Transmitting unit for meter extension system

Claim 2

In a meter extension system, a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity and a shaft rotated by said measuring means in measuring the quantums, transmitter means, including a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation by said shaft and driven to successively different positions with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete conductive areas on at least one planar surface thereof, input means for applying a potential difference between said first and second discrete areas, at least a first and a second contact member mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas whereby the potential difference appears between said first and second contact members, an output path including at least a pair of conductors connected to said first and second contact members, said first and second conductive areas on said rotatable switch member being arranged in a pattern to reverse the direction of current flow over said first and second contact members at each successive position of said switch member, and register means connected to said output path for registering each such current flow reversal to thereby register the quantums of the commodity measured by the meter measuring means.

Claim 3

A transmitting unit in a meter extension system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable switch member comprises a disc of an insulating material having conductive portions disposed thereon in a pattern defining on said surface a conductive center portion with contact segments extending outwardly therefrom toward the periphery of said disc and a conductive outer portion extending around the periphery of said disc and having contact segments extending inwardly toward the center of said disc in an interdigitated relationship with said outwardly extending segments and insulated therefrom by insulating portions of said disc.

Claim 4

A transmitter unit in a meter extension system as claimed in claim 2 in which said input means includes two further contact members one of which engages said conductive center portion, and the other one of which engages said conductive outer portion and in which said first and second ones of said contact members are mounted to successively engage said inwardly and said outwardly extending contact segments, as said disc is rotated to move the interdigitated conductive portions therepast.

Claim 5

A transmitting unit in a meter extension system as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are five inwardly extending contact segments and five outwardly extending contact segments on said disc disposed to be engaged by said first and second contact members in each revolution of said disc, the first and second contact members being disposed to engage different ones of said conductive portions at each position of said disc.

Claim 6

In a meter extension system, a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity and a shaft rotated by said measuring means in measuring the quantums, transmitter means including a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation by said shaft and driven to successively different positions with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete conductive ares on a common surface thereof, input means including first and second input contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, respectively, for applying a potential difference between said first and second areas, at least a first and second output contact member mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas respectively at a first posiTion of said switch member, and to respectively engage said second and first conducting areas as said switch member is rotated to a second one of said positions, an output path including a pair of conductors connected to said first and second output contact members, whereby the direction of current flow over the conductors of said output path is reversed as said switch member rotates from said first position to said second position, and register means connected to said output path for registering such current flow reversal to thereby register the quantums of the commodity measured by the meter measuring means.

Claim 7

In a meter extension system, a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity and a shaft rotated by said measuring means in measuring the quantums, transmitter means including a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation by said shaft and driven to successively different positions with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete conductive ares on a common surface thereof, input means including first and second input contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, respectively, for applying a potential difference between said first and second areas, at least a first and second output contact member mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas respectively at a first posiTion of said switch member, and to respectively engage said second and first conducting areas as said switch member is rotated to a second one of said positions, an output path including a pair of conductors connected to said first and second output contact members, whereby the direction of current flow over the conductors of said output path is reversed as said switch member rotates from said first position to said second position, and register means connected to said output path for registering such current flow reversal to thereby register the quantums of the commodity measured by the meter measuring means.

Claim 8

A meter extension system as set forth in claim 5 in which said first and second conductive areas are disposed on said common surface in a pattern to provide a reversal of the direction of current flow over said output conductors with movement of said rotatable switch member to each successive position.

Claim 9

A meter extension system as set forth in claim 5 in which said first and second input contact members are connected to the output of a direct current source.

Claim 10

For use in a meter extension system including a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity and a shaft rotated by said measuring means in measuring the quantums, transmitter means comprising a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation by said shaft and driven to successively different positions with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete areas of conduction thereon, input means including first and second input contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, respectively, for applying a potential difference between said first and second discrete areas, at least a first and second output contact member mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas respectively at a first position of said switch member and to respectively engage said second and first conductive areas as said switch member is rotated to a second one of said positions, and an output path including at least a pair of conductors connected to said first and second output contact members, said first and second conductive areas being arranged in a pattern on said rotatable switch member to provide a reversal of the current flow over said first and second output contact members in each successive position of said switch member.

Claim 11

For use in a meter extension system including a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity and a shaft rotated by said measuring means in measuring the quantums, transmitter means comprising a rotatable switch member mounted for rotation by said shaft and driven to successively different positions with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete areas of conduction thereon, input means including first and second input contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, respectively, for applying a potential difference between said first and second discrete areas, at least a first and second output contact member mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas respectively at a first position of said switch member and to respectively engage said second and first conductive areas as said switch member is rotated to a second one of said positions, and an output path including at least a pair of conductors connected to said first and second output contact members, said first and second conductive areas being arranged in a pattern on said rotatable switch member to provide a reversal of the current flow over said first and second output contact members in each successive position of said switch member.

Claim 12

For use in a meter extension system including a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity, transmitter means having a rotatable switch member driven to successively different positions by said measuring means with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete conductive areas arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one planar surface thereof, input means for applying a potential difference between said first and second discrete areas, and output path means including at least first and second contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, said conductive areas being disposed on said switch member in a pattern relative to said first and second contact members to effect double pole, double throw switching between said input and output means with movement to each successive position of said switch member and thereby a reversal in the current flow over said first and second contact members.

Claim 13

For use in a meter extension system including a meter having measuring means for measuring quantums of a commodity, transmitter means having a rotatable switch member driven to successively different positions by said measuring means with each measurement of a quantum of a commodity, which switch member has first and second discrete conductive areas arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one planar surface thereof, input means for applying a potential difference between said first and second discrete areas, and output path means including at least first and second contact members mounted to wipingly engage said first and second conductive areas, said conductive areas being disposed on said switch member in a pattern relative to said first and second contact members to effect double pole, double throw switching between said input and output means with movement to each successive position of said switch member and thereby a reversal in the current flow over said first and second contact members.