WO2011072625A1

WO2011072625A1 - System for wireless data transfer from measuring instruments

Info

Publication number: WO2011072625A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2010/000124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pavel JEŽĺK; Josef KUČERA; Ondřej VRLA; Roman HUDEČEK
Original assignee: Bonega, Spol. S R.O.
Priority date: 2009-12-04
Filing date: 2010-12-06
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: CZ2009810A3; CZ308290B6; WO2011072625A4

Abstract

The invention is concerning a system for wireless data transfer from measuring instruments, where the system includes at least two measuring instruments with sensors of their data state, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a computer, and where the most substantive is that the transmitting unit (3) is placed in the same building (6) or structure with measurement instruments (1,2) and said transmitting unit (3) having at least two sensors (10,20) of the instruments (1,2) connected to its input and having a wireless connection by its output, connecting it with a distant receiving unit (4), which receiving unit (4) is constructed as a radio- frequency receiver, adjusted to direct connection to the computer (5), or which is constructed as a mobile data converter, adjusted to wireless connection to the computer (5).

Description

System for wireless data transfer from measuring instruments

Field of invention

The invention concerns systems for reading data from measuring instruments, especially from water meters, gas meters, or thermal energy meters or other sorts of metering instruments, where those instruments are not easily accessible from organizational point of view or they are accessible only with some difficulties, from technical point of view. The invention concerns especially systems, involving a wireless data transfer, including storing the data or including working those data from said ihstrurhehts; toov

Background of the invention

In present plurality of measuring instruments are known, where a metering of various media consumption or energy consumption is carried out and where periodically a reading and recording of measured" data is carried ut; irt rriechanical or optical way, for example. Above all such a metering is carried out irt case of delivering those media or energy to customers arid where delivered amount is a base for debiting customers accounts by relevant amount. The most comrnon method of taking said data from those measuring instruments is a periodical data reading and recording, what is executed personally by an employee of a media or energy delivering company or by a person in a similar position. A higher level of mechanical transfer and working said data appears when said person does not record data manually, on a paper, but when he can put data in a portable computer. Also those apparatus are known, where reading and recording the data goes in automatic way, including wireless data transfer, from each metering instrument to a receiving unit, governed by said employee. For this purpose ai those instruments are equipped by their own sensor, indicator or reader and by a data transmitter. As a disadvantage just here remains that when said instrument is changed for a new or repaired one, for example when a permitted time period of well going function is out, usually it is changed together with the sensor and with the data transmitter, which parts being usually in good condition and their exchange is not neither from a legal nor from a technical point of view. And moreover now each instrument is equipped by its own sensor and its own transmitter, what results in a relative high price of such device and it causes high exchanging costs by each operation of this sort, mostly carried on for metre calibration purpose. Now existing and known meters of this sort, including their data sensing and transferring systems involve only a limited securing against unauthorized manipulation or against unauthorized influencing of data to be red and recorded, or a level of such a security is not achieved in a sufficiently balanced way by all parts of such a system, what means both by mechanical part of said measuring instrument and by a sensing and electronic part for sensing and a transfer of data.

So the aim of the invention is to reduce those disadvantages of present instruments¹ described Here above and, consequently^ build a system', wTWfe'the

changi arid/or calibrating.

Summarv^?of the invention

Said disadvantages of known systems arid devices of this sort' are sfghlficaritly redubed and an apparatus being cheaper in buying and during ^'it work¼rid^i:also

