Water Meter With Magnetically Driven Flow Restriction Valve

• US 20170356779A1
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Stuyvenberg, Matthew, Dellemann, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,161,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0281 Guillotine or blade-type valves, e.g. no passage through the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/086 the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/508 the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/53 with toothed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/00 Control of flow level control G05D9/00; control of flow ratio G05D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

A utility flow meter including a valve having a pressure vessel providing a flow path from a meter inlet to a meter outlet through the valve is magnetically driven. The meter includes a valve member positioned within the valve in the pressure vessel for movement between an open position allowing normal flow through the flow meter and a flow restriction position in which flow through the flow meter is limited to less than the normal flow and an electrically operable control device for controlling movement of the valve member including a dry-side magnet assembly and a wet-side magnet assembly. The electrically operable control device receives command signals to rotate the dry-side magnet assembly to move the valve member and thereby increase or decrease flow through the metering chamber.

Claims

1. A utility flow meter including a magnetically driven valve, the meter having a pressure vessel providing a flow path from a meter inlet to a meter outlet, the valve comprising:

a valve member positioned within the valve in the pressure vessel for movement between an open position, allowing normal flow through the flow meter and a flow restriction position in which flow through the flow meter is limited to less than the normal flow; and

an electrically operable control device for controlling movement of the valve member including a dry-side magnet assembly and a wet-side magnet assembly,

wherein the electrically operable control device receives command signals to rotate the dry-side magnet assembly to move the valve member and thereby increase or decrease flow through the metering chamber.

2. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein the electrical control device receives power from a self-contained power source.

3. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein the flow through the utility flow meter is not completely interrupted or shut-off.

4. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein rotation of the dry-side magnet assembly causes rotation of a wet-side magnet assembly based on a magnetic coupling between the assemblies through a static seal.

5. The utility flow meter of claim 4, wherein the rotation of a wet-side magnet assembly causes movement of the valve member, further wherein movement of the valve member corresponds to an increased or decreased flow through the metering chamber.

6. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein the valve member is positioned in front of a valve outlet in a closed position and forced in the direction of the valve outlet when there is flow within the utility flow meter.

7. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein valve member is a gate is configured for movement along a load screw substantially perpendicular to the path of flow through the utility meter.

8. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein when the gate is in the full closed position, flow through the utility flow meter is less than the normal flow, but is a measureable flow.

9. The utility flow meter of claim 1, fill her including a utility measurement system positioned upstream from the valve, such that flow passes from the utility measurement system, to the valve.

10. The utility flow meter of claim 9, wherein the utility measurement system is an ultrasonic measurement system.

11. The utility flow meter of claim 9, wherein the electrically operated control device includes a motor selected to overcome frictional force in the valve and a calculated pressure differential fir the valve to minimize electrical power needed to move the valve member in the pressure vessel.

12. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein the electrically operated control device is in communication with the utility measurement system to control the gate based on a detected zero or minimal flow.

13. The flow restriction control apparatus of claim 9, wherein the utility measurement system is electrically connected with the electrically operated control device through an electrical cable.

14. The utility flow meter of claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel is made of a cast metal.

15. The utility flow meter of claim 1, further comprising a radio transceiver located at a customer'"'"'s site with the utility flow meter and configured to receive command signals to cause the electrically operated control device to restrict flow through the pressure vessel to less than normal flow.

16. A magnetically driven valve for controlling movement of a valve member in a flow path, the valve comprising:

a valve member positioned within the flow path for movement between an open position allowing normal flaw and a flow restriction position in which flow is limited to less than the normal flow; and

,

an electrically operable control device for controlling movement of the valve member including a dry-side magnet assembly and a wet-side magnet assembly,

wherein the electrically operable control device receives command signals to rotate the dry-side magnet assembly to move the valve member and thereby increase or decrease flow along the flow path.

17. The magnetically driven valve of claim 16, wherein rotation of the dry-side magnet assembly causes rotation of a wet-side magnet assembly based on a magnetic coupling between the assemblies through a static seal.

18. The magnetically driven valve of claim 16, wherein the valve member is positioned in front of a valve outlet in a closed position and forced in the direction of the valve outlet when there is flow along the flow path.

19. The magnetically driven valve of claim 16, wherein valve member is a gate is configured for movement along a lead screw substantially perpendicular to the path of flow through the utility meter.

20. The magnetically driven valve of claim 16, further including a utility measurement system positioned upstream from the valve, such that flow passes from the utility measurement system to the valve.

21. A utility flow meter including a valve having a pressure vessel providing;

a flow path from a meter inlet to a meter outlet through the valve, the valve comprising;

a pressure vessel formed to contain the valve positioned downstream from a flow measurement system in a pressure vessel having a same length as a standard water meter;

a valve member positioned within the valve in the pressure vessel for movement between an open position allowing normal flow through the flow meter and a flow restriction position in which flow through the flow meter is limited to less than the normal flow; and

an electrically operable control device for controlling movement of the valve member including a dry-side magnet assembly and wet-side magnet assembly,

wherein the electrically operable control device receives command signals to rotate the dry-side magnet assembly to move the valve member and thereby increase or decrease flow through the metering chamber.