FLUID METER, ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE FOR A FLUID METER, AND METHOD

Abstract

A fluid meter with an electronic unit has a housing in which an electronic device and an energy storage device are disposed. The electronic device and the energy storage device are potted separately with a potting compound in a respective potting housing and they are coupled with one another either via a cable connection or via an inductive energy transmission interface.

Claims

1. A fluid meter with an electronic unit, the fluid meter comprising: a housing; an electronic device and an energy storage device disposed in said housing; said energy storage device being associated with, and configured to supply, said electronic device; said electronic device and said energy storage device being potted separately in a potting compound; and a cable connection or an inductive energy transmission interface coupling said energy storage device with said electronic device.

2. The fluid meter according to claim 1, wherein said cable connection has one end embedded in the potting compound of said electronic device and one end embedded in the potting compound of said energy storage device.

3. The fluid meter according to claim 1, wherein said cable connection is fluid-resistant.

4. A replacement energy storage device for a fluid meter according to claim 1 and for replacing an energy storage device that is already present in the fluid meter, the replacement energy storage device comprising: at least one storage cell accommodated in a potting housing; a cable section that is routed to the outside of the potting housing, or an inductive energy transmission interface component arranged in the potting housing; wherein said at least one storage cell and an end of the cable connection that is located in the potting housing, or the energy transmission interface component are potted with a potting compound; a connecting device connected on the cable section and configured for connecting to a cable section of the electronic device of the fluid meter which remains connected to the electronic device after the energy storage device to be replaced has been removed.

5. The energy storage device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting device is an insulation-displacement connector.

6. A method of replacing an energy storage device of a fluid meter, the method comprising: providing a fluid meter according to claim 1; and replacing the energy storage device of the fluid meter with a replacement energy storage device according to claim 4.

7. The method according to claim 6, which comprises disconnecting a cable connection which connects the potted electronic device and the potted energy storage device, wherein a cable section remains on the electronic device, and subsequently connecting the connecting device at the end of the cable section of the replacement energy storage device to the remaining cable section on the electronic device.

8. The method according to claim 7, which comprises potting the connecting device with a potting compound after the cable section of the replacement energy storage device is connected to the remaining cable section on the electronic device.

9. The method according to claim 8, which comprises inserting the connecting device into a housing area that is subsequently filled with the potting compound.

10. The method according to claim 8, which comprises arranging a housing around the connecting device and subsequently filling the housing with the potting compound.

11. The method according to claim 7, which comprises arranging the connecting device in a region inside the housing of the fluid meter in which an air bubble forms in an assembly position in a fluid.

12. A fluid meter, comprising: a potted electronic device disposed in a potting housing; a potted energy storage device disposed in a potting housing, said energy storage device being a replacement energy storage device; and a cable connection having a first cable section connected to said energy storage device, a second cable section connected to said electronic device, and a connecting device connecting said first and second cable sections to one another.

13. The fluid meter according to claim 12, wherein the connecting device is potted with a potting compound.

14. The fluid meter according to claim 13, wherein the connecting device is arranged in a housing region which is filled with the potting compound.

15. The fluid meter according to claim 13, wherein a housing is arranged around the connecting device, and the housing is subsequently filled with a potting compound.

16. The fluid meter according to claim 12, wherein the connecting device is arranged in a region inside the housing of the electronic unit in which an air bubble forms in an assembly position under fluid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view depiction of an electronic unit or an arithmetic unit of a fluid meter according to the invention with an open housing prior to it being newly repaired by replacing the energy storage device;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the underside view of the electronic device and the energy storage device which is connected thereto via a cable connection;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1 during the replacement process and the disconnection of the cable connection;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a new energy storage device according to the invention which is provided for the replacement;

[0039] FIG. 5 shows the energy storage device from FIG. 4 in a different perspective view;

[0040] FIG. 6 shows the arrangement during the connection process of the energy storage device to the electronic device;

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the newly repaired electronic unit with an open housing;

[0042] FIG. 8 shows the electronic unit from FIG. 7, wherein the electronic device and the energy storage device are accommodated in the other housing half;