computer of a PDA or MDA type and, consequently, the connection of the mobile data converter to this mobile PDA computer is adjusted for a Bluetooth data transmission, it means in wireless way. Another advantage could be, when an area of the sensor of an instrument data state and at least a surrounding area of the instrument equipped with a magnetic and/or electric shield and, consequently, a mechanical connection of the sensor of an instrument data state to this instrument is constructed as disassemblable or removable joint, where a sealing member is used. Further an advantage is, when the transmitting unit is connected to the sensors by shielded cables, the connection of which to said sensors and to said transmitting unit is made as not removable, from outside. Another advantage appears, when a block of connection cable injury detection is built in the sensor or in the transmitting unit. Further an advantage is hen a block of an excessive' flow o consumption detection is built in the sensor or in the transmitting unit. As ah" advantage the sensor Or the transmitting unit involves an energy storage unit for an Activity of those units, and the energy storage unit is made as an electric cell or battery of as a rechargeable electric cell or battery. In case, where the energy storage unit is created as the rechargeable electric cell or battery, it is advantageous if the sensor or the transmitting Unit is connected to an external source of ah electric energy, which source is made in form of small electric generator, built in the measuring instrument having movable parts, or in form of Peltier^cell, placed near a thermal energy source, or in form of solar cell, placed on lighted place. When 'using the external source of energy, on principle of a small electric generator, by measuring instrument for metering a medium flow, it is advantageous, if the sensor or ^; the transmitting unit is equipped by a charging governing block, adjusted for initiating a charging process only when medium flow excesses a value of 10% of maximal flow of medium through the measuring instrument. This feature causes, by low medium flow arid when using a metering propeller or metering turbine wheel as a rotor of said small electric generator, that the level of metering accuracy is not influenced by an additional mechanical resistance, which resistance appears as a consequence of generating the electric energy. Another advantage consists in that the measuring instruments are equipped by a scale, display or a counter dial, which are adjusted for manual reading and recording the data. Electronic transmitting unit can be equipped by an alarm unit, adjusted for switching on an emergency state signalling in case of a battery voltage or generator output undergoes certain minimal level. So the system is secured against a failure caused by an energy deficiency. Another advantage is when the transmitting unit and/or sensors are equipped by a trigger circuit, adjusted for activating a new- mounted measuring instrument, where this activating is achieved just by the first reaching of a certain flow level indicated by the sensor or by reaching of a certain level of another measured data. This version with said features facilitates a mounting process of the instrument and reduces a needed level of experience and skills of those persons who are mounting and activating these instruments and also some personally caused errors and mistakes during a mounting and activating phase are excluded. Moreover, the energy of electric energy source is economized, too, because this metering system could be for example several months stored, before being mounted, but here the sensor and the transmitting unit is activated and adjusted automatically, and this is done just after installation arid just ^{^} after¹ the first true flow of media is indicated. Also it

on principle of reed contacts, activated by a magnetic field. It "especially advantageous, when switching on of the contacts is carried on as a switching oh' initiated by rotating a magnet around its own axis, where a magnetic field changes by a change of a gap between a 'magnetic field source and the contacts are¹ compensated by forming contact outputs for being used as pole shoes. it enables very simple magnetic shielding'bf the sensor, because the magnet rotates iWtWe'akis of shielding chamber and so its position in relation to walls of this chambir isr stable. And, moreover, unlike usual constructions of sensors systems where a magnet s approaching arid escaping from contacts, here, with a system

smalt dimension of the sensor is achieved and also a reverse irifiuerice^of art⁵ action of the instrument; data of which is to be red arid recorded, is reduced. Fi ait^ it is^ especially advantageous if the sensors and/or the transmitting unit are ¹ adju¥t§8^s for pr grariirrii lg i or program changing according to input- coded sighalsi wher^ of those coded signals is provided by a mechanical way only_v through reed sens^^^^{^} contdctS A possibility of changing some basic parameters only through saib reed contacts bf the sensors, which are sealed after their mounting in the nHeasurihg instrument and which are, in the same time, protected or shielded electrically and magnetically, can guarantee a level of protection against unauthorized manipulation; which level was not possible to achieve until now, where, moreover, this construction does i not heed iariy additibnal techriicai means. This way it is possible to make a system for reading a state of data by measuring instruments, where on one hand a changing of any instrument does not cause a changing of respective electronic part of this system, what means the sensor and the transmitting unit, and on the other hand it is possible to reduce a starting and processing costs by the fact, that there is one transmitting unit only for two or more measuring instruments. In some variety of the measuring instrument, according to the invention, an advanced protection against unauthorized manipulation, concerning the data and the remote data reading process, can be achieved and also a reliability and a long-term life and acting of the instrument is promoted, when rechargeable cells or

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ac$b e!ing to ^? tHe "inve itiori is ^"described iri following example ^embodiment, s^ir¾^s ¾lated

in a system for metering the state of a water-meter for cold water and for another water-meter for warm water.

