Relay modules for communication within a mesh network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9287963-B2
Application number	US-201313800717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Apr 20, 2012
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for relaying data. An exemplary device includes a relay module comprising: a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity; an antenna disposed within the cavity; and a mounting device coupled to the mast and engageable with a utility structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A relay module comprising:
a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity, the mast defining a utility structure marker;
an antenna disposed within the cavity;
a spring assembly comprising a spring, an upper spring insert attached to the mast, and a lower spring insert;
a radio housing; and
a mounting device positioned between the radio housing and the mast, coupled to the mast and engageable with a utility structure, the mounting device attached to the lower spring insert.

2. The relay module of claim 1 , wherein the mast is movable relative to the mounting device.

3. The relay module of claim 1 , wherein the spring includes an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, the middle section having a diameter larger than the upper section, the upper section having a diameter equal to the lower section.

4. The relay module of claim 1 , further comprising an RF connector disposed within the spring assembly and connected to the antenna.

5. The relay module of claim 1 , wherein the mounting device is a mounting bracket.

6. The relay module of claim 5 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a fastener hole.

7. The relay module of claim 1 , a wherein the radio housing is coupled to the mounting device.

8. The relay module of claim 7 , wherein the radio housing includes at least one battery.

9. The relay module of claim 7 , wherein the radio housing includes a circuit board.

10. The relay module of claim 1 , wherein the utility structure is a fire hydrant.

11. The relay module of claim 10 , wherein:
the fire hydrant includes a bonnet and a hydrant body, the bonnet coupled to the hydrant body by a plurality of fasteners; and
the mounting device is engageable with the fire hydrant by a fastener of the plurality of fasteners.

12. The relay module of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of fasteners includes nuts and bolts; and
the mounting device includes a fastener hole sized to accept a bolt of the plurality of fasteners.

13. A relay module system comprising:
a utility structure;
a mast having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity, the mast defining a utility structure marker, the cavity extending above the utility structure;
an RF circuit including an antenna, the antenna disposed within the cavity of the mast;
a radio housing; and
a mounting device located between the radio housing and the mast, fastening the mast to the utility structure, coupled to the radio housing.

14. The relay module system of claim 13 , wherein the utility structure is a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant including a bonnet and a hydrant body, the bonnet coupled to the hydrant body by a plurality of fasteners.

15. The relay module system of claim 14 , wherein the mounting device is fastened to the fire hydrant by a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket engaging one fastener of the plurality of fasteners.

16. The relay module system of claim 13 , further comprising a spring assembly coupling the mast to the mounting device.

17. The relay module system of claim 16 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a spring, an upper spring insert attached to the mast, and a lower spring insert.

18. The relay module system of claim 17 , wherein the spring includes an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, the middle section having a diameter larger than the upper section, the upper section having a diameter equal to the lower section.

19. The relay module system of claim 17 , wherein the mounting device is attached to the lower spring insert.

20. The relay module system of claim 13 , wherein the RF circuit includes a circuit board and at least one battery, the radio housing containing the circuit board and the at least one battery of the RF circuit.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Parish Edward C
• Williams James Ola
• Splitz David Edwin

Classifications

• H04B7/155 Primary

  Ground-based stations (H04B7/204 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B7/14 Primary

  Relay systems · CPC title

• E03B9/02

  Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants · CPC title

• H01Q1/36

  Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• A62C37/40

  with electric connection between sensor and actuator · CPC title