Method and an apparatus for operating an electromagnetic valve associated to a gas meter

1. An apparatus for operating an electromagnetic valve associated with a gas meter, said electromagnetic valve being operable for stopping or allowing a flow of gas to pass through said gas meter ( 1 ) to one or more users, said apparatus being associated with said gas meter ( 1 ) and comprising:

an electronic gas consumption measuring device ( 4 ) for generating electrical signals corresponding to a quantity of gas which flows through said meter ( 1 );

a central unit (C) electrically connected to said electronic gas consumption measuring device for receiving and processing said electrical signals generated by said measuring device ( 4 ) for determining a quantity of gas consumed, and having means for transmitting to a remote system, by electromagnetic waves, data relevant to the quantity of gas consumed;

a functional electrical connection provided between said central unit (C) and said electromagnetic valve ( 3 );

a protective cover ( 6 ) for protecting at least said central unit (C), said electronic measuring device ( 4 ), electrical connections between the central unit and the electronic measuring device, and said functional electrical connection provided between said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) and said central unit (C);

said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) being integrated with said gas meter ( 1 ) and operable through a fore wall ( 1 k ) of said gas meter, said central unit (C) and electronic measuring device ( 4 ) being fastened to said fore wall ( 1 k ) of the gas meter ( 1 ); and,

wherein the protective cover is removably coupled to the fore wall ( 1 k ) for protecting from outside at least said central unit (C), said electronic measuring device ( 4 ), the electrical connections between the central unit and the electronic measuring device, and said functional electrical connection of said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) to said central unit (C), the coupling of the protective cover ( 6 ) to the fore wall ( 1 k ) being monitored by sensor means in communication with the central unit (C) such that the central unit detects immediately when the protective cover ( 6 ) is removed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central unit (C) further comprises means for receiving data by electromagnetic waves.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a roller digital counter ( 2 ) for said gas meter ( 1 ), fastened to said fore wall ( 1 k ) of said gas meter, and being at least partially transparent, so as to allow viewing of the roller digital counter ( 2 ) readout through said protective cover ( 6 ).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said protective cover ( 6 ) is fastened to said fore wall ( 1 k ) of the gas meter ( 1 ) by removable fastening means ( 7 ).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the removal of the protective cover detected by the central unit (C) defines an error status.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said central unit (C) responds to said error status by closing said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) to stop the gas from flowing through said gas meter ( 1 ).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising one or more sensors for detecting gas leaks in one or more environments, said sensors communicating with said central unit (C) and defining an errors status in case a given gas concentration is exceeded in at least one of said environments.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said central unit (C) responds to said error status by closing said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) to stop the gas from flowing through said gas meter ( 1 ).

9. A method for operating an electromagnetic valve, associated with a gas meter, said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) being operable to stop or allow a flow of gas through said gas meter ( 1 ) to one or more users, said method comprising:

providing a central unit (C);

providing an electronic measuring device for measuring consumption of said gas flowing through the gas meter and transmitting the measured gas consumption to said central unit;

storing the measured gas consumption information;

transmitting said gas consumption information from the central unit (C) to a remote system by electromagnetic waves;

transmitting control signals from said remote system to the central unit (C) for directing the central unit to operate the electromagnetic valve ( 3 ), so as to stop or allow the flow of gas through the gas meter ( 1 ) to the one or more users;

providing a protective cover for protecting at least said central unit (C), said electronic measuring device ( 4 ), electrical connections between the central unit and the electronic measuring device, and an electrical connection provided between said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) and said central unit (C);

integrating said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) with said gas meter ( 1 ) for operating the electromagnetic valve through a fore wall ( 1 k ) of said gas meter, situating said central unit (C) and electronic measuring device ( 4 ) in a position corresponding to said fore wall ( 1 k ) of the gas meter ( 1 );

removably coupling the protective cover to the fore wall ( 1 k ) for protecting from outside at least said central unit (C), said electronic measuring device ( 4 ), the electrical connections between the central unit and electronic measuring device, and the electrical connection between said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) and said central unit (C); and,

monitoring the coupling between the protective cover and the fore wall by said central unit, such that the central unit detects immediately when the protective cover ( 6 ) is removed.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising;

providing the central unit with means for receiving control signals by electromagnetic waves transmitted from a remote system;

receiving of the control signals by the central unit C; and,

operating said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) in response to the control signals received by said central unit (C).

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein removing the protective cover defines an error status indicating an unauthorized removal of the protective cover.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein, after the definition of said error status, said central unit (C) directing said electromagnetic valve ( 3 ) to stop gas from flowing through said gas meter ( 1 ).

13. The method according to claim 9 further comprising providing one or more sensors for detecting gas leaks in one or more environments, connecting the one or more sensors to said central unit (C), and defining an error status in case a given gas concentration is exceeded in at least one of said environments.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising, after the defining of the error status, the central unit directing the electromagnetic valve to stop the gas flowing through said gas meter ( 1 ).