Lockable water meter expansion connection and method

Apparatus for locking a fluid meter to a continuation pipe, comprising:

• a threaded packer dimensioned to thread onto an outlet pipe on the meter;
• an expansion tube dimensioned to slidably receive said threaded packer and interconnect said outlet pipe to the continuation pipe;
• a case dimensioned to fit over said expansion tube proximate the meter;
• a locking bar meshing with said case and said expansion tube to prevent turning thereof relative to the meter;
• and
• a threaded locking pin to secure said locking bar to said case, such that when the case is secured in place, said expansion tube is prevented from unauthorized removal.

Apparatus for locking an expansion connection to a fluid meter, comprising:

• a case dimensioned to fit over the expansion connection, a portion of said case engaging the fluid meter, said portion that engages the fluid meter having bars;
• a locking bar simultaneously engaging said case and the expansion connection to prevent turning of the expansion connection relative to the meter;
• and
• a threaded locking pin passing through said case into said locking bar, such that the expansion connection is locked in place.

A method for installing a fluid tight expansion connection between a first threaded pipe and a second pipe, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a compressible threaded packer into an expansion tube dimensioned to interconnect the first and the second pipes;
• threading said threaded packer and said expansion tube onto the first threaded pipe to interconnect the first pipe to the second pipe;
• and
• forcing said packer into said expansion tube by turning said packer and said tube in a direction opposite said threading, while preventing the first pipe from turning, such that the fluid tight expansion connection is installed.

A method for locking a fluid meter comprising the steps of:

• inserting an internally threaded packer into a first enlarged end of an expansion tube;
• threading said threaded packer and said expansion tube onto a threaded outlet pipe on the meter;
• inserting a second end of said expansion tube into a receptacle on a fluid continuation pipe such that said expansion tube connects and seals said outlet pipe to said fluid continuation pipe;
• turning said threaded packer and said expansion tube in a direction opposite to said threading while holding said threaded outlet pipe in place to force said expansion tube into said receptacle and force, said threaded packer to flow into and seal threads on said threaded outlet pipe and to seal an inside surface of said tube;
• installing a case over said expansion tube;
• and
• securing said case in place with a locking pin and locking bar such that the meter cannot be turned relative to said expansion tube and said expansion tube is prevented from unauthorized removal.