stud hole are formed on the front surface of the cylindrical skirt of the rotary valve. The curved seat is equipped with a curved gear rack, connecting to the drive gear of the electric motor moving the rotary valve. There are bores in the rectangular seat of the rotary valve, in which an optical sensor for detecting the rotation of the impeller and a thermometer are clamped. The optical sensor consists of an infrared light source and a photodiode, positioned collinearly, in parallel with or perpendicular to the shaft of the impeller, in the rectangular seat of the cylindrical skirt. A switching lever is clamped in the splined stud hole of the rotary valve, which rotates along with the rotary valve, and is used to control the quantity of the water flowing through the rotary valve.

[0021] A closing cover is affixed to the meter casing, with a cylindrical recess cut into cover plate in order to accommodate the switching lever. Rotation end position limit switches are clamped in the seats formed in the closing cover, with which the switching lever, rotating together with the rotary valve, come into contact in order to control the rotation limit positions. Mounted on the closing cover are an electric motor connected to the curved gear rack of the curved seat via a gear on the cylindrical skirt of the rotary valve, as well as at least one battery, in addition to the fitting casing including the elements of the electric control unit. A groove is formed along the rim of the closing cover, encasing the teflon ring holding the rotary valve.

[0022] The compact water meter is equipped with a hermetically sealing housing, fitted with an aperture and covering the fitting casing and the closing cover. The quantity of water flowing through can be read on the LCD display of the device through the aperture, as indicated by the rotation of the impeller.

[0023] The storage spaces of the fitting casing and the closing cover house an electric control unit including voltage converter, control panel, relay module, LCD display, microswitches, LED signal-light, and at least one battery and an electric motor. An antenna connection is affixed onto the inner surface of the housing.

[0024] The operating principle of the compact water meter capable of remotely reading water consumption is a smart water meter, electrically powered by one or more batteries, operated by an electric motor and controlled by an electric control unit. The water flow is opened and shut off by the rotary valve powered by an electric motor and rotated with the help of a curved gear rack formed in the arched seat of the cylindrical skirt. The opening and shutting end positions of the rotary valve are controlled by the microswitches in the closing cover, which are operated by the switching lever when it comes into contact with them. The switching position of the switching lever pushed into the splined stud hole of the cylindrical skirt - and thus the opening and shutting position of the rotary valve - can be adjusted by modifying the angle of the switching lever.

[0025] An essential element of the invention is that it saves energy, as the compact water meter requires no power supply in either its opened or its shut position, and is capable of holding its set position indefinitely.

[0026] The rotation of the impeller allows for the measurement of water consumption both remotely, and on-site. The water flowing in the meter casing through the inlet stub drives the impeller by flowing through the through-flow channel. The infrared light source placed in the optical sensor emits light, which is reflected by the meter casing, after which it enters the photodiode. When water is let into the compact water meter and the impeller starts rotating, the blades of the impeller rotating in front of the optical sensor, covering both the infrared light source and the photodiode, the fact of which can be identified by the signal recorded by the photodiode. Both the rotation of the blades and the speed of the impeller can be determined based on this, thus making it possible to deduce the quantity of water flowing through.

[0027] The controlled electric elements of the compact water meter are operated with 6V DC, using at least one battery. The control unit is in communication with an application installed on a mobile telecommunications device, usually the consumer’s mobile phone, via the antenna. The opening and shutting off of the compact water meter, and the remote reading of the water consumption is controlled by the user with the application via the custom program algorithm.

[0028] The electric equipment and the control system do not constitute the subject matter of the invention, therefore their detailed description is not included in the specification.

[0029] The compact water meter embodying the objectives of the invention are described in Claim 1, and the preferred implementation methods are set forth in the dependent sub-claims. The invention will now be further described in detail with the help of a drawing via a nonlimiting embodiment, wherein

[0030] - Figure 1 shows the compact water meter,

[0031] - Figure 2 shows the structural units of the compact water meter,

[0032] - Figure 3 shows the A - A section of Figure 1,

[0033] - Figure 4 shows the meter casing,

[0034] - Figure 5 is a drawing of the profiled sealing,

[0035] - Figures 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 show the structure of the rotary valve,

[0036] - Figure 7 is a drawing of the drive gear of the electric motor,

[0037] - Figure 8 shows the impeller,

[0038] - Figure 9 is a drawing of the switching lever,

[0039] - Figures 10.1 and 10.2 show the closing cover, and

[0040] - Figure 11 shows the fitting casing.

