Portable Meter Test Assembly
AssigneeThe Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.
InventorRobert W. Huddleston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable meter test assembly is provided that includes a case. An inlet port is located adjacent the case. An outlet port is located adjacent the container portion of the case. A fluid passageway extends from the inlet port to the outlet port. A pressure gauge, valve, and flow meter are located on the fluid passageway. A power source provides power to the flow meter. The pressure gauge is configured to identify a pressure from a fluid source. The valve is configured to open and close in order to allow and prevent fluid from passing through the fluid passageway. The flow meter is configured to determine a flow rate.
Claims20
A portable meter test assembly comprising:
- a case composed of a container portion and a lid;
- an inlet port located adjacent the container portion of the case;
- an outlet port located adjacent the container portion of the case opposite the inlet port;
- a linear fluid passageway extending from the inlet port to the outlet port;
- a pressure gauge located on the linear fluid passageway adjacent the inlet port;
- wherein the pressure gauge is configured to identify an active line pressure from a fluid source;
- a first valve located on the linear fluid passageway adjacent the pressure gauge;
- wherein the first valve is configured to open and close in order to allow and prevent fluid from passing through the linear fluid passageway;
- a flow meter located on the linear fluid passageway adjacent the first valve;
- wherein the flow meter is configured to determine a flow rate;
- a second valve located on the linear fluid passageway adjacent the flow meter and opposite the first valve;
- and
- a power source located within the case to provide power to the flow meter.
A portable meter test assembly comprising:
- a case composed of a container portion;
- an inlet port located adjacent the container portion of the case;
- an outlet port located adjacent the container portion of the case;
- a fluid passageway extending from the inlet port to the outlet port;
- a pressure gauge located on the fluid passageway;
- wherein the pressure gauge is configured to identify a pressure from a fluid source;
- a valve located on the fluid passageway;
- wherein the valve is configured to open and close in order to allow and prevent fluid from passing through the fluid passageway;
- a flow meter located on the fluid passageway;
- wherein the flow meter is configured to determine a flow rate;
- and
- a power source to provide power to the flow meter.
A method of administering a flow rate test with a portable meter test assembly, the method of administering the flow rate test comprising steps of:
- providing a case for the portable meter test assembly, which includes an inlet port, a pressure gauge, an inlet valve, a flow meter electrically coupled to a power source, a globe valve, and an outlet port, in fluid communication with each other by a fluid passageway between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- coupling the inlet port to a fluid source;
- initiating fluid flow to the inlet port from the fluid source;
- purging the portable meter test assembly by opening the globe valve then opening the inlet valve for removing air in the fluid passageway;
- closing the inlet valve after the air has been removed from the fluid passageway;
- reading a fluid service meter to be tested in order to obtain an initial value;
- opening the inlet valve;
- determining, by the flow meter, a predetermined volume of fluid passed through the flow meter;
- closing the inlet valve once the predetermined volume of fluid has passed through the flow meter;
- reading the fluid service meter, after the predetermined volume of fluid has passed through the flow meter and the inlet valve has been closed, to determine an end value;
- calculating a volume of fluid that passed through the fluid service meter using the initial value and the end value;
- and
- comparing the predetermined volume of fluid that passed through the flow meter of the portable meter test assembly with the volume of fluid that passed through the fluid service meter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.