Abstract: A hose coupling assembly utilizes first and second hose collar halves interacting with a barbed connector for mounting to a PVC spiral hose with screws. The collar halves are identical and may be molded from flexible plastic material for ease of attachment to the spiral hose.

Abstract: The invention is a dial inbound MIU which includes a rechargeable power supply, such as a double layer capacitor (sometimes called a "supercapacitor" or a "SuperCap") or a rechargeable battery. The power supply can be recharged from the telephone line, either from the DC current available when the phone line is on-hook or off-hook or from the AC current which is available when the telephone line is ringing.

Abstract: A method for predicting the accuracy of a water meter includes measuring a plurality of characteristics of each water meter of a plurality of installed water meters, one of the characteristics being water meter accuracy. A regression model is determined that relates water meter accuracy to the one or more other characteristics by performing a linear regression of measurements of the other water meter characteristics against measurements of water meter accuracy.

Abstract: An ambient light filter includes light emitting circuitry and optical detection circuitry. The detection circuitry is positioned to detect light from the emitting circuitry. A microprocessor is provided to separately control the light emitting circuitry and the optical detection circuitry. The microprocessor determines whether light from the emitting circuitry has been detected by removing a measured component equivalent to the ambient light present at the optical detection circuitry.

Abstract: A pallet device for supporting a fuel dispenser or other movable object comprises a pair of runner elements mounted in parallel and spaced apart relation. Each runner element defines a respective longitudinal channel, which together permit endwise insertion of lifting forks. A pair of side ports extend laterally from the longitudinal channel of each runner element. The respective side ports of the two runner elements are aligned to provide transverse channels for sidewise insertion of lifting forks. Preferably, the two runner elements are made from sheet metal components for consistent and lightweight construction.

Abstract: A strainer for use with a dry hydrant having a fluid inlet includes an inlet tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being substantially capped, and the second end being connected to the dry hydrant fluid inlet. A plurality of apertures are formed in the inlet tube and are disposed between the first end and the second end. The apertures are disposed in a substantially v-shaped pattern, whereby an apex of the substantially v-shaped pattern is spaced proximal to the second end. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apertures spaced proximal to the first end of the inlet member have diameters greater than diameters of the apertures spaced proximal to the second end of the inlet member. In operation in a dry hydrant system, the strainer provides for uniform suction zone throughout the inlet pipe, and provides uniform fluid drafting flow.

Abstract: A Coriolis-type fluid flow rate measuring system uses phase locked loop-based signal processing to estimate a tube vibration signal and maintain optimum tube vibrations. Analog sinusoidal sensor signals from the flow meter are digitized and processed through heterodyne mixing as part of phase locked loop tracking of the fundamental vibration or oscillation frequency. Digital signal processing is used to implement filtering and signal manipulation so as to respectively determine phase and frequency estimates for both of the two digitized signals. Frequency estimate data is used to adjust the tracker frequency mixed with the respective sensor signals. Digitally obtained phase and frequency estimate data are used to determine an optimized drive signal for continuing tube vibration. Phase estimate information for the two respective sensor signals is used to determine phase shift data, used in turn to determine a fluid flow rate through the flow meter.

Abstract: A siphon jet is attached to a dry hydrant which is in communication with a body of water to increase the flow of fluid to the dry hydrant and assist in overcoming the effects of atmospheric pressure and gravity in drawing the water. A pressurized fluid source can add fluid to the siphon assembly and this forces water from the body up the hydrant pipe. Also, the fluid from the pressurized fluid source can be added forward of a valve to fill the hydrant pipe which thus minimizes the duration of priming operations.

Abstract: A meter sensor light tamper detector includes at least one light emitter and one or more sensors. The sensors have some parameter, i.e., conductivity in the case of phototransistor sensors, to provide an indication that they are in the presence of light. The system also includes a microprocessor which is capable of independent control of the light emitter and the sensors, and can determine the state of the electrical parameter, i.e., conductivity or nonconductivity, of the sensors. The microprocessor determines whether the sensors are being tampered with by checking the state of the sensors when a particular light condition is known to be present or absent.

Abstract: A data collection system in which a number of remote terminals (RT) transmit data packets for reception by one or more fixed data collectors (FDC) or a portable data collector (PDC). Each remote terminal (RT) transmits data in two frequency sub-bands to which the fixed and portable data collectors are respectively tuned. Channel capacity is improved in at least the fixed data collector (FDC) sub-band by the use in the remote terminal of minimum shift keying (MSK) encoding and pseudo-random variation of a frequency error applied to the packet transmission frequency for successive packets. In the fixed data collectors dual fast-Fourier transform signal processing enables the interpretation of simultaneous packets with different error frequencies. The use of a single design of remote terminal (RT) in conjunction with portable data collectors (PDC) simplifies system set-up, with the portable collectors providing coverage for those areas where a fixed data collector (FDC) network has yet to be established.

Abstract: An isolated current shunt transducer includes a current shunt that produces a voltage difference between the current shunt's first and second ends, with the voltage difference being related to a current flowing through the current shunt. The transducer also includes an isolation barrier positioned between the current shunt and a processing circuit to isolate the processing circuit from a voltage that is common to both ends of the current shunt. Two or more transducers may be included in a power meter for measuring power delivered to a load by a multiple phase power distribution circuit. In such a power meter, a processing circuit is connected to the current shunts through the isolation barriers and is operable to produce multiple phase power measurements based on the differences between the voltages at the first and second ends of the current shunts.

