Shut-off actuating device

• US 4,437,347 A
• Filed: 01/18/1982
• Issued: 03/20/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (DTE Energy Company)
• Original Assignee: Michigan Consolidated Gas Company (DTE Energy Company)
• Inventors: Clark, Dennis B., Przybylski, William A., McKeen, Jeffrey A., Bronsky, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldstein, Herbert
• Application Number:
  US06/340,377
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 73/266, 73/267, 73/272 R, 73/198, 292/144
• US Class Current: 73/272.00R
• 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 15/007 comprising means to prevent fraud

Abstract

A shut-off actuating device includes a stop member biased toward a position where it interferes with the movement of a linkage apparatus of a fluid flow measuring device. The fluid flow measuring device is adapted such that once the linkage apparatus is disabled or rendered inoperative, fluid flow through said device is thereby prevented. A solenoid-operated apparatus is provided which includes a solenoid rod or arm that normally engages the stop member to hold it in a retracted position out of said interference with the linkage apparatus. Once the solenoid apparatus is energized, the solenoid rod is disengaged from the stop member and the stop member is thus allowed to extend into an interfering relationship with the linkage apparatus, thereby disabling said apparatus or rendering it inoperative in order to shut off the flow of fluid through the fluid flow measuring device.

Claims

1. In a fluid flow device having a flow-sensing apparatus including linkage means operable in response to said fluid flow, said apparatus being adapted to prevent said fluid flow through said device when said linkage means is inoperative, the improvement comprising shut-off means for rendering said linkage means inoperative and actuating means for selectively actuating said shut-off means, thereby preventing said fluid flow through said device, said shut-off means further including a stop member interferingly engageable with said linkage means and biasing means biasing said stop member into said interfering engagement with said linkage means, said actuating means including an actuating arm engageable with said stop member to hold said stop member out of said interfering engagement with said linkage means, said actuating arm being selectively moveable out of said engagement with said stop member, thereby allowing said biasing means to urge said stop member into said interfering engagement with said linkage means.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said stop member includes a discontinuity thereon, said discontinuity being adapted to be engaged by said actuating arm, said stop member being held out of said interfering engagement with said linkage means when said discontinuity is engaged by said actuating arm.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises a solenoid apparatus for selectively urging said actuating arm into and out of engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus including resilient biasing means for urging said actuating arm into said engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus being operative to urge said actuating arm out of said engagement with said stop member when said solenoid apparatus is energized.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said discontinuity comprises a groove extending around the periphery of said stop member, said stop member being moveable along a first path to interferingly engage said linkage means, said actuating arm being moveable along a second path to engage and disengage said groove, said first path being generally perpendicular to said second path.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, further comprising means for remotely energizing said solenoid.

6. A fluid flow measuring device, comprising means for sensing fluid flow through said device including apparatus moveable in a generally linear manner in response to said fluid flow, at least one linkage member for converting said linear movement to rotary motion, said flow-sensing means being adapted to prevent said fluid flow through said device whenever said linkage member is disabled, a stop member selectively movable into and out of disabling engagement with said linkage member, resilient biasing means for urging said stop member into said disabling engagement with said linkage member, said stop member having a recessed portion thereon, a solenoid apparatus having an armature member resiliently biased into an extended position in engagement with said stop member, said armature member being engageable with said recessed portion to hold said stop member out of said disabling engagement with said linkage member, said armature member being rectractable in response to activation of said solenoid apparatus to disengage said recessed portion, thereby allowing said resilient biasing means to urge said stop member into said disabling engagement with said linkage member, thereby preventing fluid flow through said device.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said stop member includes a bore extending axially from one end of said stop member through a portion thereof, said stepped bore including a first and second coaxial portions, said first portion extending axially between said end of said stop member and said second portion, said first portion having a diameter larger than that of said second portion thereby forming a shoulder therebetween, said resilient biasing means comprising a coiled spring received in said first portion of said bore and being restrained between said shoulder and a stationary portion of said fluid flow measuring device, said coiled spring having a guide member extending axially therethrough, a first end of said guide member being slidably received in said second portion of said bore, a second opposite end of said guide member abutting said stationary portion of said fluid flow measuring device, thereby maintaining said coiled spring in axial alignment with said stop member as said stop member moved into and out of said disabling engagement with said linkage member.

8. The combination according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising means for remotely activating said solenoid apparatus.

9. In a gas meter having inlet and outlet means, said inlet means being connected to a source of gas, conveying means for conveying said gas from said inlet means to said outlet means, and indicator means actuated by said conveying means for providing an indication of a parameter associated with said gas flow through said meter, said conveying means being adapted to prevent gas flow from said inlet means to said outlet means when said conveying means is inoperative, the improvement comprising disabling means for selectively rendering said conveying means inoperative, thereby preventing said gas from flowing through said meter, said conveying means including a bellows apparatus operatively connected to a linkage apparatus pivotally mounted on a pivot member, at least a portion of said bellows apparatus being adapted to move in a generally linear manner in response to gas flow through said meter, said linkage apparatus being adapted to reciprocably pivot in a plane, thereby converting said generally linear motion to rotational motion for driving a flow indication mechanism on said meter, said disabling means comprising a stop member slidably supported by bracket means, said stop member being extendible and in a direction generally perpendicular to said plane between a first position out of interference with said pivoting motion of said linkage apparatus and a second position interfering with said pivoting motion of said linkage apparatus, and solenoid means for selectively actuating said stop member, thereby selectively disabling said conveying means and preventing the flow of gas through said gas flow meter.

