WO2016181374A2 - Telemetry transmission device for meters, arranged in the ground and powered by a solar cell - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a telemetry transmission device for flowmeters with power supplied by a solar cell and a unit set in the ground with an inclined outer frame, which operates as an emitter and receiver of information and actions by radiofrequency, forming part of a structural unit secured in the ground and with electromechanical coupling to the meter.

Description

 DEVICE FOR TRANSMISSION OF TELEMETRY OF METERS IN FLOOR WITH POWER SUPPLY BY SOLAR CELL

TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR

 The invention relates to a telemetry transmission device of flow meters with solar cell power and a unit embedded in the floor with an inclined outer frame, which is executed as emitter and receiver of information and actions by radiofrequency, which is part of a structural unit fixed to the floor and with electromechanical coupling to the meter.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

 As background information of the invention, there are known manual recording devices for home utility flow meters, where a user takes the data directly from the flow meter and stores it in a database, that is, the user copies the value that appears on the meter and then retransmit it using pencil and paper until using an electronic device for data collection. It is also known the user who collects each certain distance to take the data of each of the meters in a short range radius, in this case, the user is located at the end of a block and takes the data of all the meters of said block to retransmit them. For each of the above solutions a physical displacement of an operator or compiler that receives the data from the meters is required, while the new solution provided by the new device does not require any type of displacement.

Systems with long-range devices are known from the invention, for example the patent application PCT / GR2006 / 000025 with publication of November 23, 2006 where the transmitters send the long-distance signal to a repeater and to the management center, using licensed frequencies in a single way, using a battery pack for feeding with the limitations of the cost in use of private licensed frequencies, high cost in the transmitter, large equipment and very limited distance when the signals must be sent from the floor, with the aggravating factor that autonomy ends when the batteries run out.

Short distance devices with meters that have a battery are also known, where the reading is done with a portable computer that collects the information with a user on the site by taking a tour of the different meters in the field and taking the collected information to a center Data download for administration. With the limitations of high cost in the meter, displacement of the data collector and possibility of errors in the integration of the data, with the aggravating that the batteries in the field are exhausted and the transmission is finished.

Another known technology is meters with communication via Wi Fi, GPRS, GSM and the retransmission to the management center is done with signal hubs, cable bus type up to a distance of 100 meters that send the signal to the management center via Wi Fi, GPRS, GSM with the disadvantages of high cost in the meter, high cost in the transmission, use of private frequencies and with the aggravating that the batteries in the field are exhausted and the transmission is finished. These existing devices are placed directly in the flow meter container box, which causes the emitted signal to be smaller in scope due to concrete. Because the container boxes are located on the ground, they accumulate rainwater which causes the device to sulfate or the transmission is blocked by rainwater. On the other hand, the emitted signal does not reach the receiver since these current solutions are incorporated into metal container boxes that cancel out the electromagnetic frequency radiation by the Faraday cage principle. The present invention improves the solutions of the previous devices because it is a new electronic device that takes the flow measurement of the meters and sends it together with the tamper or sabotage signals to the remote site using the short-way, short-path radiofrequency communication reach and using solar cell power that is installed on the floor and not inside the flow meter container box that sulfate or block the signal by rainwater. The new invention is not incorporated in the flow meter container box that blocks the signal due to the effect of concrete or the Faraday cage effect, it is also double-track with micro-opening and closing radiofrequency actuating valves that do not exist in No known device.

With the invention, the technical prejudice of executing the sending and receiving device by means of licensed frequencies or Wi Fi, GPRS, GSM in one way is overcome, since the new invention can be executed with free frequencies of two-way radio frequency communication , short-range in the UHF free bands 315MHz 370MHz 418MHz 433MHz 434MHz 468MHz 915MHz that also execute actuators by tilting the frame of the new transmission device.

The technical damage of transmission by licensed frequencies is overcome by an original free frequency transmission solution of a device that offers a surprisingly simple solution with an inclined frame that is located externally of the meter's container box, on the floor and in the free direction to a retransmitter and encoder collector located on a nearby post of the utility line

On the other hand, there is no transmission device such as the new device powered by solar cell in the transmission from floor to pole and in the retransmission to a plant that also does not require the electric charge of batteries that It is also low energy consumption for running at low frequencies. Nor are known low frequency transmission devices of flow meters that also operate micro valves for opening and closing in the same device as the proposed solution also powered by solar cells.

The external arrangement of the device on the floor is anti-vandalism and anti-tampering because it is embedded on the external pavement to the meter housing without the need for direct manipulation of the cable meter that is connected between the transmitting device and the meter. Background connections between the transmitting device and the meter require two cables for two-way communication, while the new application has a single cable covered for two-way communication on one or more meters.

The software created for this management not only allows the reception of signals, the issue of billing. But it allows to have a tool with all the traceability of both facilities and inventories, and self control of consumption by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The telemetry transmission device of floor meters with solar cell power is an invention consisting of six main elements: an electronic floor unit that takes the measurement, an electronic pole unit that receives signals from the floor transmitters and relays, a solar cell power supply, a long-distance electronic unit that receives signals from the relays, a receiver unit of all digital signals with output to a computer and software for managing and managing all signals. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND FIGURES:

 In order to understand the telemetry transmission device of floor meters with solar cell power, the following illustrative figures are presented and the best way to execute the invention is described below:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the telemetry transmission device of floor meters with solar cell power

 Figure 2 shows a side view of the telemetry transmission device attached to the meter.