[0041] The structural subunits of the compact water meter (WM) shown on Figure 1 are the 1 meter casing measuring the water consumption with the 1.1 inlet stub and the 1.2 outlet stub, as well as the 8 closing cover with the 9 fitting casing on it, covering the 1 meter casing, these latter elements covered by the 10 housing. The 10 housing is equipped with a 10.1 transparent aperture, through which the water consumption can be read locally. In the inner space of the 10 housing, a 16.7 antenna connection providing telecommunications is affixed.

[0042] The 10 housing is made of plastic in a way that it ensures hermetical sealing for the parts in the inner space, therefore it can be sealed and installed under water if required.

[0043] Figure 2 shows the decomposed compact water meter (WM), with the following constituent parts: 1 meter casing; 2 profiled sealings, which are built into the 1.1 inlet stub and the 1.2 outlet stub of the 1 meter casing (see Figure 1); 3 impeller; 4 rotary valve, whose 4.12 cylindrical seat (see Figure 6.2) houses the 3 impeller; 5 teflon ring; 6 switching lever, which is encased in the 4 rotary valve and regulates the water quantity flowing through the device; 7 sealing, which seals the cylindrical surface of the 4 rotary valve; 8 closing cover, in which the 5 teflon ring is encased; 9 fitting casing, which houses the control elements; 10 housing.

[0044] The 11 optical sensor and the 12 thermometer are located in the 4 rotary valve. In our example, two 13 batteries and the 14 electric motor rotating the 4 rotary valve in between the open / shut positions with the help of the 15 gear are mounted in the 8 closing cover. The task of the 16 electric control unit is to allow for the remote reading of the water consumption using the antenna, to shut off or open the water flow at the 4 rotary valve, and to provide information to the user. The 16 electric control unit installed in the 9 fitting casing includes a 16.1 voltage converter, a 16.2 control panel, a 16.3 relay module, a 16.4 LCD display, 16.5 microswitches and a 16.6 LED signal-light. In the example shown, the 16.1 voltage converter produces stabile 5 V DC power supply using the DC voltage of the two serially connected 13 batteries, which is required by the 16.2 control panel in the device. The voltage is released by the 16.2 control panel to the control elements, it provides the information package sent to the 16.4 LCD display, it has a memory, runs the algorithm and ensures external communication via Wifi, GSM, or Bluetooth telecommunications devices. The 16.3 relay module closes the circuit of the electric motor. It consists of two, preferably solid-state relays, which connect the 16 electric control unit to the 14 electric motor with opposite directional current. The 16.2 control panel switches between the relays, switching to one when shutting off, and the other when opening the water flow. The 16.4 LCD display shows information to the user, which, depending on the controlling algorithm, can be water meter reading, valve position, water temperature, or other adjustable parameters. Two of the 16.5 microswitches provide input from the user to the controlling program, enabling navigation in the menu, and performing the functions determined by the algorithm. The other two microswitches define the thresholds of the two limit positions of the rotary valve, with the help of the 6 switching lever. The 16.6 LED signal-light displays information as one of three colors for the user, which can be failure, impulse, program mode, low voltage, etc.

[0045] The 14 electric motor rotating the 4 rotary valve is a high performance, 6 V carbon-brush DC motor with a metallic drive gear. The 13 batteries are 3.7 V Li-ion types. The example shown has two of them in serial connection. The 12 thermometer (thermistor) provides information to the control electronics about the temperature of the water. The 13 optical sensor is an infrared switch with a pair of transceiver electronics, detecting the rotation of the 3 impeller, based on which the algorithm is capable of determining the quantity of water flowing through.

[0046] Figure 3 shows the A - A section of Figure 1, without the 9 fitting casing and 10 housing. The figure shows the 1 meter casing with an 1.1 inlet stub, 1.2 outlet stub and equipped with 2 profiled sealings, in the 1.6 cavity of which is located the 4 rotary valve with 7 sealing on its cylindrical surface. The freely rotating 3 impeller is mounted in the 4.12 cylindrical seat of the 4 rotary valve. The figure also shows the 11 optical sensor installed in the 4 rotary valve. The 1 meter casing has an 8 closing cover affixed, which has an 8.2 cylindrical recess housing the 6 switching lever inserted in the 4.6 splined stud hole of the 4 rotary valve.