10. The improvement according to claim 9, wherein said stop member is biased toward said second position, said solenoid means including a rod member biased toward engagement with said stop member to hold said stop member in said first position, said solenoid rod being retractable out of engagement with said stop member in response to energization of said solenoid apparatus, thereby allowing said stop member to move to said second position.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, further comprising means for remotely energizing said solenoid apparatus.

12. In a gas meter having inlet and outlet means, a bellows apparatus for flowing gas from said inlet means to said outlet means, said bellows apparatus being adapted for generally linear oscillation in response to said gas flow, a linkage assembly operatively connected to said bellows apparatus for pivotal reciprocation in a plane in response to said generally linear oscillation of said bellows apparatus, said linkage assembly drivingly connected to a gas flow indicator mechanism, said operative connection being such that said gas flow is interrupted at least whenever said linkage apparatus is disabled, the improvement comprising a stop member slidably received by a bracket assembly fixed to said gas meter for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to said plane of pivotal reciprocation of said linkage assembly, resilient biasing means for biasing said stop member toward a first position in disabling engagement with said linkage assembly, guide means for maintaining said resilient biasing means in operative biasing engagement with said stop member, said stop member having a discontinuity thereon, a solenoid-actuated rod member biased into engagement with said discontinuity on said stop member to restrain said rod in a second position out of said disabling engagement with said linkage assembly, said rod member being retractible out of engagement with said discontinuity on said stop member in response to actuation of said solenoid, thereby allowing said resilient biasing means to urge said stop member into disabling engagement with said linkage assembly thus interrupting said gas flow.

13. The improvement according to claim 12, further comprising means for remotely actuating said solenoid.

14. In a fluid flow device having a flow-sensing apparatus including linkage means operable in response to said fluid flow, said apparatus being adapted to prevent said fluid flow through said device when said linkage means is inoperative, the improvement comprising shut-off means for rendering said linkage means inoperative and actuating means for selectively actuating said shut-off means, thereby preventing said fluid flow through said device, said actuating means including an actuating member operatively connected with said shut-off means and an activating apparatus for activating said actuating member in order to cause said actuation of said shut-off means, said activating apparatus being remotely located from said fluid flow device, thereby allowing said linkage means to be selectively rendered inoperative without having access to said flow device.

15. The improvement according to claim 14, wherein said shut-off means includes a stop member interferingly engageable with said linkage means and biasing means biasing said stop member toward said interfering engagement with said linkage means, said actuating member being engageable with said stop member to hold said stop member out of said interfering engagement with said linkage means, said actuating member further being selectively moveable by said activating apparatus to be moved out of said engagement with said stop member, thereby allowing said biasing means to urge said stop member into said interfering engagement with said linkage means without having access to said flow device.

16. In a fluid flow device having a flow-sensing apparatus including linkage means operable in response to said fluid flow, said apparatus being adapted to prevent said fluid flow through said device when said linkage means is inoperative, the improvement comprising shut-off means for rendering said linkage means inoperative and actuating means for selectively actuating said shut-off means, thereby preventing said fluid flow through said device, said shut-off means further including a stop member interferingly engageable with said linkage means and biasing means biasing said stop member toward said interfering engagement with said linkage means, said actuating means including an actuating arm engageable with said stop member to hold said stop member out of said interfering engagement with said linkage means, and electrically operable activating apparatus for selectively moving said actuating arm out of said engagement with said stop member, thereby allowing said biasing means to urge said stop member into said interfering engagement with said linkage means.

17. The improvement according to claim 16, wherein said actuating means further comprises an electric solenoid apparatus for selectively urging said actuating arm into and out of engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus including resilient biasing means for urging said actuating arm into said engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus being operative by said activating apparatus to urge said actuating arm out of said engagement with said stop member when said solenoid apparatus is energized, said activating apparatus further including electric current-carrying means electrically connected to said solenoid apparatus, a power source of electric current, and means for electrically connecting said power source to said current-carrying means.

18. The improvement according to claim 16, wherein said actuating means further comprises an electric solenoid apparatus for selectively urging said actuating arm into and out of engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus including resilient biasing means for urging said actuating arm into said engagement with said stop member, said solenoid apparatus being operative by said activating apparatus to urge said actuating arm out of said engagement with said stop member when said solenoid apparatus is energized, said activating apparatus further including means for remotely energizing said solenoid apparatus.

19. In a method for controlling operation of a fluid flow device having a flow-sensing apparatus including linkage means operable in response to said fluid flow and means for preventing said fluid flow through said device when said linkage means is inoperative, the steps which include:

providing a moveable stop member interferingly engageable with said linkage means;

providing biasing means for normally biasing said stop member toward said interfering engagement with said linkage means;

placing an actuating member in engagement with said stop member to hold said stop member out of said interfering engagement with said linkage means; and

selectively causing said actuating member to move out of said engagement with said stop member, thereby allowing said stop member to move under the influence of said biasing means out of interfering engagement with said linkage means and thereby rendering said linkage means inoperative in order to prevent fluid flow through said device.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising providing an electric solenoid apparatus energizable for selectively urging said actuating member out of said engagement with said stop member, and selectively energizing said solenoid apparatus to urge said actuating member out of said engagement with said stop member in order to release said stop member.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising energizing said solenoid apparatus from a remote location.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said energizing step includes connecting said solenoid apparatus to a remote power source.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said energizing step includes connecting said solenoid apparatus to a power source located at said fluid flow device.