Back to results
US 11,015,967 B2Granted
Valve meter assembly and method
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsMarty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for use with a water meter includes: a housing including a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion; and a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with an inner surface of the housing, the valve defining a valve inlet portion and a valve outlet portion, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion and separated from the valve outlet portion by a top edge portion defined in the vertical portion, the valve inlet portion sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from a first side of the diaphragm assembly to a second side of the diaphragm assembly opposite from the first side.
Claims20
An assembly comprising:
- a housing, the housing comprising a valve portion defining at least one inlet opening and a meter portion defining at least one outlet opening, the valve portion positioned adjacent to the meter portion in a direction of a lay-length of the assembly, the valve portion and the meter portion being integrally formed in the housing, the housing defining a channel connecting the at least one inlet opening and the at least one outlet opening, the at least one inlet opening comprising an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening comprising an outlet end, there being a linear distance between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a water meter lay-length;
- a water meter positioned in the meter portion and in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the assembly;
- a valve positioned in the valve portion and in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the assembly, the water meter and the valve in line with the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the valve defining a valve inlet portion, a valve outlet portion, and a media channel, the valve inlet portion defining a vertical portion,
- wherein the vertical portion separates the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion,
- wherein the valve inlet portion is in fluid communication with the valve outlet portion over an edge portion defined by the vertical portion,
- wherein the valve inlet portion is sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, wherein the diaphragm assembly defines a water leak passthrough,
- wherein the water leak passthrough is configured to allow passage of water from the valve inlet portion to a top side of the diaphragm assembly opposite the valve inlet portion when the diaphragm assembly has sealed the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion,
- wherein the media channel extends from the valve outlet portion to the top side of the diaphragm at one lateral side of the valve portion relative to the inlet;
- and
- a valve cover attached to the housing and covering the valve, wherein the media channel comprises one media channel defined in the housing and at least one media channel defined in the valve cover.
7 more elements
An assembly for use with a water meter, the assembly comprising:
- a housing comprising a meter portion integrally formed with a valve portion, at least one inlet defined in the valve portion, and at least one outlet formed in the meter portion, the inlet comprising an inlet end and the outlet comprising an outlet end, the housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface shaped to receive the water meter and defining an internal cavity comprising an inlet and an outlet;
- a valve positioned in the valve portion and in sealable communication with the inner surface, the valve defining a valve inlet portion, a valve outlet portion, and a media channel, the valve inlet portion defining a portion separating the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion,
- wherein the valve inlet portion is in fluid communication with the valve outlet portion over a top edge portion defined by the separating portion,
- wherein the valve inlet portion is sealable from the valve outlet portion by a diaphragm assembly of the valve, wherein the diaphragm assembly defines a water leak passthrough,
- wherein the water leak passthrough is configured to allow passage of water from the valve inlet portion to a top side of the diaphragm assembly opposite the valve inlet portion when the diaphragm assembly has sealed the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion,
- wherein the media channel extends from the valve outlet portion to the top side of the diaphragm;
- and
- a valve cover connected to the housing and covering the valve, wherein the media channel comprises one media channel defined in the housing and at least one media channel defined in the valve cover.
5 more elements
A method of using a valve meter assembly, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of water into a valve inlet portion of the valve meter assembly, the valve meter assembly comprising a housing defining a valve portion defining the valve inlet portion and a meter portion defining an inner cavity, a water meter positioned inside the inner cavity of the meter portion, the valve portion and the meter portion being integral to the housing;
- directing the flow of water through the valve meter assembly so that the flow of water moves from a horizontal portion of the valve inlet portion to a vertical portion of the valve inlet portion;
- directing the flow of water past a top edge of the vertical portion of the valve inlet portion into a valve outlet portion;
- directing the water into a valve outlet portion;
- directing the water into the water meter via a meter inlet portion of the meter portion of the housing;
- reducing the flow of water through the valve meter assembly by sealing a diaphragm assembly against the top edge of the valve inlet portion to seal off the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion, the diaphragm assembly defining a water leak passthrough configured to allow passage of water from the valve inlet portion to a top side of the diaphragm assembly opposite the valve inlet portion when the diaphragm assembly has sealed the valve inlet portion from the valve outlet portion;
- directing water through a media channel, the media channel extending from the top side of the diaphragm assembly to the valve outlet portion, wherein the media channel comprises one media channel defined in the housing and at least one media channel defined in a valve cover attached to the housing;
- reducing a downward force on the diaphragm assembly;
- and
- unsealing the diaphragm assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.