Patent NZ-590417-A (NZ)
Title: Prepayment system for supplying water or gas by means of a wireless intelligent card and meter for said system
Inventor: NERI-BADILLO EDUARDO AGUSTIN
IPC: G01D4/00
Filed: 2008-08-28
Abstract: A meter to register the bidirectional consumption of water or gas comprises a main body comprising an entrance hole and an exit hole, a measuring chamber within the meter's main body; a supply and closing chamber within the meter's main body and in fluid communication with the measuring chamber; a water or gas supply/cut valve within the supply and closing chamber; a pair of upper and lower protective covers located on the main body of the meter; a liquid crystal display located in the upper protective cover; a wireless electronic measuring, prepayment and gas or water supply/cut device (13) located within the upper protective cover of the meter's body. The measuring chamber (32) comprises means with which to register the bidirectional consumption of water or gas, a rod and a magnetic element on the opposite end of the rod. This means to register the bidirectional consumption of water or gas comprises a nutating disc and upper and lower covers which enclose the nutating disc to keep it in position and thus ensure its correct measuring movement. One end of the rod is located in the centre of and extending upwards toward the nutating disc through the upper cover which encloses the nutating disc. A first sensor element (2) is located on the adjacent external surface of the measuring chamber of the meter's main body and within the upper protective cover. The first sensor element registers the spins of the magnetic element transmitted by the nutating disc in order to then calculate the volume of m3 circulating within the measuring chamber. The first sensor element is capable of recording the consumption of water or gas regardless of the flow direction. A converting device of magnetic signal into digital signal is attached to the first sensor element to convert the magnetic signal produced by the spins of the magnetic element into a digital signal. The converting device is also electrically connected to the wireless electronic measuring, prepayment control and water or gas supply cut device. The wireless electronic measuring, prepayment control and water or gas supply cut device receives the digital signal and then transmits it to the liquid crystal display (4) for its subsequent visualization. The meter further comprises a closing mechanism comprises a gear train, a sliding disc and a fixed disc which can open or close the water or gas supply. The opening or closing gear train is operated by an engine, which is controlled by the wireless electronic measuring, prepayment and water or gas supply cut device which is electrically connected to the engine. The meter further comprises a printed circuit board antenna to communicate the information via radio frequency between the wireless intelligent card and the wireless electronic measuring, prepayment and water or gas supply cut device; and a battery (8)) located above the supply and closing chamber. The battery providing the energy for the wireless electronic measuring, prepayment and water or gas supply cut device to register the bidirectional consumption of water or gas, to the engine which powers the closing mechanism, and to the liquid crystal display. A prepayment method for supplying water or gas using i ) a prepayment wireless intelligent card loaded with a prepaid amount of service, ii) a water or gas supply meter which comprises upper and lower protective covers , a wireless reader-writer element of wireless intelligent cards and a water or gas supply opening/closing mechanism, and iii) a network which comprises at least one point of sale terminal comprising a pair of safety modules , and a server connected via an interface to a billing system which keeps a service supplier's database informed is disclosed.