Patent ID: 7400265
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: G01D,G01F,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A sensing device for remotely reading the position of the needles of a gas meter, the gas meter having a plurality of meter needles including a first and a second needle, the first needle rotating about a first needle axis and the second needle rotating about a second needle axis, the second needle being driven in relation to the rotation of the first needle and rotating 36 degrees for every full rotation of the first needle, the first needle rotating based on the volume of gas passing through the gas meter, said sensing device comprising a first and a second directional magnetic field emitter each having a north and a south pole that are spaced from one another and define a first pole axis and a second pole axis respectively, said first directional magnetic field emitter producing a first magnetic field oriented relative to said first pole axis and said second directional magnetic field emitter producing a second magnetic field oriented relative to said second pole axis, said first magnetic emitter being secured relative to the first needle such that said first pole axis is generally perpendicular to said first needle axis and centered about said first needle axis such that said first magnetic field rotates about said first needle axis as said first needle rotates about said first needle axis, said second magnetic emitter being secured relative to the second needle such that said second pole axis is generally perpendicular to said second needle axis and centered about said second needle axis such that said second magnetic field rotates about said second needle axis as said second needle rotates about said second needle axis; a first position sensor positioned over said first emitter and a second position sensor positioned over said second emitter, said first sensor being a first single directional magnetic field detecting unit adapted to measure the rotational position of said first pole axis about said first needle axis and said second sensor being a second single directional magnetic field detecting unit adapted to measure the rotational position of said second pole axis about said second needle axis; a processor in communication with said first and second sensors, said processor calculating the position of the first and second needles based solely on the rotational orientation of the respective magnetic fields; and a transmitter for sending information on said position of the needles to a remote location.