Abstract: A method and apparatus that monitors and controls the operation of an electricity meter and prevents a failure of and/or damage to the electricity meter. A potential failure condition of an electrical connection between an electricity meter and a meter socket in an electrical line that provides power from a power supply to an electrical load through the electricity meter, is detected. A correction time may be determined based on a temperature in the vicinity of the electrical connection and a current through the electrical connection. The correction time indicates an amount of time that is available before a predicted failure of the electrical connection will occur. The method determines whether the electricity meter is in an imminent failure condition based on the correction time or the information used to detect the potential failure condition of the electrical connection.

Abstract: A method of encoding interval consumption values transmitted by a meter module in a metering data collection system includes collecting consumption values at selected intervals, and compressing collected consumption data using a logarithmic table encoder to reduce the number of bits required in a data message for each consumption interval.

Abstract: A Gaussian Frequency Shift Key (GFSK) receiver includes a receiver front end to receive a GFSK-modulated signal and convert the received GFSK-modulated signal to a baseband frequency modulated signal, a channel filter to reduce channel interference which is adjacent to a desired channel of the baseband frequency modulated signal, a demodulator to demodulate the channel filtered baseband modulated signal and to recover a sequence of symbols, a digital filter to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI) from the sequence of symbols, a slicer to produce symbol decisions based on the filtered sequence of symbols, and a symbol-to-bit mapper to map the symbol decisions to data bits.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the relative phase of each of a plurality of load meters connected to a three-phase power distribution system. The system includes a gateway that communicates information to and from each of the individual load meters. The gateway generates a timing pulse that is received by each of the load meters. Based upon the delay from the receipt of the timing pulse to the next zero crossing of the single phase power supply received by the meter, the utility can determine the phase of the individual meter. The system can include a feeder meter connected to each phase of the electrical supply system to determine the energy consumption for each of the meters connected to a specific phase. The utility can compare the energy consumption information from the feeder meter to all of the load meters connected to the same phase to determine whether any energy theft is occurring.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and an annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap, which is spanned by an armor positioned in the gap to provide a generally closed annular periphery about the gasket. The armor includes a corrugated portion engaging the gasket during compression. The gasket includes a pressure assist slot configured to receive pressurized fluid leaking from the pipes and a plurality of cross grooves ensuring continued fluid communication with the pressure assist slot. The gasket also includes ribs engaging the split-ring gland and the armor to reduce or eliminate added lubrication necessary.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer includes an L-state pulse width modulator configured to receive a reference frequency signal and at least one entry from a frequency table, and to output at least one N/N+1 modulus signals corresponding to the at least one entry from the frequency table. The synthesizer includes a divide by N/N+1 controllable modulus divider configured to receive the at least one N/N+1 modulus signals and to divide the output frequency signal by the at least one N/N+1 modulus signals to generate a second reference frequency signal. The synthesizer includes a phase frequency detector configured to receive the reference frequency signal and the second reference frequency signal and to generate an error signal. The synthesizer also includes a filter network configured to receive the error signal and to output a voltage; and a voltage controlled oscillator configured to receive the voltage and to generate the output frequency signal.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and an annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap, which is spanned by an armor positioned in the gap to provide a generally closed annular periphery about the gasket. The armor includes a corrugated portion engaging the gasket during compression. The gasket includes a pressure assist slot configured to receive pressurized fluid leaking from the pipes and a plurality of cross grooves ensuring continued fluid communication with the pressure assist slot. The gasket also includes ribs engaging the split-ring gland and the armor to reduce or eliminate added lubrication necessary.

Abstract: A magnetic-inductive flow meter is provided that includes a pressure-resistant plastic housing that includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and an intermediate measuring unit that has a duct wall and a measurement duct through which the fluid to be measured flows. Two opposite measuring electrodes are arranged in the duct wall and are oriented perpendicular to the magnet poles. Taking into account the maximum admissible pressure for the selected plastic, the duct wall is reduced to a minimum admissible thickness in the region of the magnet poles. An internal reinforcement cage that includes at least two internal transverse bulkheads and at least two internal longitudinal ribs stabilizes the duct wall. An external reinforcement cage that includes at least two first external longitudinal ribs retains and stabilizes the internal reinforcement cage and connects the measuring unit in a tension-proof manner to the inlet port and the outlet port.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and at least one annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap, and abutting ends configured to be bolted together via apertures tangential to the gland members so as to avoid outward scissoring.

Abstract: An annular gasket configured to seal a split-ring gland of a pipe coupling onto an end of a pipe having an annular outer gasket and a separate inner annular gasket. The outer gasket has an inner circumferential surface and the inner gasket has an outer circumferential surface, the circumferential surfaces being removably engaged. The inner gasket may be wider than the outer gasket to form a lip that projects beyond the outer gasket. The inner circumferential surface of the outer gasket and the outer circumferential surface of the inner gasket may include triangular shaped interdigitations configured to prevent axial movement between the gaskets.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and at least one annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap. The pipe coupling includes an armor positioned to span the gap between the spaced ends to provide a generally closed annular periphery about the gasket. The armor includes a corrugated portion having a plurality of corrugations engaging the split-ring gland and the gasket during compression of the gasket. The armor is cold formed to improve structural strength and durability.

