Patent Publication Number: US-2022236098-A1

Title: Fluid Meter Testing and Profiling System

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/424,477 which claims priority to US provisional application filed on 27 May 2018 and is a continuation of pending U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/019,479 filed on 26 Jun. 2018 claiming priority to U.S. provisional application 62/677,077 filed on 27 May 2018 and which is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 15/646,043, filed on 10 Jul. 2017 and claiming priority to U.S. provisional application 62/525,104 filed on 26 Jun. 2017 which are incorporated by this reference for all that they disclose for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to developing a centralized data collection platform in communication with a plurality of test systems deployed in a plurality of locations for generating an A Posteriori Database (APD) used to generate performance predictions for metering technology. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     No fluid measuring device (such as a water meter and a water meter test system) is ideal for providing error-free measurements. There will always be metering errors. The best one can do is develop a measurement process that provides repeatable results and adjust such a process over time to make it as accurate as possible. With regard to water meters used to measure the flow of water, every water meter, no matter its type, has limited measuring ability. Consequently, either part of the water consumption will not be registered (resulting in undercharging—lost revenue), or there will be an over registration of the water consumption (resulting in overcharges). In either case, particularly in the area of metering water consumption, it is important to quantify the magnitude of such measuring errors and determine wnat causes them so that entities that purchase water meters can make informed decisions regarding the type of meter to purchase for a particular environment. Such requires data collected from a variety of trusted sources deployed in a plurality of locations using known-good data collection processes. 
     There are at least two basic types of data that are useful when considering the best item to purchase: (1) “laboratory” data and (2) field data. Laboratory data is simply data collected under controlled conditions. Measuring horsepower is a good example. However, it should be appreciated that horsepower values will not tell one how fast a vehicle will be on a given track. For such information, one needs field data. Field data is data collected from an item under normal use or after normal use. Thus, laboratory data predicts how an item will work in the real world, while field data tells one how an item worked in the real world. 
     Currently, there is a general lack of organized information regarding laboratory data and field data with regard to water meters that could be used to provide insight into the real effect of environmental parameters on the performance of water meters. Such information would allow water utility personnel responsible for selecting metering technology to evaluate or estimate water meter accuracy for a target environment. Further, what has been clearly indicated from experiments and real-life experience is that not every water meter has the same sensitivity to the environmental parameters that affect meter accuracy over time. Thus, it is not only important to select the most adequate metering technology type (based on laboratory data/manufacturer specifications) but also the right construction that best suits the target environment (i.e. the specific characteristics of the water supply system). 
     What is needed is a data collection system comprising both field and laboratory data related to the factors that can affect water meter accuracy for both domestic and industrial meter types. One way to assemble such information is to create a centralized data storage system generated from a plurality of trusted sources using verified data collection processes and equipment in a plurality of environments. 
     The present invention teaches the establishment of an A Posteriori Database (APD) using “laboratory data” and “field data” derived from meter tests using a network of certified fluid meter test benches where the field data is based on evaluations of meters removed from a known metering environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some of the objects and advantages of the invention will now be outlined in the following description, while other objects and advantages of the invention may be obvious from the description or may be learned through the practice of the invention. 
     Broadly speaking, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a centralized database comprising meter data collected using a plurality of certified test systems configured for verifying the accuracy of fluid meters. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a network of certified fluid meter test systems associated with a global centralized data storage system. 
     Still another object of the invention is to develop an A posteriori database comprising testing information for a plurality of meters deployed in a plurality of environments. 
     A still additional object of the invention is to generate meter profiles that include predictions for metering performance that are environment specific. 
     A further object of the invention is to track the individual components of metering systems and track performance and durability data for such individual components. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the detailed description herein or will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the detailed description. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referenced, and discussed steps or features hereof may be practiced in various uses and embodiments of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, by virtue of the present reference thereto. Such variations may include, but are not limited to, the substitution of equivalent steps, referenced or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various features, steps, parts, or the like. Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments, of this invention, may include various combinations or configurations of presently disclosed features or elements, or their equivalents (including combinations of features or parts or configurations thereof not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description). 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling description of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an exemplary fluid meter test bench; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of an exemplary fluid meter test bench; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram representation of a plurality of test benches associated with a centralized storage system. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an exemplary fluid meter comprising a register and housing; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the meter in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially exploded side perspective view of an exemplary meter housing (minus the bottom plate) and internal measuring components (no register) associated with a tracking element; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of an exemplary meter with a tracking element associated with the housing and register. 
     