[0047] The 8.12 groove is formed along the rim of the 8 closing cover, encasing the 5 teflon ring. The 5 teflon ring extends into the 4.13 channel formed along the 4.1 cylindrical skirt rim of the 4 rotary valve. The height of the 5 teflon ring is larger than the total depth of the 8.12 groove and the 4.13 channel combined. The 4 rotary valve is stopped and held in place by the 5 teflon ring touching the bottom of the 4.13 channel, when the shut off 1.2 outlet stub, is lifted due to the water pressure present in the 1 meter casing, and would be pressed against the 8 closing cover with great force. The 5 teflon ring is used to reduce the friction by considerably reducing the sizes of the surfaces coming into contact, i.e. the cover plate and the cylindrical skirt.

[0048] With an open compact water meter (WM), the water flows through the 1.1 inlet stub into the 1 meter casing, rotating the 3 impeller. The rotation of the 3 impeller allows for measuring the consumption. The 11 optical sensor placed in the 4.9 sensor mounting bore of the 4 rotary valve above the 3 impeller emits infrared light. This infrared light is reflected from the wall of the 1 meter casing and enters the photodiode placed in the 11 optical sensor, wherein it is transformed into an electric signal which is then processed by the 16.2 control panel (see Figure 2). When the 3 impeller rotates, its blades turn in front of the 11 optical sensor, covering the infrared light source and the photodiode. This covering causes a periodic alteration in the signal recorded as the 3 impeller is rotating, which can be recorded and thus allows for deducing the rotational speed of the blades. There are two ways to place the 11 optical sensor in the 4 rotary valve: the infrared light source and the photodiode can be mounted besides each other either parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the 3 impeller. If the infrared light source and the photodiode are placed parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rotating 3 impeller can cover them both at the same time. If they are placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the 3 impeller will first cover the infrared light source, and then the photodiode, alternating between them. In both cases, the rotation of the 3 impeller can be identified from the measured signal.

[0049] Figure 4 shows the design of the 1 meter casing. The threaded 1.1 inlet stub and the threaded outlet stub 1.2 are built into the 1.3 casing body of the 1 meter casing in front of each other, arranged along the same center line. The 1.1 inlet stub and the 1.2 outlet stub are provided with a 1.4 splined seat, which fit into the splines of the 2 profiled sealings placed into the stubs, preventing the 2 profiled sealings from turning in the stubs. The 1.5 rim is formed along the upper edge of the 1.3 casing body for accommodating the 8 closing cover affixed onto the

[0050] 1 meter casing. The 1.3 casing body features a cylindrical 1.6 cavity made with the 1.10 stepped cavity wall for accommodating the 4 rotary valve. The 1.9 impeller shaft stud is embedded in the middle of the bottom part of the 1.3 casing body, with the 1.7 bores on the two side walls of the 1.3 casing body shaped to accommodate the 1.1 inlet stub and the 1.2 outlet stub. Furthermore 1.8 threaded bores are also applied on the 1.3 casing body for accommodating the screws (not shown) clamping the closing cover.

[0051] The 5 profiled sealing shown on Figure 5 has a 2.1 cylindrical body and a 2.2 splined body, whose shape fits to the 1.1 inlet stub and the 1.2 outlet stub bores of the 1 meter casing. A 2.3 rim and a 2.5 conical inlet are formed on the free end of the 2.2 splined body. The shape of the 2.4 sealing end of the 2.1 cylindrical body is slightly arched to fit to the 4 rotary valve, and is pressed onto the 4 rotary valve when the water flow is opened.