 Figure 3 shows the front view of the electronic pole unit for telemetry transmission with solar cell power

 Figure 4 shows the rear view of the electronic pole unit for telemetry transmission with solar cell power

 Figure 5 shows a diagram of the operation of the telemetry transmission device of floor meters with solar cell power

As can be seen in figure 1 and figure 2, the telemetry transmission device of floor meters (10) with solar cell power supply (1 1) is composed of an electronic floor unit (12) embedded and separated from the meter that takes the electronic measurement of the flow of the meters (13), and sends it along with the tamper or sabotage signals to an electronic pole unit (14) that delays remote site by free frequencies.

According to figure 3, figure 4 and figure 5, the electronic pole unit (14) for telemetry transmission with solar cell power supply (23) and the scheme of operation of the telemetry transmission device is shown. Communication between the electronic floor unit (12) and the flow meter (13) is carried out by connection with a cable (15) for two-way communication covered by a sealed tube (16) with male joint (24) and joint female (25) to guarantee connection security and avoid external manipulation, where the operation is carried out by radiofrequency for data monitoring and activation of micro valves for opening and closing the flow of the meter (13).

The electronic floor unit (12) has a frame (21) with the receiving transmitter antenna (22) tilted at an obtuse angle (35) on each side of the inclined frame (21), a tempered glass (18) translucent at the top that seals the electronic floor unit (12) externally, an internal solar cell (1 1) under the tempered glass (18) that receives natural light, electronic circuit (17) to collect, receive and transmit data and run micro valves, an energy accumulator (19) and a bottom cover (20).

For its part, the electronic pole unit (14) is a box (26) with reception and retransmission antennas (27), electronic circuit (28), accumulator (29), radio for frequency transmission (30) and solar cell external (23) for natural light feeding.

Electronic floor unit (12) with power by internal solar cell (1 1) and accumulator (19) is installed embedded in the floor and performs radio communication in double track, short range in the free bands (31) of UHF 315MHz 370MHz 418MHz 433MHz 434MHz 468MHz to the electronic post unit (14).

Because short-range radio frequency transmission requires a specific address from the electronic floor unit (12) to the electronic pole unit (14) for communication to exist, the electronic floor unit (12) in its frame (21) has an obtuse angle inclination (35) measured from the horizontal plane X (36) on all the outer sides of the frame (21), whose obtuse angle tilt function (35) allows transmission with the dual-way radio frequency receiver transmitting antenna (22) of short range in the free bands (31) of short range UHF 315MHz 370MHz 418MHz 433MHz 434MHz 468MHz to the electronic post unit (14) as a receiver and relay of the signal in short range free frequencies.

The electronic pole unit (14) with power by external solar cell (23) and accumulator (29), has radio for frequency transmission (30) and receives free band signals (31) from the floor transmitters (12) , where the electronic pole unit (14) delays this signal over a long distance, in the free band (32) UHF of 915MHz.

The signal emitted by the free band (32) UHF of 915MHz free is sent from the electronic post unit (14) to the long distance relays (33) and from there, it is sent to the management or control center, where the unit Digital signal receiver (34) has an output to a computer with administration and management software for all signals.

Claims

Telemetry transmission device of flow meters CHARACTERIZED by an electronic floor unit (12) embedded and separated from the meter taking the measurement, an electronic pole unit (14) that receives signals from the floor transmitters (12) and retransmits the signal to the long-distance relays (33) and from there sends the signal to the management center that has a digital signal receiving unit (34) with output to a computer with signal management software; where the electronic floor unit (12) has a frame (21) with obtuse angle inclination (35) measured from the horizontal plane X (36) on all the outer sides of the frame (21), with the angle tilt function obtuse (35) of transmitting with the receiver transmitting antenna (22) inclined at said angle obtuse (35) the two-way radio frequency in the free bands (31) of short range UHF 315MHz 370MHz 418MHz 433MHz 434MHz 468MHz to the electronic post unit (14). Telemetry transmission device of flow meters according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the electronic pole unit (14) is a box (26) with reception and retransmission antennas (27), electronic circuit (28), accumulator ( 29), radio for frequency transmission (30) and external solar cell (23) for natural light feeding, with the function of receiving free band signals (31) from floor transmitters (12), where the electronic unit Pole (14) delays this signal over a long distance in the free band (32) UHF of 915MHz. 3. Telemetry transmission device of flow meters according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the electronic unit floor (12) and the flow meter (13) are connected with a cable (15) for two-way communication covered by a sealed tube (16) with male joint (24) and female joint (25) to ensure safety connection and avoid external manipulation, where the operation is carried out by radiofrequency for data monitoring and activation of micro valves for opening and closing the flow of the meter (13). 4. Telemetry transmission device of flow meters according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the electronic floor unit (12) has a frame (21) with the receiving transmitter antenna (22) tilted at an obtuse angle (35) on each side of the inclined frame (21), a tempered glass (18) translucent on the top that seals the electronic floor unit (12) externally, an internal solar cell (1 1) under the tempered glass (18 ) that receives natural light, electronic circuit (17) to collect, receive and transmit data and execute micro valves, an energy accumulator (19) and a lower cover (20).