    
    
     Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and appended drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present technology. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed Description 
     Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or may be determined from the following detailed description. Repeat use of reference characters is intended to represent the same or analogous features, elements, or steps. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention. 
     Construction Aids 
     For the purposes of this document, two or more items are “mechanically associated” by bringing them together or into a relationship with each other in any number of ways, including a direct or indirect physical “releasable connections” (snaps, screws, Velcro®, bolts, etc. —generally connections designed to be easily and frequently released and reconnected), “hard-connections” (welds, gluing, rivets, macular bonds, generally connections that one does not anticipate disconnecting very often if at all and that is “broken” to separate), and/or “moveable connections” (rotating, pivoting, oscillating, etc.). 
     Similarly, two or more items are “electrically associated” by bringing them together or into a relationship with each other in any number of ways, including (a) a direct, indirect, or inductive communication connection and (b) a direct/indirect or inductive power connection. Additionally, while the drawings may illustrate various electronic components of a system connected by a single line, it will be appreciated that such lines may represent one or more signal paths, power connections, electrical connections and/or cables as required by the embodiment of interest. 
     For the purposes of this document, unless otherwise stated, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” means there is at least one of A, or at least one of B, or at least one of C or any combination thereof (not one of A, and one of B, and one of C). 
     As used herein, unless stated otherwise, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify the location or importance of the individual components. 
     As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative location of components in a fluid pathway. For example, component A is upstream of component B if fluid flows from component A to component B. Conversely, component A is downstream of component B if component A receives a fluid flow from component B. 
     An a posteriori database contains data based on experience or empirical evidence accumulated from testest systems. Notably, an a posteriori database may also include a priori knowledge and entries. As used in the claims, the definite article “said” identifies required elements that define the scope of embodiments of the claimed invention, whereas the definite article “the” merely identifies environmental elements that provide context for embodiments of the claimed invention that are not intended to be a limitation of any claim. 
     This document includes headers that are used for place markers only. Such headers are not meant to affect the construction of this document, do not in any way relate to the meaning of this document, nor should such headers be used for such purposes. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     While the particulars of the present invention and associated technology may be adapted for use with any system configured to measure a parameter, the examples discussed herein are primarily in the context of test benches configured to verify the accuracy of fluid meters such as water meters. 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a platform  10  configured for evaluating and profiling metering technologies from information derived from a plurality of fluid meter test systems  12  deployed in a plurality of environments and in communication with a centralized data storage system  14 . 
     It seems useful to initially consider a fluid meter test system used to collect the real-world meter data. It should be appreciated that much (but not all) of the fluid meter test bench system technology depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  has been developed over the past forty-plus years by the applicant who started developing fluid meter test bench systems in the early 1980s. As is well known, fluid meters are configured to measure the volume of a fluid flowing through the meter. Utility companies use fluid meters to measure fluid consumption for billing purposes. Such fluid meters require testing to verify accuracy. A fluid meter test system pushes fluid through both a fluid Meter-Under-Test (MUT) and a very accurate “reference meter.” Restated, all the fluid that flows during a test flows through both the MUT (meter under test) and a reference meter. The reference meter is configured to generate a very accurate reference-volume reading (which is considered to be the correct reading). The MUT measures the volume of fluid that flows through its measuring chamber and generates a MUT-volume reading. Ideally, the reference-volume reading is perfectly accurate. If a MUT is also perfectly accurate, the MUT-volume reading will be identical to the reference-volume reading. How much the MUT-volume reading varies from the reference-volume reading is considered the MUT metering error. Further, a fluid meter would ideally have the same meter error at all flow rates. However, in the real world, the meter error is different depending on the flow rate and a fluid meter may measure a 2 gallons/minute flow rate more accurately than 5 gallons/minute flow rate (for example). Thus, meters are typically tested at a plurality of flow rates. 
