Water Meter Including Variable Orifice Device
AssigneeSensus Spectrum, LLC
InventorMichael J. Zimmerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fire hydrant water meter having a flow restricting device that creates back pressure to restrict the flow of water through the fire hydrant water meter. The flow restricting device includes a plurality of flexible vanes that combine to define a variable orifice. As the flow of water through the meter increases, the individual flexible vanes move away from each other to expand the size of the flow orifice. The flow restricting device provides a source of back pressure to water flowing through the meter to restrict the flow rate of water and thus protect the metering device contained within the fire hydrant water meter.
Claims21
A water meter for determining a flow of water, comprising:
- a meter maincase defining an inlet for receiving the flow of water and an outlet for discharging the flow of water;
- a metering device positioned in the maincase between the inlet and the outlet and operable to measure the flow of water through the maincase from the inlet to the outlet;
- and
- a flow restricting device positioned between the metering device and the outlet, wherein the flow restricting device includes a plurality of flexible vanes that define a variable orifice through which the water flows from the metering maincase to the outlet.
A water meter for determining a flow of water from a fire hydrant, comprising:
- a meter maincase having an outlet and an inlet connectable to the fire hydrant to receive the flow of water;
- a metering device positioned in the maincase between the inlet and the outlet and operable to measure the flow of water through the maincase from the inlet to the outlet;
- and
- a flow restricting device positioned between the metering device and the outlet, wherein the flow restricting device includes a plurality of flexible vanes that define a variable orifice for water to flow into the outlet,
- where the flow restricting device creates back pressure to the flow of water through the water meter.
A flow restricting device for use in a water meter, comprising:
- a generally circular attachment rim;
- a planar outer surface integrally formed with the attachment rim;
- and
- a plurality of flexible vanes extending away from the outer surface and toward a flow axis within the attachment rim, wherein each of the flexible vanes includes a base connected to the outer surface and an outer end, wherein the outer ends of the plurality of flexible vanes define a variable orifice therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.