Valve meter assembly and method
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsMarty Scott Ball, Scott Aron Linkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve meter device, assembly, and method is disclosed including a housing defining at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening and a channel connecting the openings, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end; a water meter positioned in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the valve meter device; and a valve in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the valve meter device. In some embodiments, a linear distance exists between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length.
Claims28
An assembly comprising:
- a housing, the housing defining at least one inlet opening, at least one outlet opening, and a channel connecting the at least one inlet opening and the at least one outlet opening, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end, there being a linear distance between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length;
- a water meter positioned in the channel, the water meter configured to monitor a flow of water through the assembly;
- and
- a valve 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.
An assembly for use with a water meter, the assembly comprising:
- a housing including a body portion, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet, the inlet having an inlet end and the outlet having an outlet end, the housing including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface shaped to receive the water meter and defining an internal cavity of the body portion, the outer surface forming a register connection interface, the internal cavity of the body portion including an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- a valve in sealable communication with the inner surface, wherein the valve and the water meter are placed about in line between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.
An assembly comprising:
- a housing including at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the housing defining at least one inlet opening, at least one outlet opening, and a channel substantially connecting the at least one inlet opening and the at least one outlet opening, the at least one inlet opening having an inlet end and the at least one outlet opening having an outlet end, there being a linear distance between the inlet end and the outlet end, the linear distance being no greater than a standard water meter lay-length;
- a water meter residing in the housing and in communication with the channel;
- and
- a valve in communication with the channel between the inlet opening and the water meter, wherein the valve and the meter are placed in line between the inlet end and the outlet end.
A method of monitoring a valve meter assembly comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a flow of water through a valve meter assembly;
- logging the readout of the flow of water through the valve meter assembly in a register circuit of a register of the valve meter assembly;
- monitoring a status of a water supply valve, the status describing the position of the water supply valve, the status including at least one of open, closed and trickle;
- and
- transmitting signals with a communication device, the signals including the readout of the flow of water through the valve meter assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.