     Arguably, the most accurate way to test water meters is with a gravimetric system. Thus, the “reference meter” described above is actually a gravimetric system that generates the previously described reference-volume reading. While called a gravimetric system, such a system may use both gravimetric and volumetric technologies. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an electronically controlled Test Bench System  12  configured for testing the accuracy of fluid flow meters is presented. While the fluid could be any fluid, for the embodiments discussed herein, the fluid is water. The test bench system  12  is preferably electronically controlled and comprises a control console  16  that houses control wiring, a computer, and scale interface hardware (to communicate automatically with scales). Such components collectively define a controller  16  used to control the test bench system  12  to test fluid meters and serve as an operator interface for computerized and manually controlled tests. The test bench system  12  comprises a source tank  18  containing enough water to perform the desired test (e.g., 200 gallons). Source tank  18  is in fluid communication with a supply pump  20  in fluid communication with and supplies fluid to test bench  22 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , test bench  22  comprises a plurality of vertical support rails  24  mechanically associated with lower support rails  26  and upper support rails  28 . Preferably, lower support rails  26  are associated with the vertical support rails  24  a predefined distance from the vertical rail endpoints  30  to provide a toe space  32 . Water from source tank  18  is pumped to and through the MUT  34  and output path  36  to a measurement tank  38 , which rests on scales  40 . The scales  40  are used to measure the weight of the water pumped through the MUTs  34  during the test and into the measurement tank  38 , where such weight is used (at least in part) to determine a reference-volume value. Such reference-volume value is compared to that of the volumes registered on the various MUTs  34  to determine their respective accuracy. 
     After the reference-volume has been measured and the test is complete, the fluid in measurement tank  38  is drained via return lines  42  and returned to the source tank  18  using return pump  44 , allowing the fluid to be reused in subsequent tests. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that the source tank  18  may be replaced with any suitable water source, and the test fluid may simply be drained from the measurement tank  38  and discarded, eliminating the need for return lines  42  and return pump  44 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of MUTs  34  are connected in series, allowing the plurality of meters to be tested simultaneously. The input and output of each meter are associated with an adapter apparatus  36 , which is further associated with a bench-to-apparatus interface  38  associated with a test bench flow path. Notably, the inputs and outputs of MUT  34  could be connected with a flow path defined by test bench  12  using typical prior art metering couplings; however, such requires much more work and time compared to using a specially made adapter apparatus for coupling a fluid meter to the fluid flow path of a test system. 
     Reviewing now more particularly to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary platform  10  configured for evaluating and profiling metering technologies using information derived from a plurality of fluid meter test systems  12  deployed in a plurality of environments and in communication with a centralized data storage system  14  is presented. The platform  10  is in communication with a plurality of test bench systems  12  characterized by test system data and deployed in a plurality of environments. Each of the plurality of test bench systems  12  are configured with a controller  16  comprising a computing device  16   c  for automatically controlling its respective test bench system  12  to measure the accuracy of fluid meters  34 . The computing device preferably defines an integral interface  16   i  or is in communication with an interface  16   i  that controls its respective test bench  22 . Each controller is in communication with a centralized data storage system  14  either directly or indirectly via a device such as a webserver  50 . A local user  52  with direct access to the controller  16  or remote user  54  connected to a controller  16  via a webserver  50  my conduct or monitor testing. Notably, a remote user  54  may be in communication with webserver  50  or the centralized data storage system  14  using an application executed by a device such as a smartphone. 
     The test system software is loaded on each computing device  16   c  or is operably associated with each computing device  16   c  (e.g., software as a service). The test software is configured to provide a user interface to allow either a local user  52  or a remote user  54  to communicate with the controller  16  components to conduct fluid meter testing and generate meter data for the meters under test  34 . For this document, meter data comprises meter type data, meter test data, and meter environmental data. The test system software is further configured to transfer at least part of the test system data and the meter data to a centralized data storage system  14 , described in more detail below. It should be appreciated that the test system software may be loaded locally on computer  16   c , or it may be software made available over a network via a “software as a service” system as well as a mixture of the two. Software as a service is simply software that is accessed over a network. The platform  10  is configured to use the centralized meter data and test system data to define a prior knowledge and derive a posterior knowledge to provide a profile for each meter tested. 
     As noted above, meter data comprises meter type data, meter test data, and meter environmental data. 
     Meter Type Data 
     The first data type considered is the meter type data. Exemplary meter type data is provided in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Meter Type Data  
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Name  
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Manufacturer  
                 Who manufactured the meter  
               
