Water meter systems and methods with bypass-flow path and rechargeable energy storage
AssigneeCapstone Metering LLC
InventorsJames Scott Williamson, John Michael Killmeyer, Joshua James Malone, Walton Scott Corbitt, Walter Scott Williamson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear water meter system may include a metering system, a ball valve, a power generation system, a wireless communication system, or a combination thereof. The linear water meter system may provide a linear pathway through the meter that minimizes pressure loss in the system. Two pathways may be provided through the power generation system. One pathway may be utilized to generate power, and the other pathway may provide a bypass that can be utilized to maintain a desired water pressure level in the system.
Claims20
A water meter comprising:
- a metering system comprising:
- a flow path with an inlet that includes a tapered section that forms a reduced-diameter section of the flow path as fluids flow past the inlet;
- a counting wheel with one or more blades embedded with a magnet, wherein the one or more blades are disposed in the reduced-diameter section;
- and
- one or more electronic switches near a housing of the counting wheel, wherein the magnet trips the one or more electronic switches when rotating by;
- and
- a power generation system coupled to the metering system, the power generation system comprising:
- a turbine positioned along a first flow stream in the power generation system, wherein fluids flowing through the first flow stream cause the turbine to rotate;
- and
- a door positioned in a second flow stream, wherein when a flow rate of fluids passing through the water meter is below a predetermined amount the door is in a closed position to prevent flow of fluids through the second flow stream, and when the flow rate of fluids exceeds the predetermined amount the door is in an open position to allow flow of fluids through the second flow stream;
- and
- wherein when the door is in the open position and the closed position a fluid flow path through the water meter is substantially linear.
A water meter comprising:
- a metering system for metering fluid entering the water meter, the metering system comprising:
- a flow path with an inlet for receiving the fluid, wherein the inlet leads into a tapered section that forms a reduced-diameter section of the flow path;
- a counting wheel with one or more blades, wherein at least a portion of the one or more blades is positioned in the reduced-diameter section so that the fluid flowing through the reduced-diameter section causes the counting wheel to rotate, wherein one or more blades of the counting wheel is embedded with a magnet;
- and
- one or more electronic switches near a housing of the counting wheel, wherein the one or more blades embedded with the magnet trip the one or more electronic switches when rotating past the one or more electronic switches;
- a ball valve coupled to the metering system, wherein the ball valve is integrated with the water meter;
- a power generation system coupled to the ball valve, the power generation system comprising:
- a first passageway;
- a turbine positioned along the first passageway, wherein fluid flowing through the first passageway causes the turbine to rotate;
- a second passageway;
- and
- a door positioned in the second passageway, wherein in a closed position the door prevents fluid flow through the second passageway, and in an open position the door allows fluid flow through the second passageway;
- and
- wherein the first passageway is adjacent to and oriented parallel to the second passageway and at least part of a cross-section of the first passageway and a cross-section of the second passageway overlap at least part of a cross-section of the inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.