Detailed description of the invention

Example 1

In this first example embodiment of the invention it is to be seen on Fig.1 and Fig.3 a system for wireless data transfer from measuring instruments, involving four groups, each having two measuring instruments 1,2 with sensors 10,20 of the data state in a respective instrument 1,2, and in each said group there is a transmitting unit 3 and further one receiving unit 4 and one computer 5. The measuring instruments 1,2 are provided here in a form of a water-meter for cold water and a water-meter for warm water. What is substantive, it is a placing of the transmitting units 3 in a building 6 with said instruments 1,2 and connecting said transmitting units by their inputs to two sensors 10,20, showing the data state or respective measuring instrument 1,2, and connected by their outputs, in wireless way, to the distant receiving unit 4, constructed here as a mobile data converter, adjusted for wireless connection to the computer 5. Said computer 5 is created here as a mobile computer of PDA-type and, in the same time, a connection of said mobile data converter to said computer 5 of the PDA-type is adjusted for data transfer in a Bluetooth-way, what means not by a cable transfer. The area of each sensor 10,20 of the data state of respective measuring instrument 1,2 and a related area of each separated instrument 1,2 is equipped here by magnetic and electric shielding. In this embodiment a mechanical connection of the sensor 10,20 of an instrument data state to this instrument 1,2 is constructed as disassemblable or removable joint, where a sealing member is used. In the same time the transmitting unit 3 is always connected here to the sensors 10,20 of the instruments 1,2 by shielded cables 11,21, the connection of which to said sensors 10,20 and to said transmitting unit 3 is made as not removable, from outside. A block of connection cable 11,12 injury detection is built her in the transmitting unit 3. Also a block of excessive water-flow detection is built here in the transmitting unit 3. The transmitting unit 3 involves here an energy storage unit for its own activity, and the energy storage unit is made here as a rechargeable electric battery 7. Moreover, the transmitting unit 3 is connected here to an external source of an electric energy, which source is made in form of Peltier-cell 8, placed near a thermal energy source, which source having here a form of warm water input tubing 9. All the measuring instruments 1,2 are equipped here by a counter dial, which is adjusted for manual reading and recording the data. Electronic transmitting unit 3 is equipped here by an alarm unit, adjusted for switching on an emergency state signalling in case of a battery voltage undergoes certain minimal level, what means an energy capacity of a battery 7 is going to be insufficient. So the system is secured against a failure caused by an energy deficiency. Further, the transmitting unit 3 is equipped here by a trigger circuit, adjusted for activating a new-mounted measuring instrument 1,2, where this activating is achieved just only by the first reaching of a certain flow level indicated by the sensor. This version facilitates a mounting process of the instrument and reduces a needed level of experience and skills of those persons who are mounting and activating these instruments and also some personally caused errors and mistakes during a mounting and activating phase are excluded. Moreover, the energy of electric energy source is economized, too, because this metering system could be for example several months stored, before being mounted, but here the sensor and the transmitting unit 3 is activated and adjusted automatically, and this is done just-after installation and just after the first true flow of media is indicated. The sensors 10,20 of measurement instruments 1,2 are constructed here on principle of reed contacts, activated and connected, or switched on, by a magnetic field. This switching on of the contacts is carried on as a switching on, initiated by rotating a magnet around its own axis, where a magnetic field changes by a change of a gap between a magnetic field source and the contacts are compensated by forming contact outputs for being used as pole shoes. It enables very simple magnetic shielding of each sensor 10,20, because the magnet rotates in the axis of shielding chamber and so its position in relation to walls of this chamber is stable. And, moreover, when using here said system with rotating magnet, small dimension of the sensor 10,20 is achieved and also a reverse influence of an action member of the instrument, data of which is to be red and recorded, is reduced, where said action member is made here in a form of a small turbine wheel driven by water flowing through said water-meter. The sensors 10,20 and the transmitting units 3 are adjusted here for programming or program changing according to input coded signals, where the input of those coded signals is provided by a mechanical way only, through said reed contacts of the sensors 10,20 of respective instruments 1,2. A possibility of changing some basic parameters only through said reed contacts of the sensors 10,20, which are sealed after their mounting in the measuring instrument 1,2 and which are, in the same time, protected here or shielded electrically and magnetically, can guarantee a level of protection against unauthorized manipulation, which level was not possible to achieve until now, where, moreover, this construction does not need any additional technical means.

