Patent ID: 7975560
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A water meter, comprising: a housing that defines an exterior wall; a magnetic sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the magnetic sensor converts movement of a pickup magnet in communication with a flow of water into a signal indicative of the flow of water; a cable that passes through the housing and that receives the signal; and a shield mounted to the exterior wall of the housing, wherein the shield comprises a contoured portion connected to a barrier portion, wherein the shield establishes a minimum distance between any point along an outer surface of the barrier portion and the magnetic sensor, wherein the shield is made of a ferrous material; wherein the minimum distance attenuates and the ferrous material absorbs a magnetic field of a tamper magnet placed at any point along the outer surface of the barrier portion, such that the magnetic field does not affect the operation of the magnetic sensor, wherein the shield establishes a maximum opening distance between any point along the exterior wall and the contoured portion preventing an approximately 2.5 mm×2.5 mm×5 mm sized tamper magnet from fitting between the shield and the housing, and wherein the shield defines an opening and a notch, wherein the opening receives a loop of the cable and a tail of the cable extends through the notch, such that the shield is demounted from the housing without removing the cable from the housing.