Abstract: An improved laminated ferromagnetic FIG. 8 power meter core is provided. The core is fabricated from a plurality of ferromagnetic plates and is formed in the general shape of a FIG. 8. The central leg of the core has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of other parts of the core. The core gap, in which a Hall-effect sensor is located, has gap faces with chamfered or rounded over edges to reduce fringing and bypassing effects. The core is formed without discontinuous corners that can result in local saturation and, in use, accommodates electrical power conductors in an over-under looping relationship through the openings of the core to provide a more homogeneous magnetic flux within the core and thus more reliable metering. The overall result is a core with a higher saturation point and thus a wider dynamic range than prior art cores.

Abstract: A device for monitoring power in a wye power service having three phases includes a sampling element arranged and configured to sample a current value and a voltage value from each of the three phases. A processor, coupled to said sampling element, calculates power either (i) by using the current value and the voltage value for the at least one phase when the voltage value for the at least one phase is available, or (ii) by using the current value for the at least one phase and the voltage values for the other two phases if the voltage value for the at least one phase is unavailable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting data from a monitoring station using frequency hopping and interval hopping as described. The output frequency of a transmitter in the monitoring station is hopped between selected output frequencies by retrieving random numbers from a table, generating a control voltage corresponding to the retrieved random number, applying the control voltage to an RF oscillator and transmitting a signal from a transmitter in the monitoring station using the signal from the RF oscillator as a carrier. The output frequency of the transmitter is limited between a maximum output frequency and a minimum output frequency by comparing the retrieved random number to data limits stored in a memory in the transmitter and rejecting retrieved random numbers outside of the retrieved limits. Interval hopping is realized by selecting a random number from the random number table, multiplying the random number by a fixed increment and adding the product to a minimum time interval.

Abstract: A strainer for use with a dry hydrant having a fluid inlet comprises an inlet tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being substantially capped, and the second end being connected to the dry hydrant fluid inlet. A plurality of apertures are formed in the inlet tube and are disposed between the first end and the second end. The apertures are disposed in a substantially v-shaped pattern, whereby an apex of the substantially v-shaped pattern is spaced proximal to the second end. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apertures spaced proximal to the first end of the inlet member have diameters greater than diameters of the apertures spaced proximal to the second end of the inlet member. In operation in a dry hydrant system, the strainer provides for uniform suction zone throughout the inlet pipe, and provides uniform fluid drafting flow.

Abstract: A bracket for use in a meter head of a rotary gas meter supports and secures a plurality of meter components, which have traditionally been mounted in separate housings. The bracket has a first pair of opposing slots for receiving a processor printed circuit board (PCB) and a second pair of slots for receiving a liquid crystal display PCB. The PCBs are held in place with a pair of screws extending through the bracket and through the PCBs. The bracket defines a walled enclosure within which a battery pack may be received. The rear portion of the bracket has legs for mounting the bracket to a metal plate located at a rear portion of the rotary gas meter. The legs also space the walled enclosure and the processor PCB from the metal plate so that some mechanical gearing may be received between the bracket and the metal plate. The processor PCB receives inputs from a reed switch, pressure transducer, and temperature sensor, all of which are located within the rotary head.

Abstract: An integral electronic meter system diagnostics package including a microprocessor, storage memory, pre-select series of system diagnostic tests, and recording any results which exceed predefined programmable thresholds, and display means for displaying error and/or diagnostic messages identifying selected diagnostic data and/or errors discovered in the meter tests during a predefined period. The system automatically senses the type of electrical service in which the meter is installed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interactively tuning a transmitter for use in a monitoring station is described. The monitor includes a voltage controlled oscillator producing a radiowave signal for use as a carrier. The voltage used to control the voltage controlled oscillator is provided by a voltage supply that produces an output voltage corresponding to an input data stream. The tuning station provides test data streams to the voltage supply and monitors the output frequencies of the transmitter to determine when the output frequency of the transmitter is above or below the maximum allowable output frequencies. When data streams corresponding to the maximum and minimum output frequencies are determined, they are stored in a memory in the monitoring station and a complete table of temperature-compensated data is generated based upon typical unit temperature drifts. The entire table is loaded into the monitoring station to provide maximum and minimum data sequences for various operating temperature ranges.

Abstract: A unidirectional register apparatus includes an input gear mechanism adapted to receive a rotational input from an external source; and a yoke, operatively coupled to the input gear mechanism, and arranged to pivot between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position in response to a change in direction of the rotational input. Also provided are a first gear mechanism, attached to the yoke, which is arranged to produce a rotational output in the same direction as the rotational input; and a second gear mechanism, also attached to the yoke, which is arranged to produce a rotational output in a direction opposite to the rotational input. An output gear mechanism is provided which is alternately engageable with each of the first and second gear mechanisms. The output gear mechanism engages the first gear mechanism when the yoke is in the first predetermined position, and the output gear mechanism engages the second gear mechanism when the yoke is in the second predetermined position.

Abstract: A gas meter includes a cam for driving first and second valve covers associated with respective diaphragms. Gas flowing into the gas meter is selectively directed by the first and second valve covers to reciprocate respective diaphragms. First and second cam rotation assemblies are coupled to respective diaphragms and continuously drive a cam to rotate the cam through a complete revolution, a feature which provides accurate metering of gas flows out of the gas meter, and a relatively steady flow of gas out of the gas meter. Further, the gas meter of this invention requires relatively few parts and so is relatively reliable and easy to manufacture.