[0052] Figures 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 show the structure of the 4 rotary valve, which has a 4.1 cylindrical skirt (and a 4.7 off-centered body, the latter performing the shutting and opening of the water flow route. The 7 sealing is placed into the 4.2 groove formed on the cylindrical surface of the 4.1 cylindrical skirt, which insulates the space above the 4.1 cylindrical skirt by being pressed onto the wall of the 1.6 cavity of the 1 meter casing. The 4.13 channel running along the rim of the front plate of the 4.1 cylindrical skirt is formed to accommodate the 5 teflon ring (see Figures 2 and 3). The 4.3 curved seat including the 4.4 curved gear rack, and the 4.5 rectangular seat including the through 4.9 sensor mounting bore and 4.10 measuring device bore are cut out on the front plate of the 4.1 cylindrical skirt. The 15 drive gear of the 14 electric motor rotating the 4 rotary valve is connected to the 4.4 curved gear rack (see Figures

[0053] 2 and 7). The infrared light source and photodiode of the 11 optical sensor needs to be clamped into the 4.9 sensor mounting bores, while the 4.10 measuring device bore is for clamping the 12 thermometer. A 4.6 splined stud hole is also formed centrally on the front plate of the 4.1 cylindrical skirt, to which the 6.3 splined stud (see Figure 9) of the 6 switching lever is to be connected.

[0054] A 4.8 through-flow channel is led through the 4.7 off-centered body, whose position is aligned with the 1.1 inlet stub and 1.2 outlet stub of the 1 meter casing. The 4.12 cylindrical seat accommodating the impeller is formed in the 4.7 off-centered body, in which the 4.11 impeller shaft stud is centrally clamped, fitting in the 3.1 bore (see Figure 8) of the 3 impeller to keep the 3 impeller in place. Figure 6.3 shows the positions of the 4.7 off-centered body and the 4.1 cylindrical skirt relative to each other. The 4.7 off-centered body is formed by combining the areas of two circles of the same radius but shifted centers. The arrangement is shown on the figure with chords Li and L2, wherein the center of the circle with L2 radius is the center of rotation (center of the 4.11 impeller shaft stud) and Li is approximately 0.5-1.5 mm larger than L2.

[0055] The rotating 4.7 off-centered body allows for opening and shutting off the water flow in the 1 meter casing with very little friction, due to its off-centered design.

[0056] Figure 7 is a drawing of the drive 15 gear of the 14 electric motor. The 15 gear has a 15.1 cylindrical body and a 15.2 gear body with a 15.3 shaft hole going through it. A 15.4 threaded bore is formed on the 15.1 cylindrical body, through which the 15 gear can be affixed with a screw on the shaft of the drive gear of the 14 electric motor.

[0057] Figure 8 is a drawing of the 3 impeller. The 3 impeller consists of four 3.1 blades at right angles to each other, extending from the 3.2 shaft, with 3.3, 3.4 bores drilled through them. The 3 impeller is built into the 4.12 cylindrical seat of the 4.7 off-centered body of the 4 rotary valve, wherein the 4.11 impeller shaft stud clamped into the 4.12 cylindrical seat (see Figure 6.2) is inserted into the upper 3.3 bore of the 3.2 shaft. The 1.9 impeller shaft stud (see Figure 4) clamped in the center of the bottom part of the 1.3 casing body is inserted into the lower 3.4 bore of the 3.2 shaft.

[0058] Figure 9 shows the 6 switching lever. The 6 switching lever includes two 6.1 switching plates in one plane, connected to the 6.2 shaft. A 6.3 splined stud is located at the end of the 6.2 shaft, which is to be inserted into the 4.6 splined stud hole (see Figure 6.1) formed centrally on the front plate of the 4.1 cylindrical skirt of the 4 rotary valve. The 6 switching lever can be clamped into the 4.6 stud hole in any position for regulating the quantity of water flowing through the compact water meter (WM), and for opening or shutting off the water flow.

