# US 2014/0190250 A1 · Water Meter Including Variable Orifice Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190250 A1 - Document ID: US20140190250A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,184 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Sensus Spectrum, LLC - Applicants: Sensus Spectrum LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Zimmerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190250A1 ## CPC - G01F 1/05: by using mechanical effects - E03B 7/072: {Arrangement of flowmeters} - G01F 1/10: using rotating vanes with axial admission - G01F 15/005: {Valves (valves in general F16K)} - G01F 15/10: Preventing damage by freezing or excess pressure or insufficient pressure - G01F 15/18: Supports or connecting means for meters - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water meter of claim 1 wherein the flexible vanes are biased toward a closed position to restrict the size of the variable orifice. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The water meter of claim 2 wherein the flexible vanes create a source of back pressure for the flow of water through the water meter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The water meter of claim 2 wherein the flexible vanes flex toward an open position to increase the size of the variable orifice upon an increase of pressure from the flow of water. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The water meter of claim 2 wherein the flexible vanes are formed from a plastic resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The water meter of claim 2 wherein the vanes of the flow restricting device have a known spring rate to provide the source of back pressure to the flow of water through the meter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The water meter of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vanes of the flow restricting device each extend along a flow axis extending through the variable orifice and toward the outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The water meter of claim 7 wherein the flow restricting device includes a circular outer flange located in an attachment plane, wherein the plurality of vanes each extend along the flow axis at an angle to the attachment plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The water meter of claim 1 wherein the vanes of the flow restricting device each have a base and an outer end, wherein the base is wider than the outer end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The water meter of claim 1 wherein the flow restricting device including the plurality of vanes is formed as a single piece. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The water meter of claim 11 wherein the flexible vanes are biased toward a closed position to restrict the size of the variable orifice. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The water meter of claim 12 wherein the flexible vanes flex toward an open position to increase the size of the variable orifice upon an increase of pressure from the flow of water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The water meter of claim 12 wherein the flexible vanes are formed from a plastic resin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The water meter of claim 11 wherein the plurality of vanes of the flow restricting device each extend along a flow axis extending through the variable orifice and toward the outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The water meter of claim 15 wherein the flow restricting device includes a circular outer flange located in an attachment plane, wherein the plurality of vanes each extend along the flow axis at a known angle relative to the attachment plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The water meter of claim 11 wherein the vanes of the flow restricting device each have a base and an outer end, wherein the base is wider than the outer end. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The flow restricting device of claim 18 wherein each of the flexible vane flex toward an open position to increase the size of the variable orifice upon an increase of pressure against the flexible vanes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The flow restricting device of claim 18 wherein each of the flexible vanes are formed from material having a known spring rate to bias the flexible vanes toward a closed position to restrict the size of the variable orifice. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The flow restricting device of claim 20 wherein the flexible vanes are formed from a plastic resin.