               
                   
                 Manufactured Date  
                 When the meter was manufactured  
               
               
                   
                 Date Placed in Service  
                 When the meter was placed in service  
               
               
                   
                 Manufacturer Contact  
                 Manufacturer website, phone contacts,  
               
               
                   
                 Information  
                 electronic contacts  
               
               
                   
                 Meter Housing element  
                 The material used to construct housing  
               
               
                   
                   
                 and housing ID number  
               
               
                   
                 Meter Register element  
                 Type of register and date register  
               
               
                   
                   
                 associated with housing  
               
               
                   
                 Meter measurement  
                 Type of measurement elements and when  
               
               
                   
                 elements  
                 measurement elements were associated  
               
               
                   
                   
                 with housing  
               
               
                   
                 Meter transmitter  
                 If a transmitter is present, transmitter  
               
               
                   
                 element  
                 identifying information  
               
               
                   
                 Meter ID  
                 Meter Identification Number  
               
               
                   
                 Meter Size  
                 Size of the meter  
               
               
                   
                 Meter Type  
                 Metering technology  
               
               
                   
                 K Factor  
                 Correction factor  
               
               
                   
                 User Defined  
                 Any data a user might wish to record and  
               
               
                   
                   
                 monitor 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As Table 1 above indicates, there are many meter parameters that fall under meter type data, including a housing element identifier, a measuring element identifier, a register identifier, and a transmitter identifier. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 7 , one feature of the disclosed technology includes optional tracking of meter components (i.e., sub-components). For example, as depicted in  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 6 , for a typical water meter, such a meter can be described as having three major components: (1) Housing element  62 , (b) Register element  64 , and (c) measuring element  66 . For one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a tracking component  68  is associated with each meter sub-system. One advantage of tracking sub-components is the lower cost of “refurbishing” a meter. Here, a utility will only replace a sub-system of a metering device. For example, the water meter housings  62  is not removed from service, and one or more of the sub-components are changed, such as register  64  and measuring element  66 . The assumption is that the housing  62  is significantly more durable than the register  64  and measuring element  66 , and it is significantly more expensive to remove the entire meter than to replace the sub-components. However, such can affect the accuracy of meter data if not tracked. Based on the example above, the register  64  and the measuring element  66  may be called “wearable” components. 
     Additionally, tracking sub-component performance allows for tracking at least (a) the performance, (b) mean time between failures, and (c) the expected life span of the wearable components. Such information can be used to alert the approaching end of life of a meter sub-component. Another benefit of tracking sub-components is that one is more confident as to what sub-components define a metering unit. It should be appreciated that not all sub-components are compatible with each other. For example, not all measurement components  66  are compatible with all housing elements  62 , and not all registers  64  can be correctly coupled with all measurement components  66 . Should the incompatible sub-components be associated in a metering unit, such a metering unit will provide inaccurate measurement data. Thus, for the preferred embodiment, the housing tracking item  68  can include information compatibility data for the various sub-components. 
     The software that uses the tracking information can be configured to scan the tracking item  68  associated with housing  62  and measurement components  66  and verify that the proper measurement components  66  are installed inside the housing  62 . Similarly, the tracking element  68  associated with the register  64  can be used to verify the measurement components  66  are compatible with the register  64 . 
     Meter Test Data 
     The second data type considered is the meter test data. Exemplary meter type data is provided in Table 2 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Meter Test Data  
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Name  
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Meter Serial/ID Number  
                 Meter identification information  
               
               
                 Last Date Tested  
                 Date of last test  
               
               
                 Previous Register Reading  
                 The number displayed by the meter&#39;s  
               
               
                   
                 register during a pervious test.  
               
               
                 Current Register Reading  
                 The current number displayed by the  
               
               
                   
                 meter&#39;s register.  
               
               
                 Current Usage Data  
                 Indicates how much fluid flow the meter  
               
               
                   
                 has measured since its last test  
               
               
                 Running Total of Usage Data  
                 Indicates how much fluid flow the meter  
               
               
                   
                 has measured since being put into service.  
               
