Hinge Nut for Meter Coupling Valve

An apparatus comprising:

• a meter coupling attached to an end of a meter with a hinge nut, the end of the meter comprising threading on its outer surface, the meter coupling comprising:
• an inlet at a distal end of the meter coupling;
• an outlet at a distal end opposite the inlet;
• wherein one of the distal ends forming a lip and other of the distal ends comprising threading on an outer surface;
• and
• a housing between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the housing comprises a valve;
• and,
• the hinge nut attached to the one of the distal ends forming the lip, the hinge nut comprising:
• at least two portions attached to each other by a hinge pin adjacent a distal end of each portion, the two portions configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the closed position forming:
• an outer surface;
• an opening forming an inner surface, the inner surface comprising:
• a first interior diameter adjacent a distal end of the opening,
• a second interior diameter adjacent the first interior diameter,
• the second interior diameter being greater than the first interior diameter forming a lip, the lip of the hinge nut configured to retain the lip of the meter coupling, and
• at least a portion of the second interior diameter comprising threading, the threading of the hinge nut configured to engage with the threading of the meter.