[0059] Figures 10.1 and 10.2 show the 8 closing cover. The 8.1 cover plate of the 8 closing cover houses an 8.2 cylindrical recess, an 8.3 battery seat, four 8.4 mounting bores, four 8.5 positioning stud bores and an 8.7 fastening clamp. The 8.2 cylindrical recess includes the 6 switching lever which is equipped with two 8.6 limit switch seats at its two ends, holding the 16.5 microswitches. The 6 switching lever rotating along with the 4 rotary valve controls the rotation of the 4 rotary valve by contacting the 16.5 microswitches, and thus quantitatively regulates the flow of water, opening and shutting it as needed. The 8.3 battery seat is designed to accommodate the 13 batteries, with the 8.31 recess at the bottom of the seat allowing space for the electrical wiring. The 8 closing cover can be affixed on the 1 meter casing with screws (not shown) placed into the 8.4 mounting bores. The 8.5 positioning stud bores are used to accommodate the 9.6 positioning studs (see Figure 11) of the 9 fitting casing. The slotted 8.7 fastening clamp holds the 14 electric motor, wherein the strength of the clamping can be set by the screws (not represented) let through the 8.9 bores of the 8.8 clamping plates at the edges of the 8.7 fastening clamp slot. The drive shaft of the 14 electric motor can be led out from the 8 closing cover through the 8.10 shaft passage aperture of the 8.1 cover plate, while the electrical wiring can be led out to the 8.1 cover plate through the 8.11 bores. The 5 teflon ring is placed in the 8.12 groove running along the rim of the bottom part of the 8.1 cover plate (see Figure 3).

[0060] Figure 11 shows the 9 fitting casing, housing the integrated 9.1 relay module holder, the 9.2 LCD display holder, the 9.3 control panel holder, the 9.4 fuse holder, the 9.5 electrical cable guides, the 9.7 LED signal-light seat and the 9.8 microswitch holder. The appropriate placement of the 9 fitting casing on the 8 closing cover is ensured by inserting the 9.6 positioning studs at the bottom of the 9 fitting casing in the 8.5 positioning stud bores of the 8 closing cover.

[0061] The 16 electric control unit can be instructed via the application installed on a telecommunications device, usually a mobile phone, to open and shut off the compact water meter (WM), and can be used to remotely read of the water consumption. The unit can be controlled by the user with the application, via the custom program algorithm. The controlling electronics can be connected to a GSM module, allowing the device to be controlled via a mobile telecommunications network. The other option is to connect the 16 electric control unit to a Wifi antenna, through which the compact water meter (WM) can be connected to the wireless local area network (WLAN). If the local network is connected to the internet, the compact water meter (WM) can be controlled through the internet.

[0062] Based on the above, it is clear that the compact water meter embodied by the invention is suitable for resolving the tasks outlined in the objectives, because it allows for remote reading of the water consumption, its use saves energy, as it only requires electrical power when switching to the open or shut off position, and otherwise does not use any power. Furthermore, it can also be operated remotely, and its structure is simple, requiring no special maintenance. For the present invention, the valve and the meter casing are integrated into a single unit, resulting in a compact device that takes up much less space than other known solutions.

[0063] Reference marks

[0064] WM- water meter

[0065] 1- meter casing

[0066] 1.1- inlet stub

[0067] 1.2- outlet stub

[0068] 1.3- casing body

[0069] 1.4- seat

[0070] 1.5- rim

[0071] 1.6- (cylindrical) cavity

[0072] 1.7- bore

[0073] 1.8- threaded bore

[0074] 1.9- impeller shaft stud

[0075] 1.10- stepped cavity wall

[0076] 2- profiled sealing

[0077] 2.1- cylindrical body

[0078] 2.2- splined body

[0079] 2.3- rim

[0080] 2.4- sealing end

[0081] 2.5- conical inlet

[0082] 3- impeller

[0083] 3.1- blade

[0084] 3.2- shaft

[0085] 3.3- bore

[0086] 3.4- bore

[0087] 4- rotary valve

[0088] 4.1- cylindrical skirt

[0089] 4.2- groove

[0090] 4.3- curved seat

[0091] 4.4- curved gear rack

[0092] 4.5- rectangular seat

[0093] 4.6- splined stud hole

[0094] 4.7- oval body

[0095] 4.8- through-flow channel

[0096] 4.9- sensor mounting bore

[0097] 4.10- measuring device bore .11- impeller shaft stud.12- cylindrical seat .13- channel - teflon ring - switching lever .1- switching plate .2- shaft .3- splined stud - sealing - closing cover .1- cover plate .2- cylindrical recess .3- battery seat .31- recess .4- mounting bore .5- positioning stud bore.6- limit switch seat .7- fastening clamp .8- clamping plate .9- bore .10- shaft passage aperture.11- bore .12- groove - fitting casing .1- relay module holder.2- LED display holder.3- control panel holder.4- fuse holder .5- electrical cable guide.6- positioning stud .7- LED signal-light seat.8- microswitch holder0- housing 0.1- aperture 1- optical sensor 2- thermometer 3- battery 14- electric motor