[0043] FIG. 9 shows the possibility of subsequently potting the connecting device;

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a sectioned schematic depiction of the repaired fluid meter; and

[0045] FIG. 11 is view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating an embodiment in which the energy transfer is effect by way of wireless, inductive transfer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an electronic unit 1 as part of a fluid meter according to the invention, for example a water meter in the form of a domestic water meter or industrial water meter. The electronic unit 1 comprises a housing 2 which preferably consists of two housing shells. Only the one housing shell 2a is shown in FIG. 1. An exemplary second housing shell 2b is shown in FIG. 8, in an open housing state.

[0047] An electronic device 3 is located in the interior of the housing 2. The electronic device comprises all the relevant measuring and processing elements, such as sensors, calculation and processing device or specific control device, as well as a display 4. Moreover, an energy storage device 5 is also provided in the housing 2, for example in the form of a correspondingly powerful battery which comprises a corresponding number of energy storage cells or modules and is connected to the electronic device 3 via a cable connection 6. As an alternative to a cable connection of this type, an inductive energy transmission interface with the corresponding transmission components can also be provided on the electronic device 3 and the energy storage device 5.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the relevant elements, namely, the electronic device 3 and the energy storage device 5, separately from the underside, wherein it is clear from this depiction that the electronic device 3 has a potting housing 7 in which the associated components are arranged and which is potted with a potting compound 8. Similarly, the energy storage device 5 also has a potting housing 9 in which the storage cells or storage modules are accommodated and which is also filled with a potting compound 10. The two-core cable connection 6 is connected to the associated connection poles of the electronic device 3 and the energy storage device 5, and is also potted in the respective potting compound 8, 10 with the associated terminals or rather line ends. As a result, a complete media seal is provided both on the part of the electronic device 3 and the energy storage device 5, as well as on the part of the cable connection 6, which is of course equipped with an associated media-resistant casing made of plastics material, etc.

[0049] Let us assume, now, that the energy storage device 5 has to be replaced, either because it is defective or because its storage capacity is too low. This is done by disconnecting the cable connection 6, see FIG. 3, by means of a simple cutting tool 11; i.e., the cable is cut through in a simple manner so that the energy storage device 5 which is defective or has to be replaced can be removed from the housing 2.

[0050] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a new, fully functional energy storage device 5a which, in an identical manner in the example shown, has a potting housing 9 in which the storage cells or storage module are accommodated and which is filled with a potting compound 10. The geometry of the new energy storage device 5a corresponds substantially or completely to the geometry of the energy storage device which is to be replaced, so that the new energy storage device 5a can be positioned appropriately.

[0051] The new energy storage device 5a has a cable section 12 which passes out of the potting compound 10, to which cable section a connecting device 13 in the form of an insulation-displacement connector 14 is already connected in a preconfigured manner at origin.

[0052] Contact to the electronic device 3 or rather the cable section 18 thereof, which remains there after cutting through the cable connection 6, is then made by means of this connecting device 13 or rather this insulation-displacement connector 14. The two cables or strands are plugged into the insulation-displacement connector 14, after which it is pinched accordingly with a tool 15 (see FIG. 6). A fixed cable connection which, depending on the configuration of the connecting device 13, is media-tight again and thus protects the connection point is formed.

[0053] FIG. 7 then shows the arrangement of the electronic unit 1 of the fluid meter which is similar to the one from FIG. 1, however in this case the new energy storage device 5a is installed or rather inserted in the housing 2. It is apparent that the connecting device 13 is well placed inside the housing 2, as also shown in FIG. 8 in which the housing 2 is shown with the second housing half 2b, and therefore the electronic device 3 and the new energy storage device 5a can thus be seen from the underside. It is apparent that the connecting device 13, i.e. the insulation-displacement connector 14, is located on the underside of the housing shell 2b which, in relation to the assembly position, forms the upper housing cover.