Abstract: The teachings herein disclose a method and apparatus for preventing excessive battery passivation in an electronic meter-reading module. The module operates in a low-power state most of the time. The low-power state is interrupted at defined transmit times, wherein the module temporarily turns on or otherwise activates an included communication transmitter, for the transmission of data to a remote node reachable through a wireless communication network. Because of its low current draw during the times between data transmissions, the module's battery is vulnerable to passivation layer buildup. Advantageously, however, the module is configured to perform dummy activations of its transmitter at times other than the defined transmit times, e.g., in the intervals between data transmissions. These dummy activations are not for data transmission, but rather are temporary activations of the relatively high-power transmitter, for reducing passivation layer buildup on the battery in advance of a next data transmission.

Abstract: A one-way direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications wide-area network is the data collection channel (uplink) of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and a paging network, or other suitable communication channel is the optional forward (downlink) channel. The communications network may include one-way meter modules (transmitters) each communicatively coupled to a corresponding electric, gas or water utility meter, and may include two-way meter modules (transceivers) each coupled to such a corresponding utility meter. The meter modules monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages) in an appropriate RF channel. Metering data air messages are collected by a network of receiver Base Stations (BS) and forwarded to a Data Operations Center (DOC), which acts as a metering data gateway.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and at least one annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap. The pipe coupling includes an armor positioned to span the gap between the spaced ends to provide a generally closed annular periphery about the gasket. The armor includes a corrugated portion having a plurality of corrugations engaging the split-ring gland and the gasket during compression of the gasket. The armor is cold formed to improve structural strength and durability.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides control for a distributed lighting network, for selectively reducing an aggregate electrical load of the distributed lighting network according to a defined lighting reduction pattern. Among the several advantages of the provided control is the ability to define via the pattern which lamps are involved in load shedding, and how they are controlled to shed load. In another aspect, the present invention provides control for a distributed lighting network, for visibly signaling persons within sight of one or more lamps within the distributed lighting network. Among the several advantages of the provided control is the ability to provide emergency or other public safety signaling to persons that might not otherwise be alerted to an existing or impending danger.

Abstract: A communication system that relays data messages from or to a plurality of remote endpoints via RF gateways to a data accumulation site over one of a series of communication channels. The communication system monitors the signal-to-noise ratio of communication from each individual endpoint, which can be utility meters and related control or monitoring points, to a gateway. Based upon a quality of service and/or the signal-to-noise ratio of the communication of the endpoints to the gateways, the system assigns a desired communication channel to the endpoint. Each of the desired communication channels have varying data transmission rate and required SNR and each channel is selected based upon the signal-to-noise ratio of the transmissions from the endpoint to the gateways. If the signal-to-noise ratio changes for an endpoint, the system dynamically reassigns a different channel to the meter based upon the updated signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: The present disclosure replaces a standard electric utility meter with a meter having a signal sensor, signal generator, and processor platform to stimulate broad software and firmware development innovation. The utility can then select the ‘application’ that best suits their analysis needs. The meter platform consists of 3 layers: physical interfaces, pre-processing resources, and applications processing & database. The physical interfaces include voltage, current, and load sensors, radio and PLC communications, optical, and power control for advanced outage management. The increased processing capabilities combined with signal and data processing allow for true distributed intelligence in the smart grid. The physical layer, pre-processing DSP and firmware form open APIs for third party developers.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: A Gaussian Frequency Shift Key (GFSK) receiver includes a receiver front end to receive a GFSK-modulated signal and convert the received GFSK-modulated signal to a baseband frequency modulated signal, a channel filter to reduce channel interference which is adjacent to a desired channel of the baseband frequency modulated signal, a demodulator to demodulate the channel filtered baseband modulated signal and to recover a sequence of symbols, a digital filter to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI) from the sequence of symbols, a slicer to produce symbol decisions based on the filtered sequence of symbols, and a symbol-to-bit mapper to map the symbol decisions to data bits.

Abstract: A system and method for use in a non-intrusive load monitoring system to identify specific types of loads and communicate the identified load information to interested parties. The non-intrusive load monitoring system includes an electricity meter that measures load information from a home or facility. The load information is analyzed by comparing the information to a series of load signatures for various known electrical loads to identify the specific type of electric load. Once the type of load is identified, the system utilizes the information to analyze the operation of the load and relay messages to the home owner regarding such operation. The load information may be used by a utility to better predict and manage peak and average electricity consumption over the year. Upon customer authorization, the load identification information may also be relayed to third parties for use in directed sales campaigns and discount promotions.