The function of the system is as follows. Under a working activity of each measurement instrument, periodically after passing or flowing certain amount of medium volume through said instrument a signal or pulse is generated in magnetically switched contacts, which signal is recorded and counted by the transmitting unit, acting on principle of a simple industrial computer. So this way all time in this transmitting unit an up-to-date state of relevant data is stored and in cooperation with a software equipment of this transmitting unit it is possible to store partial states, relevant to certain time points. After some periods of time the data are transmitted, in short transmitting time intervals and in coded messages, where those data can contain an information about an immediate state of measured data, a historical data, emergency state data as for example low batteries reminder, excessive flow reminder, or connecting shielded cables injury or damage reminder. Those transmitted data are, under reading and recording action, received by the receiving unit, decoded and transferred to the computer of PDA-type to be finally processed and stored. This way the system is built, which provides all advantages, resulting from the invention, it means the advantages described here above.

Example 2

In a second variety of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as can be seen on Fig.2, a system is presented, which involves four groups having two measurement instruments 1,2 with relevant sensors 10,20 in each group, and having in each group the transmitting unit 3 and for all this system only one receiving unit 4 and one computer 5. Said instruments 1,2 are made here in a form of water meters for cold water and water meters for warm water. What is substantive in this example embodiment, is that the transmitting units 3 are placed here in a building 6, with said instruments 1,2 and they are connected here from their inputs to two sensors 10,20 of respective instruments 1,2, and from their outputs they are connected, in wireless way, to the distant receiving unit 4, constructed here as a radio-frequency receiver, adjusted at its output for direct remote connection with the computer 5. This direct remote connection of the radio-frequency receiver 4 with the computer 5, is adjusted here for a transmission of GPRS-type. The computer 5 is made here as a PC-type computer, placed in central offices of an organization, which carries on the reading and recording the data from measuring instruments. A design and function of other members of this system is similar to those in example 1 here above, only a difference is here as described above, what means that the distant receiving unit 4 is made here in form of a radiofrequency receiver, adjusted for direct connection to the computer 5. Direct connection to the computer 5 is to be understood as a connection, using public computer or data transmission net, usually as Internet, or a telephone net, where does not matter if the transmission is carried on, from a technical point of view, through fixed lines or through lines of mobile phone operators, through wired or wireless lines. As the decoding action is done here, in this embodiment, just in the computer of PC-type, the distant receiving unit 4, unlike in an example 1 , is not created here as a mobile data converter, but it is created as a radiofrequency receiver.

Industrial applicability

The system according to the invention is useful for carrying out the reading and recording of a measurement instrument state, especially in case of flow-meters for various media, energy consumption meters, for example thermal or electric energy meters. It is advantageous to use this system in case of difficult access to instruments appears, both from organizational and from technical point of view, and where economizing both fixed and processing costs is substantive. The system enables connecting to some other sensors or detectors in the same building, where it is possible to follow an actual state-of-the-art by other technical units, for example for monitoring valves, flaps, doors, water level, etc. When an emergency closing valve is mounted, for example, it is then possible, by retransmitting some signals, when using a transmitting unit on the side of the distant receiving unit, too, to transmit a governing signal to a place, where originally was mounted only the transmitting unit, for emergency closing an energy supply input or medium input. Such a sort of action could be useful for from outside carried out blocking media or energy supply, in case of non-payment for delivering those media or energy.

Claims

1. System for wireless data transfer from measuring instruments, where the system includes at least two measuring instruments with sensors of their data state, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a computer, characterized in that the transmitting unit (3) is placed in the same building (6) or structure with measurement instruments (1,2) and said transmitting unit (3) having at least two sensors (10,20) of the instruments (1,2) connected to its input and having a wireless connection by its output, connecting it with a distant receiving unit (4), which receiving unit (4) is constructed as a radio-frequency receiver, adjusted to direct connection to the computer (5), or which is constructed as a mobile data converter, adjusted to wireless connection to the computer (5).

