METHOD OF ASSOCIATING A WATER UTILITY SERVICE LINE TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE
First Claim
1. A method of associating a water utility service line to a customer service line, said method comprising:
- providing a meter box comprising a body and a top cover, said top cover movably associated with said body, wherein said body defines a cavity configured for receiving a metering element, said body further defining a meter-box-input and a meter-box-output;
providing a flow control component disposed at least partially inside said cavity, said flow control component comprising a housing-input, a housing-output wherein a shutoff-element and a backflow-prevention-element are disposed within said housing and in series between said housing-input and said housing-output;
associating said housing-input with said meter-box-input and further associating said meter-box-input with a water utility service line so that water flows through the flow control component before flowing through the remainder of the meter box;
associating said housing-output to a metering element input; and
associating the metering element output with said meter-box-output and further associating the meter-box-output with a customer service line thereby providing a flow path from the water utility service line to the customer service line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a meter box for housing a utility meter and configured for associating a customer service line to a utility service line. The meter box may be configured to fit within an existing meter box and may be configured with side sections in a telescopic arrangement. Flow control components at an input of the meter box prevent backflow.
The meter box comprises an electronic module that includes a variety of selectable features including data logging, AMR, environmental monitoring, and resource monitoring. A remote monitor is provided for allowing a customer to view selected data including consumption data, pressure, pH, temperature, warnings, remote turnoff, and provide secured bill paying services. Imaging/audio components provide visual and audio data which may include an image of an analog readout for a meter register, images of the metering environment, and sound data for metering environment.
98 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of associating a water utility service line to a customer service line, said method comprising:
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providing a meter box comprising a body and a top cover, said top cover movably associated with said body, wherein said body defines a cavity configured for receiving a metering element, said body further defining a meter-box-input and a meter-box-output; providing a flow control component disposed at least partially inside said cavity, said flow control component comprising a housing-input, a housing-output wherein a shutoff-element and a backflow-prevention-element are disposed within said housing and in series between said housing-input and said housing-output; associating said housing-input with said meter-box-input and further associating said meter-box-input with a water utility service line so that water flows through the flow control component before flowing through the remainder of the meter box; associating said housing-output to a metering element input; and associating the metering element output with said meter-box-output and further associating the meter-box-output with a customer service line thereby providing a flow path from the water utility service line to the customer service line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of associating a water utility service line to a customer service line so that backflow from the customer service line to the water utility service line is prevented, said method comprising:
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providing a meter box with an mb-input an and mb-output wherein water flows into said meter box through said mb-input and flow out of said meter box through said mb-output; providing an electronic-shutoff valve with an esv-input and an esv-output wherein water flows into the electronic-shutoff valve through the esv-input and flows out of the electronic-shutoff valve through the esv-output; associating the esv-input to the mb-input and further associating said mb-input to a water utility service line; electrically associating said electronic-shutoff valve with a controller configured for controlling the open/shut state of the electronic-shutoff valve; associating the esv-output with the input of a metering element and further associating the metering element output with said mb-output and further associating the mb-output with a customer service line thereby providing a flow path from the water utility service line to the customer service line; providing a direction-indicator electrically associated with said controller, said direction-indicator configured for generating flow-data relatable to the direction of water flow through the meter box and wherein said controller if further configured to receive said flow-data; and configuring said controller to generate a shut-off signal that is transmitted to said electronic-shutoff valve when the flow-data indicates a back flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of associating a water utility service line to a customer service line, said method comprising:
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providing a meter box with an mb-input an and mb-output so that water flows into the meter box through the mb-input and flows out of the meter box through the mb-output; associating the mb-input to a utility service lined and associating the mb-output to a customer service line; providing a two-way valve comprising a valve-input port, a FF-port and a RF-port, and a diverter-valve; associating the valve-input port to the mb-input and associating the FF-port to the input of a metering element; associating the output of said metering element to the mb-output thereby providing a flow path from the utility service line to the customer service line; associating the RF-port with an accessory pathway; wherein said diverter-valve is configured to allow water flow from the valve-input to the FF-port in forward flow conditions; and wherein said diverter-valve is configured to allow flow from the FF-port to the RF-port in reverse flow conditions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification