Plastic water meter with metal threads

• US 8,281,654 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ball, Marty Scott, McCraven, Jeremy Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad R
• Application Number:
  US13/220,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/14 Casings, e.g. of special material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/18 Supports or connecting means for meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/12 Meters with nutating members, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.

Claims

1. A water meter enclosure comprising:

a non-metallic cover defining an interior cavity shaped to accept a metering device;

a metal ring including an outer surface, wherein threads are formed on the outer surface for connection of a water conduit to the ring; and

a non-metallic collar, the non-metallic collar including a non-metallic annular lip contacting a distal end of the metal ring to retain the metal ring proximate the non-metallic cover.

2. The water meter enclosure of claim 1, further comprising at least one spud connected to the non-metallic cover and defining a bore in communication with the interior cavity.

3. The water meter enclosure of claim 2, wherein the at least one spud includes at least an inlet spud and at least an outlet spud.

4. The water meter enclosure of claim 3, wherein the at least one inlet spud is situated approximately 180 degrees opposite the at least one outlet spud.

5. The water meter enclosure of claim 2, wherein at least one spud insert engages each at least one spud.

6. The water meter enclosure of claim 5, wherein the at least one spud insert includes an engagement portion to engage the at least one spud inside the bore.

7. The water meter enclosure of claim 5, wherein the collar and the annular lip are portions of the at least one spud insert.

8. The water meter enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a bottom cover fixedly attached to the non-metallic cover and enclosing a metering device within the interior cavity.

9. The water meter enclosure of claim 8, wherein the metering device includes a nutating disk displacement flow meter.

10. The water meter enclosure of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic cover is of a material selected from the group consisting of styrene, polystyrene, nylon, and glass reinforced thermoplastic.

11. The water meter enclosure of claim 1, wherein the ring is of a material selected from the group consisting of brass, bronze, brass derivatives, bronze derivatives, and stainless steel.

12. A method of making a water meter enclosure, the method comprising:

obtaining a metal ring, the metal ring including an outer surface, the outer surface including threads; and

arranging the metal ring proximate a non-metallic cover, the non-metallic cover defining an interior cavity shaped to accept a metering device, such that a distal end of the metal ring contacts a non-metallic annular lip of a non-metallic collar.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-metallic cover includes at least one spud connected to the non-metallic cover and defining a bore in communication with the interior cavity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one spud includes at least an inlet spud and at least an outlet spud.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one inlet spud is situated approximately 180 degrees opposite the at least one outlet spud.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of connecting at least one spud insert to each at least one spud.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-metallic collar and the non-metallic annular lip are portions of the at least one spud insert.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each at least one spud insert is connected to at least one spud by plastic welding.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of connecting the non-metallic annular lip and the non-metallic collar to the non-metallic cover.