Abstract: A remote meter reading receptacle for pit lid mounting includes an annular, cup-shaped housing containing a ferrite coil and electronic circuit board. This housing is mounted within an outer shroud which has an annual flange formed about its periphery. The shroud includes a pair of openings, the first for receiving a threaded fastener, such a bolt, and the other for receiving an electrical cable connected to the circuit board of the housing. The shroud is dimensioned to fit securely within an opening formed in the lid of a pit-type meter box, such as used for outdoor setting of water meters. A complementary cup-shaped washer includes a pair of openings for cooperating with the threaded fastener and for receiving the electrical cable. The washer is disposed on the underside of the pit lid and receives the threaded fastener to fasten the housing and shroud assembly securely to the upper surface of the pit lid. The washer is reversible to accommodate a wide range of pit-lid thicknesses.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical induction watt-hour meter bearing system that includes end cap pilot bearings snap fit onto respective opposite ends of the shaft. The bearing system also includes a lower shaft support bearing selectively adjustable in increments for controlled adjustment.

Abstract: A current transformer comprising a primary conductor means 20, secondary conductor means in the form of a first and second coil 21, 22 connected to ensure common-mode rejection of emf induced by external disturbing magnetic fields, and magnetic coupling means defined by first and second magnetic plates 23, 24 and first and second ferrite elements 25, 26 arranged within the first and second coils 21, 22, the elements 25, 26 contacting and physically separating the first and second plates 23, 24, thereby defining a closed magnetic circuit with the plates.

Abstract: A fluidic oscillator flowmeter in which a two-dimensional fluid jet oscillating transfersely relative to a plane of symmetry, P, sweeps over the bottom of a cavity, and in which the flow rate is determined by electronic means from a signal, S, corresponding to a differential pressure resulting from the difference between a pressure tapped off at a point, P.sub.3, located on the axis of intersection between the plane of symmetry, S, and the bottom of the cavity and a pressure resulting from tapping off the pressure at two points, P.sub.1 and P.sub.2, which are located symmetrically on respective sides of the plane of symmetry, S.

Abstract: A fluidic oscillator and a flowmeter comprising means (10, 14, 16) for forming a two-dimensional fluid jet and an obstacle (22) having a main cavity (26) swept by the oscillating jet, and secondary cavities (34, 36) on either side of the main cavity (26) enabling the radial extension of main vortices accompanying the oscillation of the jet to be made dependent on flow conditions. Applicable to the measurement of the velocity or flow rate of flowing fluid.

Abstract: A density sensor comprises a cavity arranged to receive the gas whose density is to be sensed. The cavity is divided into two chambers by a flexibly mounted diaphragm. A piezoelectric excitation device at one end of the cavity is used to excite the gas in the cavity into resonant vibration in a mode having an anti-node at the diaphragm, which causes the diaphragm to vibrate with the gas. Another piezoelectric device senses the vibration, whose frequency is a function of the known mass of the diaphragm and the density and speed of sound in the gas. This last parameter can be sensed by exciting the gas in the cavity into resonant vibration in a second mode having a node at the diaphragm, so that the diaphragm does not take part in the vibration. Alternatively, it can be sensed by providing a second cavity, also arranged to receive the gas but not having a diaphragm, and resonantly vibrating the gas in the second cavity.

Abstract: This method which enables two periodic signals having the same waveform and the same theoretical period to be synchronized is of the type in which the second signal is synthesized iteratively at a phase that is adjusted as a function of a measure of the correlation between the first and second signals. Synchronization is obtained by progressively shifting the phase of the second signal until a correlation maximum is detected, after which said signal is locked onto the correlation peak by phase skips on either side thereof.

Abstract: A device which removes condensation formed on the inside surface of the window of a flowmeter. The device comprises a circular skid guided for translational movement by a slideway and provided with a gutter laid against the inside surface of the window so as to remove the condensation by capillary action. The skid is moved by rotating a link driven by a manual control knob. Used for reading water meters of the dry or extra dry type.

Abstract: To avoid disturbing measurement dephasings due to reflections from walls, the fluid velocity-measurement device comprises a pair of input-output transducers (18 and 20) located inside measurement chamber (16) which has the form of a revolution ellipsoid, each of transducers (18 and 20) being mounted at one of the focal points (F1 and F2) of the ellipsoid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for transmitting messages between a control terminal and controlled terminals for use especially in home automation installations. The controlled terminals are installed on a transmission network connected to the control terminal. The messages all have the same structure and include an originator field and a destination field. To install a new terminal a data item specific thereto is entered in the terminal. The new terminal installed transmits an installation request message including the specific data item to the terminal. In response the control terminal transmits an installation message which includes all the data needed for the installed terminal to converse with the control terminal.