2. System according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that wireless connection of the distant receiving unit (4) to said computer (5) is adjusted for Bluetooth, GPRG or LAN transmission way.

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer (5) is constructed as a mobile computer of a PDA or MDA type and, consequently, the connection of the distant receiving unit (4), created as a mobile data converter, to said computer (5) is adjusted for a Bluetooth data transmission.

4. System according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an area of the sensor (10,20) of an instrument (1,2) data state and at least a surrounding area of the instrument (1,2) is equipped with a magnetic and/or electric shield and, consequently, a mechanical connection of the sensor (10,20) of an instrument (1,2) data state to this instrument (1,2) is constructed as disassemblable or removable joint, where a sealing member is used.

5. System according to claims 1 to 4, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the transmitting unit (3) is connected to the sensors (10,20) of instruments (1,2) by shielded cables (11,21), the connection of which to said sensors (10,20) of instruments (1,2) and to said transmitting unit (3) is made as not removable, from outside.

6. System according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a block of connection cable (11,12) injury detection is built in the sensor (10,20) of the instrument (1,2), and/or in the transmitting unit (3).

7. System according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a block of an excessive flow or energy consumption detection is built in the sensor (10,20) and/or in the transmitting unit (3).

8. System according to claim 7, c h a ra cte ri zed i n that a device for emergency closing the input of medium or energy supply is connected to a block of an excessive flow or energy consumption detection.

9. System according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sensor (10,20) of instruments (1,2) or the transmitting unit (3) involves an energy storage unit for an activity of those instruments (1,2) and transmitting unit (3), and the energy storage unit is made as an electric cell or battery or as a rechargeable electric cell or battery (7).

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that, in case, where the energy storage unit is created as the rechargeable electric cell or battery (7), the sensor (10,20) of the instrument (1,2) or the transmitting unit (3) is connected to an external source of an electric energy, which source is made in form of small electric generator, built in the measuring instrument having movable parts, or in form of Peltier-cell (8), placed near a thermal energy source, or in form of solar cell, placed on lighted place.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that, when using the external source of energy, on principle of a small electric generator, by measuring instrument for metering a medium flow, the sensors (10,20) of the instruments (1,2) or the transmitting unit (3) are equipped by a charging governing block, adjusted for initiating a charging process only when medium flow excesses a value of at least 10% of maximal flow of medium through the measuring instrument (1 ,2).

12. System according to claims 1 to 11, c h a ra ct e ri z e d i n that the measuring instruments (1 ,2) are equipped by a scale, display or a counter dial, which are adjusted for manual reading and recording the data.

13. System according to claims 1 to 12, c h a ra ct e r i z e d i n that an electronic transmitting unit (3) is equipped by an alarm unit, adjusted for switching on and emergency state signalling in case of a battery voltage or generator output undergoes certain minimal level.

14. System according to claims 1 to 13, c h a ra ct e ri z e d i n that the transmitting unit (3) and/or sensors (10,20) of the instrument s (1,2) are equipped by a trigger circuit, adjusted for activating a new-mounted measuring instrument (1 ,2), where this activating is achieved just by the first reaching of a certain flow level indicated by the sensor or by reaching of a certain level of another measured data.

15. System according to claims 1 to 14, c h a ra cte ri ze d i n that the sensors (10,20) of instruments (1,2) are constructed on principle of reed contacts, activated by a magnetic field.

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the switching on of the contacts is carried out as a switching on initiated by rotating a magnet around its own axis, where a magnetic field changes by a change of a gap between a magnetic field source and the contacts are compensated by forming contact outputs for being used as pole shoes. 7. System according to claims 15 and 16, cha racte rized i n that the sensors (10,20) of the instruments (1,2) and/or the transmitting unit (3) are adjusted for programming or program changing according to input coded signals, where the input of those coded signals is provided by a mechanical way only, through reed sensor contacts of sensors (10,20) of the instruments (1 ,2).