1. A network interface controller configured to directly couple to a meter socket and provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including:
a computing device; and
at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device, the at least one communications interface configured to be physically located within a meter socket housing.
2. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one network includes at least one of: a utility network, a Home Area Network (HAN), a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN), an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a cellular network, an Ethernet network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, and a backhaul network.
3. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network (HAN) and a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN).
4. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:
a first radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the utility meter, the first radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the utility meter; and
a second radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the at least one network, the second radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.
5. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:
a first power line communication interface communicatively connected to the utility meter and the computing device, the first power line communication interface configured to provide a communication path between the utility meter and the computing device; and
a second power line communication interface communicatively connected to the at least one network and the computing device, the second power line communication interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.
6. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of: a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.
7. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are housed within the meter socket.
8. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are configured to be interposed between the meter socket and the utility meter.
9. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are configured to be disposed around a meter blade of the utility meter.
10. A meter socket housing comprising:
a meter socket; and
a network interface controller directly physically connected to the meter socket, the network interface controller configured to provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including:
a computing device; and
at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device.
11. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network (HAN) and a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN).
12. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of: a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.
13. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is housed within the meter socket.
14. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be interposed between the utility meter and the meter socket.
15. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be disposed around a meter blade of the utility meter.
16. An integrated meter socket system comprising:
a meter socket; and
a network interface controller physically integrated with the meter socket, the network interface controller configured to provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including:
a computing device;
a first communications interface communicatively connected to the computing device, the first communications interface configured to transmit communications between the computing device and the utility meter; and
a second communications interface communicatively connected to the computing device, the second communications interface configured to transmit communications between the computing device and the at least one network.
17. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network and a Neighborhood Area Network.
18. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be interposed between the utility meter and the meter socket.
19. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of: a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.
20. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:
a first radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the utility meter, the first radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the utility meter; and
a second radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the at least one network, the second radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An organophilic clay comprising a smectite clay modified by reaction with a protonated amphoteric surfactant.
2. The organophilic clay of claim 1 wherein the smectite clay is selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, and combinations thereof.
3. The organophilic clay of claim 1 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an amine oxide, a betaine, a phosphobetaine, an imidazoline, a sultaine, and combinations thereof.
4. The organophilic clay of claim 1 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a cetylmyristyl amine oxide, a stearyl amine oxide, a stearyl betaine, and combinations thereof.
5. The organophilic clay of claim 1 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant is substituted for in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 100% of the exchangeable cations of the smectite clay.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant has an alkyl chain length in the range of from about 12 carbon atoms to about 24 carbon atoms.
7. The organophilic clay of claim 1 wherein the smectite clay comprises montmorillonite and the protonated amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide.
8. A fluid comprising:
an oil; and
an organophilic clay comprising a smectite clay modified by reaction with a protonated amphoteric surfactant.
9. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the fluid is an emulsion.
10. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of a diesel oil, a paraffinic oil, an olefinic oil, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, a long chain ester, and combinations thereof.
11. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the smectite clay is selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, and combinations thereof.
12. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an amine oxide, a betaine, a phosphobetaine, an imidazoline, a sultaine, and combinations thereof.
13. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a cetylmyristyl amine oxide, a stearyl amine oxide, a stearyl betaine, and combinations thereof.
14. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant has an alkyl chain length of from about 12 carbon atoms to about 24 carbon atoms.
15. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the smectite clay comprises montmorillonite and the protonated amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide.
16. The fluid of claim 8 wherein the fluid further comprises a solid additive suspended in the oil.
17. The method of claim 8 wherein the fluid further comprises a solid additive suspended in the oil, the solid additive selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a reactive metal, and combinations thereof.
18. An drilling fluid comprising:
an oil;
water; and
an organophilic clay comprising a smectite clay modified by reaction with a protonated amphoteric surfactant.
19. The drilling fluid of claim 18 wherein the drilling fluid is an invert emulsion.
20. The drilling fluid of claim 18 wherein the smectite clay comprises montmorillonite.
21. The drilling fluid of claim 18 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide.
22. The drilling fluid of claim 18 wherein the protonated amphoteric surfactant comprises a cetylmyristyl amine oxide.