Abstract: A fluidic oscillator and a flow meter including such a fluidic oscillator comprising a fluid inlet suitable for forming a two-dimensional jet: an obstacle possessing a front portion in the form of a chamber facing the inlet on the path of the jet, said chamber including two walls that are symmetrical about a longitudinal plane of symmetry passing through said inlet, the walls meeting said plane; and means for increasing the pressure on each of the lateral flanks of the obstacle in the vicinity of the front portion in alternation and in a relationship with the oscillation of the jet between the walls of the chamber.

Abstract: A base for an electric utility watt-hour meter made from a polycarbonate material preferably reinforced with glass fiber and ultraviolet light stabilized. The molded base receives current terminals that have outwardly directed lugs engaging one face of the base and there are locking arms on the other side of the base resiliently biased against the lug to engage a locking formation thereon. The base has a knife-edge rib extending about its periphery to sealingly engage a front edge face of a cup shaped transparent cover for the meter. A metal ring joins the cover to the base the metal ring being a band with a first series of lugs struck out and directed inwardly to engage the flange on the cover and a second group of tabs struck outwardly and bent inwardly to engage the bayonet ramp surfaces on the base.

Abstract: A magnetic head for a digital signal comprises a double winding system in which each winding has one-half wound around a first branch of a U-shaped core and has its other half wound around a second branch so that when an appropriate electrical current is carried by the winding, a magnetic field is created such that the components thereof that are not channelled by the core cancel out giving rise to a zero resultant, while those channelled by the core add together.

Abstract: A transponder includes a receiver for receiving a radio interrogation signal. The transponder also includes a phase locked loop decoder for deriving a reference signal from the received interrogation signal, and a radio transmitter for transmitting a transponder reply signal. The phase locked loop has an output which feeds the AC reference signal to the transmitter. The transmitter includes a frequency doubler which generates a transmitter radio frequency at double the frequency of the reference signal. The transmitter radio frequency is therefore controlled by the radio frequency of the interrogation signal. The phase locked loop includes a divide-by-N counter, where N is a predetermined integer parameter. The parameter N determines the derivation of the reference signal frequency from the interrogation signal frequency.

Abstract: An aerodynamic enclosure is placed in the flow, the enclosure including an opening enabling the enclosure to be filled with the flowing fluid, and having a thermal pulse generator mounted flush with its wall, which generator is suitable for emitting modulated thermal pulses simultaneously to the outside and to the inside of the enclosure. A first thermal sensor is located in the flow and a second thermal sensor is located in the enclosure. The sensors measure propagation times or phase shifts of the thermal waves respectively in the flow and in the non-flowing fluid, thereby making it possible to deduce the value of the fluid flow rate while compensating for any variations in the temperature, pressure, and composition of the fluid. The invention is applicable to gas metering.

Abstract: The flow rate sensor is made from a silicon substrate (1). A first face (A) of the substrate is provided with a heating element (2) disposed in a first region (R1) and with at least one thermometer component (4) disposed in a second region (R2), the first and second regions being insulated from each other by a third zone (R3) of oxidized porous silicon. According to the invention, the sensor is adapted to receive the flow of fluid (E) over the second face (B) of the substrate (1), with the first and second regions (R1, R2) forming respective thermal short circuits between the first and second faces (A, B) of said substrate.

Abstract: A flow rectifier for mounting in a circular section duct conveying a fluid flow, the rectifier establishing two series of oppositely-rotating vortices in a ring, which vortices cancel one another, and are created by two series of angularly offset fins. The first series of fins is disposed uniformly around the inside surface of the ring while the second series of fins is disposed uniformly around a circumference centered on the center of the ring.

Abstract: An emulator which is able to operate on a standard single phase 120 VAC line, generates simulated three-phase alternating current in order to demonstrate the operation of a polyphase electricity meter. The emulator is also capable of demonstrating the operation of the polyphase electricity meter which has been incorrectly wired into the polyphase circuit, i.e., with incorrect or missing connections to the current transformers; or in which there are problems with the phasing of the polyphase circuit, i.e., incorrect phase differences between circuits or between the currents and voltages within any of the phases.