[0098] 15- gear

[0099] 15.1- cylindrical body

[0100] 15.2- gear body

[0101] 15.3- shaft hole

[0102] 15.4- threaded bore

[0103] 16- electric control unit

[0104] 16.1- voltage converter

[0105] 16.2- control panel

[0106] 16.3- relay module

[0107] 16.4- LCD display

[0108] 16.5- microswitches

[0109] 16.6- LED signal-light

[0110] 16.7- antenna connection

[0111] Li, L2- chord x-x axis

Claims

Claims1. Compact water meter having a meter casing (1) equipped with an inlet stub (1.1) and an outlet stub (1.2), a rotary valve (4) equipped with through-flow channel (4.8), an optical sensor (11), a thermometer (12), and an electric motor (14), characterized in that- the rotary valve (4) is located in the cavity (1.6) of the meter casing (1),- the through-flow channel (4.8) of the rotary valve (4) is connected to the inlet stub (1.1) and the outlet stub (1.2) of the meter casing (1),- a rotatably embedded impeller (3) is located in the cylindrical seat (4.12) of the rotary valve (4),- a curved gear rack (4.4) is formed in the arched seat (4.3) of the rotary valve (4),- the optical sensor (11) is placed in the sensor mounting bores (4.9) formed in the rectangular seat (4.5) of the rotary valve (4) and the thermometer (12) is placed in the measuring device bores (4.10) of the rectangular seat (4.5),- a switching lever (6) is clamped in the centered splined stud hole (4.6) of the rotary valve (4),- a closing cover (8) housing the switching lever (6) is affixed to the meter casing (1),- an electric motor (14) connected to the curved gear rack (4.4) of the rotary valve (4), and at least one battery (13) are mounted to the closing cover (8), furthermore- a fitting casing (9) including an electric control unit (16) is affixed to the closing cover (8), the housing (10) of which also holds a telecommunications antenna connection (16.7).

2. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that an impeller shaft stud (1.9) is mounted centrally inside the cavity (1.6) of the meter casing (1).

3. Compact water meter according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that splined profiled sealings (2) are built into the inlet stub (1.1) and the outlet stub (1.2) of the meter casing (1).

4. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotary valve (4) has an off-centered body (4.7) and a cylindrical skirt (4.1).

5. Compact water meter according to Claim 4, characterized in that the rim of the cylindrical skirt (4.1) is provided with a channel (4.13).

6. Compact water meter according to any one of Claims 4 to 5, characterized in that there is a sealing (7) positioned in the groove (4.2) on the surface of the cylindrical skirt (4.1).

7. Compact water meter according to Claim 4, characterized in that the through-flow channel(4.8) is formed in the off-centered body (4.7).

8. Compact water meter according to Claim 7, characterized in that the off-centered body (4.7) has a cylindrical seat (4.12), in which an impeller shaft stud (4.11) is built centrally.

9. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the optical sensor (11) consists of an infrared light source and a photodiode.

10. Compact water meter according to Claim 9, characterized in that the infrared light source and the photodiode are positioned collinearly, either parallel with or perpendicular to the shaft(1.9) of the impeller (3), in the rectangular seat (4.5) of the cylindrical skirt (4.1).

11. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cover plate (8.1) of the closing cover (8) has a cylindrical recess (8.2) accommodating the switching lever (6).

12. Compact water meter according to Claim 11, characterized in that at least one battery seat (8.3) and limit switch seats (8.6) are formed in the cover plate (8.1).

13. Compact water meter according to any one of Claims 11 to 12, characterized in that the closing cover (8) has a fastening clamp (8.7) accommodating the electric motor (14).

14. Compact water meter according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the cover plate (8.1) is provided with a groove (8.12) along its rim accommodating a teflon ring (5).

15. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the electric motor (14) is connected with a gear (15) to the curved gear rack (4.4) formed in the arched seat (4.3) of the rotary valve (4).

16. Compact water meter according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has a housing (10) equipped with an aperture (10.1) that covers the fitting casing (9) and the closing cover (8).

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