               
                 Test Count 
                 Number of times the meter was tested for  
               
               
                   
                 the current tests  
               
               
                 Passed/Failed  
                 Flag indicating if meter passes or fails  
               
               
                 Average Error  
                 The average error defined as the difference  
               
               
                   
                 between MUTs measured volume and the  
               
               
                   
                 reference volume  
               
               
                 Certification Status  
                 The Certification Status of the meter 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As depicted in Table 2 above, exemplary meter test data includes meter identification information, the date last tested, previous register reading, current register reading, current usage data, running total of usage data, test count, pass/fail flag, average measurement error and meter certification status. 
     Meter Environmental Data 
     Ideally, meter environmental data includes the location where the meter is installed (e.g., GPS coordinates), fluid quality data, and meter mounting position. Meter environmental data can be any data related to the environment the MUT  34  was or will be subjected to during use. Table 3 below lists exemplary meter environmental data. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Meter Environmental Data 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Name  
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Location  
                 The location where the meter is installed  
               
               
                   
                 or will be installed; an example would be  
               
               
                   
                 global positioning (GPS) data;  
               
               
                 Mounting Position  
                 Mounting position can affect the way a  
               
               
                   
                 meter wears over time. Examples include  
               
               
                   
                 horizontal and vertical data.  
               
               
                 Fluid Quality Data  
                 Deposition value; suspended solid value;  
               
               
                   
                 Specific Conductance (mS/cm), pH,  
               
               
                   
                 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l), Salinity (ppt),  
               
               
                   
                 Turbidity (NTU), Ammonium(a) (mg/l-N),  
               
               
                   
                 Nitrate (mg/l-n), Chloride (mg/l), Total  
               
               
                   
                 Dissolved Gas (mmHg), Transmissivity,  
               
               
                   
                 Ambient Light (μmol s-1 m-2), Chlorophyll  
               
               
                   
                 (μg/l);  
               
               
                 Minimum Temperature  
                 The temperature can be provided by the  
               
               
                 Maximum Temperature  
                 meter or a general temperature for the  
               
               
                 Average Temperature  
                 location data.  
               
               
                 User Defined  
                 User Defined data 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Test System Data 
     Test System Data is considered next. As noted above, the platform  10  comprises a plurality of test bench systems characterized by test system data. One example of a test bench system is the exemplary fluid meter test system  12  described above. Such a test system includes a collection of technologies combined to generate meter data, including fluid meter accuracy data. One purpose of test system data is to allow platform  10  to generate a meter data quality indicator/value, which is an indication of the validity of the associated meter data. 
     Preferably, the fluid meter test system  12  has been tested and certified to comply with a predefined regulatory standard to provide traceability to such standards. Examples include the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Further, the test technicians are evaluated to verify the test technicians know how to accurately use the fluid meter test system  12 . Thus, exemplary test system data includes a list of the technologies and their individual calibration status and the standard to which they are tested to verify compliance. Also included is a list of test technicians that have been evaluated and deem to have the ability to componentry use the fluid meter test system  12 . 
     The test system data may also include the test process used by a test technician. For example, the test system may be evaluated to verify that the test technicians and test system hardware and software are capable of accurately testing fluid meters to the ISO/AWWA C715 standard. Any test process may be evaluated, and a data confidence value assigned to the associated data using such a process. For example, if meter data is generated by (a) a test system with current calibrations for all hardware components (i.e., a certified test system), (b) has the latest material hardware and software upgrades, and (c) is operated by verified technicians, the meter data would be given a meter data quality value of “High.” Exemplary data quality values would range from High to Medium to Low. Any suitable method for identifying data quality may be used, including numbers. Such data quality value would preferably be associated with meter data transferred to the centralized data storage system for the meter under test  34 . 
     A Posterior Database 
     As noted above, the platform software is configured to associate meter data with test system data in a centralized data storage system  14  to define and create an A Posterior Meter Database (APM Database) providing knowledge from observations and experience through deduction of probable causes with regard to meter performance. Such APM Database ideally provides a plurality of meter dependability and accuracy values based on real-world data from meters used in a plurality of environments from around the world. An a posteriori analysis based on such meter data includes values for the mean time between failures (MTBF), MTBF values for a particular environment, accuracy drift value, accuracy drift value for a particular environment over time, and based on usage data. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.