Pivoting Cover Water Meter with Integrated Reed Shoe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water meters with digital data acquisition and transmission capabilities often obstruct a large portion of the reading glass, making it difficult to maintain visibility or protection, and lack effective tamper detection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact water meter design featuring a first ring with a reed shoe and a pivoting cover that integrates data transmission means, allowing the entire reading glass to be visible and protected, with tamper detection capabilities including magnetic field, cable break, and cover removal sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data transmission means are attached to the water meter (e.g., snap-in pulse transmitter), then data transmission capability is improved, but the reading glass area becomes obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The data transmission means are integrated into the pivoting cover that nests over the ring structure. The reed shoe is embedded in a depression in the reading glass, with a cover protecting it. The pivoting cover contains the transmission means and can be opened for access. This nested arrangement allows data transmission functionality while maintaining reading glass visibility when the cover is closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The data transmission means are moved from a flat attachment on the meter body to a three-dimensional pivoting cover structure that can be opened and closed. This dimensional change allows the transmission means to be accessible when needed while being protected and out of the way when not in use, thus not permanently obscuring the reading glass.
2Device complexity
If data transmission means are integrated into the water meter body, then compact design is improved, but the reading glass becomes less visible or protected
Solution Approach 1:
The reed shoe is embedded in a depression in the reading glass, with a cover protecting it from three sides. The fourth side is protected by the pivoting cover. This nested arrangement integrates the data transmission means into the meter structure in a space-efficient manner while maintaining reading glass visibility and protection.
3Reliability
If standard cover is used on the water meter, then protection is improved, but data transmission means cannot be accessed or integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to pivot open rather than being a fixed standard cover. This dynamic design allows the cover to be opened for access to the data transmission means (reed shoe and transmission components) while providing protection when closed. The pivoting mechanism enables both protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structure includes a removable semi-circular segment that provides access to the hinge area. This segmentation allows the pivoting cover to be attached and opened, providing access to the data transmission means while maintaining protection when closed.
4Reliability
If tamper detection means are added to the water meter, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting cover structure serves multiple functions: it protects the data transmission means, provides access when opened, and incorporates tamper detection capability through the hinge mechanism and removable segment. By combining these functions into a single integrated structure, the additional complexity is minimized while achieving tamper detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper detection means are merged with the cover and hinge structure. The hinge mechanism and removable segment work together with the data transmission means to provide both protection and tamper detection in a unified design, rather than adding separate tamper detection components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a fully visible reading glass with integrated, protected data transmission means, enabling efficient digital data capture and transmission while detecting potential tampering attempts, and allowing for easy retrofitting of existing meters.
Implementation Method 1
a reed shoe (6) is provided, that a cover (7) for the reed shoe (6) is provided
Implementation Method 2
the means for detecting attempts at manipulation include means for detecting a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
The meter has a ring (1) for locking to a meter screw connection, and a reed shoe (6) arranged in a recess (4) of a metering glass and fastened to the glass. A cover (7) is provided for the reed shoe and is connectable with the ring. A pivotable cap (9) is fastened at the cover, and transmitting units are integrated in the cap to transmit metering data. The ring has a semi-circular segment (2) that is detachably fastened by locking the ring.