[0054] If the connecting device 13 already provides a sufficient media seal, associated with a corresponding corrosion protection of the cable connection which takes place therein, etc., no further measures are necessary with regards to an additional sealing of the connecting device 13. If the connecting device 13 does not necessarily guarantee this or if it is still necessary due to reasons of regulation, FIG. 9 shows the possibility of likewise potting the connecting device 13, which is accommodated in the corresponding housing region 16, in this region with a potting compound 17, as depicted by the droplet symbols in FIG. 9. This means that the appropriate liquid or paste potting compound is introduced in this section, so that the connecting device 13 is completely embedded therein and thus is definitively sealed thereafter.

[0055] Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible, see FIG. 10, to arrange the connecting device 13 in the housing 2 or rather in a housing region 16 in such a way that in the assembly position, i.e. when the fluid meter is reassembled under water, the connecting device 13 forms in a region in which an air bubble forms if there is an ingress of liquid, i.e. water, into the housing 2. Owing to the geometry of the housing part 2b, despite the ingress of water, the displaced air gathers in the upper region of the housing part 2b, consequently also thus in the housing region 16 in which the connecting device 13 is accommodated, such that a kind of air cushion forms which accommodates and protects the connecting device 13, so that in turn the high protection class is guaranteed despite the battery being replaced.

[0056] As a result, the fluid meter is in turn fully protected and fully operational in a submerged assembly, with even protection against flooding and the like being guaranteed.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 11, the energy transfer from the energy storage device 5, 5a to the electronic device 3 may also be effected by way of a wireless power system 20, preferably, by inductive coupling. For that purpose, the energy storage device 5 carries a transmitter antenna 21. The electronic device 3 is provided with a receiver antenna 22. While the coupling devices, i.e., the antennas 20, 21, are illustrated as being separately carried on the electronic device 3 and on the energy storage device 5, respectively, they are preferably fully integrated into their respective housings, or potting housings, and/or they may be potted together with them. Inductive coupling for wireless energy transmission is sufficiently known in the art so that a specific description may be dispensed with.

[0058] The invention thus enables a simple replacement of an energy supply device, wherein the electronic unit 1 is designed in a very simple manner, with no specific sealant having to be provided thereon in order to seal the inside of the housing. This is because a more trouble-free and secure operation is guaranteed owing to the complete potting of the electronic device 3 and the energy storage device 5 or respectively 5a and, in the case of replacement, optionally also the connecting device 13.

[0059] Furthermore, in the event of the energy storage device 5a being replaced, this modular concept also offers the possibility to also couple an electronic device 3 of a fluid meter with a different type of battery. For example, a very compact electronic device 3 of a domestic water meter can be used by adding a larger D cell in the battery compartment, even for an industrial water meter with a higher energy requirement, but without restrictions on installation space.

[0060] If an inductive energy transmission, i.e. a wireless energy transmission, is intended, then only the energy storage device 5 has to be replaced, as has already been explained previously. In this case, it is not necessary to carry out any additional contacting or sealing measures on the part of the connecting device 13 etc. so that the fluid meter 1 is subsequently fully functional and ready for use again. In this case too, owing to the complete potting of the two devices involved, it is not necessary to provide any separate sealing measures on the housing 2, which can also be configured in a very simple manner in this case.

[0061] The following is a list of reference numerals used in the above description of the invention with reference to the drawing figures: [0062] 1 Electronic unit [0063] 2 Housing [0064] 2a Housing shell [0065] 2b Housing shell [0066] 3 Electronic device [0067] 4 Display device [0068] 5 Energy storage device [0069] 5a Energy storage device [0070] 6 Cable connection [0071] 7 Potting housing [0072] 8 Potting compound [0073] 9 Potting housing [0074] 10 Potting compound [0075] 11 Cutting tool [0076] 12 Cable section [0077] 13 Connecting device [0078] 14 Insulation-displacement connector [0079] 15 Tool [0080] 16 Housing region [0081] 17 Potting compound [0082] 18 Cable section [0083] 20 Wireless power system, inductive energy transmission interface [0084] 21 Transmitter antenna [0085] 22 Receiver antenna