WATER METER

• US 20120210708A1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capstone Metering LLC
• Original Assignee: Capstone Metering LLC
• Inventors: Dunn, David James Carlos, Kowalchuk, Kevin Peter, Smith, Stephen Williams, Williamson, Jack Ryan, Williamson, James Scott, Williamson, Walter Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/494
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/075 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/0755 with magnetic coupling only in a mechanical transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/363 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication G01F1/37 and G01F1/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A meter includes an inlet for receiving a fluid and a housing defining a cylindrical chamber receiving the fluid from the inlet, wherein a chamber axis passes through a center of the cylindrical chamber. The meter also includes an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein the outlet is axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, and the flow axis does not intersect the chamber axis.

Claims

1. A meter comprising:

an inlet for receiving a fluid;

a housing defining a cylindrical chamber receiving the fluid from the inlet, wherein a chamber axis passes through a center of the cylindrical chamber; and

an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein the outlet is axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, and the flow axis does not intersect the chamber axis.

2. The meter of claim 1 further comprising:

a control valve coupled to the inlet and the housing, wherein the control valve is aligned along the flow axis; and

a motor coupled to the control valve, wherein the motor actuates the control valve.

3. The meter of claim 2 further comprising a gearbox coupled to the control valve and the motor.

4. The meter of claim 2, wherein the control valve comprises a ball valve.

5. The meter of claim 1, wherein the motor is a pancake motor.

6. The meter of claim 2, wherein settings for the control valve are open, closed, and partially open.

7. The meter of claim 2, wherein the motor is utilized to generate power.

8. A meter comprising:

an inlet;

a housing defining a first chamber, wherein the housing is coupled to the inlet;

an impeller housed within the first chamber, wherein the impeller rotates around a chamber axis passing through a center of the first chamber;

an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein a flow axis passes through the inlet and the outlet, and the chamber axis is offset by a selected distance from the flow axis.

9. The meter of claim 8 further comprising:

a control valve coupled to the inlet, wherein the control valve controls entry of the fluid provided to the meter; and

a motor coupled to the control valve, wherein the motor actuates the control valve.

10. The meter of claim 9 further comprising a gearbox coupled to the control valve and the motor.

11. The meter of claim 9, wherein the control valve comprises a ball valve.

12. The meter of claim 8, wherein the motor is a pancake motor.

13. The meter of claim 9, wherein settings for the control valve are open, closed, and partially open.

14. A fluid metering system comprising:

an inlet;

a first housing defining a first chamber, wherein the first housing is coupled to the inlet;

an first turbine housed within the first chamber, wherein the first turbine rotates around a first chamber axis;

a second housing defining a second chamber, wherein the second housing is coupled to the first housing;

a second turbine housed within the second chamber, wherein the second turbine rotates around a second chamber axis; and

an outlet axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, wherein the first chamber axis is offset by a first selected distance from the flow axis and the second chamber axis is offset by a second selected distance from the flow axis.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a flow restrictor positioned within the outlet from the metering chamber; and

a pressure differential sensor coupled to the flow restrictor.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a control valve coupled to the inlet, wherein the control valve controls entry of the fluid provided to the meter; and

a motor coupled to the control valve, wherein the motor actuates the control valve.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a gearbox coupled to the control valve and the motor.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the control valve comprises a ball valve.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the motor is a pancake motor.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein settings for the control valve are open, closed, and partially open.