Patent GB-1015178-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for remote reading of utility meters
IPC: G01F15/06
Filed: 1963-08-12
Abstract: 1015178 Electric selective signalling D P MORGAN and D D DALRYMPLE 12 Aug 1963 31725/63 Headings G4D D6Y and D1B2A Apparatus for producing pulses representing the positions of rotary shafts of a meter register of the decimal integrating type, comprises a rotary contact arm 13 attached to each shaft and co-operating with a contact ring having ten segments 14, the contact arms 13 being energized sequentially to signal their positions via groups of circuit means to pulse producing means 24. A reading cycle in ' which pulse signals are transmitted to a central station 42 over telephone or power lines 41 is initiated by a telephone call dialled from station 42 which picks up frequency sensitive relay contacts 57 to energize a motor 26. The motor 26 drives, through gearing, a pulse producing disc 24, and contact arms 45, 46, 47 of a programme plate. Contact arms 45, 46, 47 pass over contact segments 55; 58 ... 65;71 ... 74 respectively. Arm 45 and segment 55 provide a circuit in parallel with relay contacts 57 to keep motor 26 energized for one revolution of the contact arms 45 ... 47. Disc 24 makes one full revolution while arms 46, 47 are on one of their contact segments, and bears two sets of radial contact strips a ... j and k ... s, on opposite sides of the disc and mutually displaced by 180 degrees. The lengths of the strips a ... j, k ... s are chosen and contact fingers 0', 8', 6', 4', 2'; 1' 3', 5', 7', 9' are so positioned that during one revolution of disc 24 these contact fingers respectively pass over 10, 8, 6, 4, 2; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 contact strips. The cycle starts with five revolutions of disc 24, the last four of which produce 1, 3, 6 and 8 pulses respectively (with the connections shown) on line 39 (and hence lines 41) as contact arm 47 occupies segments 71 ... 74 respectively, this set of pulses specifying the location of the meter. During the next four revolutions of disc 24, contact arm 46 occupies segments 58 ... 61 respectively, thereby energizing in turn solenoids S1 ... S4 each of which pulls a corresponding one of the contact arms 13 into contact with that one of its contact segments 14 above which it is positioned, details in Fig. 2, (not shown). Each of the segments 14 is connected to a corresponding one of the contact fingers 0' ... 9' so a pulse train is produced on line 39 (and hence lines 41) to represent the position of each contact arm 13. Contact segments 62 ... 65 are provided so that a second meter at the same location may be read during the next four revolutions of disc 24. Marker pulses of a different frequency are transmitted over lines 41 to station 42 twice per revolution of disc 24 with the aid of contact fingers w and segments u, u' on disc 24. The contact member on the end of each contact arm 13 is a helical spring 15 which, when positioned at the gap  between two segments 14 contacts both of them. Accordingly in this case, two sets of pulses are transmitted during the revolution of disc 24 relating to that contact arm 13, in different halves of the revolution, as a consequence of the displacement of 180 degrees between the two sets of contact fingers 0', 8', 6', 4', 2' and 1', 3', 5', 7', 9'. At the central station 42 the pulses in the pulse trains relating to the meter location and readings are counted and recorded in punched tape or card, which is fed to computing means, counter read-out and reset and punch operation being achieved by the marker pulses. Where there are two counts from any given contact arm 13 the computing means decides between them by consulting the next lower decimal order. The meters may measure gas, electricity or water consumption, and the computing means perform billing.