An apparatus is provided and includes a rotary encoder that comprises a stator, a rotor, and a controller. The stator has an opening adapted to surround a first portion of a rotatable shaft, a transmit region, and a receive region. The rotor has an opening adapted to surround a second portion of the rotatable shaft, an annular conductive region, and at least one conductor electrically coupled with the annular conductive region. The controller has an input coupled to the receive region and has an output coupled to the transmit region. The controller is configured to transmit a first signal on the output of the controller and to the transmit region of the stator, receive a second signal on the input of the controller and from the receive region of the stator, and determine, based on the second signal, a proximity of the at least one conductor to the receive region.

An apparatus is provided and includes a rotary encoder that comprises a stator, a rotor, and a controller. The stator has an opening adapted to surround a first portion of a rotatable shaft, a transmit region, and a receive region. The rotor has an opening adapted to surround a second portion of the rotatable shaft, an annular conductive region, and at least one conductor electrically coupled with the annular conductive region. The controller has an input coupled to the receive region and has an output coupled to the transmit region. The controller is configured to transmit a first signal on the output of the controller and to the transmit region of the stator, receive a second signal on the input of the controller and from the receive region of the stator, and determine, based on the second signal, a proximity of the at least one conductor to the receive region.

A volume meter auxiliary module is configured to be assembled on a fluid volume meter. The volume meter auxiliary module includes a first assembly member and a second assembly member. The first assembly member includes a clamping structure configured to fix the first assembly member on the fluid volume meter. The second assembly member is configured to connect with the first assembly member. The second assembly member includes a casing body, a light emitter, an image-capturing piece and a cover. The casing body has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is located at a bottom of the casing body. The light emitter is disposed inside the casing body. The image-capturing piece is disposed inside the casing body. The cover connects with the casing body and covers the second opening. The cover is rotatable relative to the casing body.

Gas meter and center device are provided. Gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series. Center device receives and analyzes flow rate data from gas meter, and monitors states of use of gas appliances. Gas meter detects the start of operation of gas appliances, and transmits flow rate data during predetermined periods before and after the start of operation in accordance with a request from center device. Center device monitors the states of use of gas appliances based on the received flow rate data.

In a temporally continued plurality of day-and-time sections, history data included in the past day-and-time section is graphically displayed on the basis of the integrated flow amount data stored in the storage unit, as an integrated flow amount in each day-and-time section. In the day-and-time section including the current day-and-time, the integrated flow amount in the day-and-time section based on the current integrated flow amount data is successively updated and graphically displayed.

To provide an apparatus for monitoring a fluid flow rate, which is capable of performing monitoring without a data deficit, and displays information on a trend of a past history. A monitoring apparatus accepts, from the flow meter, integrated flow amount data for every day-and-time section, and a current flow rate, and graphically displays, on the basis of the integrated flow amount data for every day-and-time section, an integrated flow amount corresponding to each day-and-time section, on the basis of the integrated flow amount data for every day-and-time section including the current day-and-time and for every another plurality of continuous day-and-time sections.

An apparatus is provided and includes a rotary encoder that comprises a stator, a rotor, and a controller. The stator has an opening adapted to surround a first portion of a rotatable shaft, a transmit region, and a receive region. The rotor has an opening adapted to surround a second portion of the rotatable shaft, an annular conductive region, and at least one conductor electrically coupled with the annular conductive region. The controller has an input coupled to the receive region and has an output coupled to the transmit region. The controller is configured to transmit a first signal on the output of the controller and to the transmit region of the stator, receive a second signal on the input of the controller and from the receive region of the stator, and determine, based on the second signal, a proximity of the at least one conductor to the receive region.

An apparatus has a housing with a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a fluid flow path, and a fluid outlet. The monitor includes a controllable valve and a diverter that accommodates different types of sensors. The housing includes a dry housing interior fluidly isolated from the fluid flow path. The monitor includes a power generator configured to generate a voltage when fluid flows through the fluid flow path and at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path. The monitor includes a signal generator configured to transmit signals from the power generator and from the at least one sensor to a remote processor. The power generator is configured to power both the at least one sensor and the signal generator in response to fluid flow through the fluid flow path.

An apparatus has a housing with a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a fluid flow path, and a fluid outlet. The monitor includes a controllable valve and a diverter that accommodates different types of sensors. The housing includes a dry housing interior fluidly isolated from the fluid flow path. The monitor includes a power generator configured to generate a voltage when fluid flows through the fluid flow path and at least one sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path. The monitor includes a signal generator configured to transmit signals from the power generator and from the at least one sensor to a remote processor. The power generator is configured to power both the at least one sensor and the signal generator in response to fluid flow through the fluid flow path.

A positive displacement metering system measures the rate of travel of a free piston in a cylinder of known volume to determine the flow rate of a fluid out of the cylinder. The system may also measure and record the inlet and outlet pressures or the differential pressure between the fluid inlet and outlet. The control program positions a four-way valve which may function as an adjustable metering orifice in response to the measured flow rate and/or changes in the inlet and outlet pressures to achieve the desired flow rate. At the end of each stroke, the four-way valve is repositioned to reverse fluid flow through the metering cylinder. The system may revise the valve position settings for both forward and reverse strokes based on the measured time required for a full stroke of the piston within the cylinder at a certain valve position or a measured rate of movement of the free piston.