Abstract: A metering pulse transducer for utility meters, including meters for water, gas and electric service, includes a rotor (20) with five magnetically switchable elements (22-26) spaced around the axis of rotation (21), a sensing coil (27) disposed around the rotor (20), and two permanent magnets (29, 30) disposed diametrically across the rotor (20) and positioned with equal and opposite polarity such that their magnetic fields (51, 52) extend laterally to reach the path of travel (53) of the magnetically switchable elements (22-26), such that when the rotor is rotated, electric pulses are generated as a result of the magnetically switchable elements (22-26) passing the permanent magnets (29, 30). A rotor (20) having five switchable magnetic elements (22-26) disposed seventy-two degrees (72°) apart generates ten pulses per revolution of the rotor (20).

Abstract: A number wheel assembly (10) for a counter mechanism has a plurality of number wheels (13-18), each number wheel (13-18) having a sleeve (48) around its circumference with a plurality of positions representing successive increments in a count, a substrate (26-31) opposite one surface of the number wheel (13-18), the substrate (26-31) carrying an electrode (42) that is spaced from the number wheel (13-18) to form an air gap for a variable capacitor, and wherein the number wheel (13-18) carries at least one dielectric element (46) that is rotated with the number wheel (13-18) to vary the capacitance of the variable capacitor according to the position of the number wheel (13-18). Circuitry for detecting the capacitance and the position of the number wheels (13-18) is provided on a circuit board (39) that is electrically connected to the number wheels (13-18).