Water flow meter adapter for residential fire service sprinkler systems

An adapter for a meter chamber, suitable for use for proportionally metering a flow of water through a maincase installed in a residential fire service sprinkler line, the adapter comprising:

• (a) a chamber housing dimensioned to receive a meter chamber and having a first inlet aperture and a first outlet aperture for allowing a first flow of water to flow through a received meter chamber, said chamber housing including
• (i) a ceiling having an outer perimeter;
• (ii) a first outer wall depending from the outer perimeter of said ceiling and having a bottom rim and an inner surface;
• (iii) means disposed within said chamber housing for seating a meter chamber received therein;
• (b) a bypass having a second inlet aperture and a second outlet aperture for allowing a second flow of water to pass through said bypass, said bypass including:
• (i) a floor;
• (ii) a second outer wall extending upward from said floor and dimensioned for mating engagement with said bottom rim of said first outer wall, said second outer wall having a top rim and an inner surface;
• and
• (c) a bypass plate for insertion between said chamber housing and said bypass, for providing fluid isolation between said first flow of water and said second flow of water.

A method of proportionally metering a volume of water flowing through a maincase comprising:

• (a) seating a positive displacement meter chamber in a first passageway of an adapter having two passageways, including a second passageway, said first passageway including means for passing a first flow of water through said positive displacement meter chamber and said second passageway for passing a flow of water essentially unimpeded therethrough;
• (b) inserting said adapter including said seated positive displacement meter into a maincase including a register so that said positive displacement meter is operatively coupled to said register;
• and
• (c) calibrating said register so that said register records the amount of water flowing through said maincase.

A method of proportionally metering a volume of water flowing through a maincase comprising:

• (a) seating a positive displacement meter chamber in a first passageway of an adapter having two passageways, including a second passageway, said first passageway including means for passing a first flow of water through said positive displacement meter chamber and said second passageway for passing a flow of water essentially unimpeded therethrough;
• (b) inserting said first adapter including said seated positive displacement meter into a maincase including a register so that said positive displacement meter is operatively coupled to said register, so that all flow through said first passageway passes through said positive displacement meter;
• and
• calibrating said register proportionally with respect to the flow of water through said first passageway and said second passageway, whereby the measurement by said register of the volume of water passing through said first passageway provides a reading of the total volume of water passing through said maincase.