Side view fluid meter counter assembly and a fluid meter with a side view counter

A side view fluid meter counter assembly comprises a mounting bracket to mount a mechanical counter to an end of a fluid meter (e.g. gas meter) and a drive mechanism to drive a counter shaft of the mechanical counter from rotational movement of a rotationally driven member of the fluid meter. The rotationally driven member has a drive shaft extending in an end facing direction to connect to the drive mechanism and the mounting bracket mounts the mechanical counter in an orthogonal direction to the end facing direction such that a face of the mechanical counter is viewable from a side of the meter. The drive mechanism may comprise a worm drive. The drive mechanism may further comprise a pair of bevel gears. The mounting bracket further mounts the drive mechanism. Further provided is a fluid meter having a side view counter.

FIELD

The subject matter herein relates to gas or other fluid meter equipment and more particularly to a side view fluid meter counter assembly to mount a mechanical counter for viewing from a side of the fluid meter.

BACKGROUND

Gas meters, particularly for industrial use, include measurement devices to measure large volumes of gas. U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,852B2 issued Feb. 6, 2007 discloses a gas meter operations tracking assembly. The assembly mounts a mechanical counter to face an end of the gas meter. For many installations, an end facing counter is difficult to read. Often the meter is installed in a horizontal orientation and the end of the meter having the counter faces against a wall or other structure that makes viewing the counter difficult if not impossible. Only a very narrow gap may be available between the end where the backup counter faces and the wall.

SUMMARY

Improving readability of an operation counter for a fluid meter such as a gas meter may be desirable. The present disclosure provides a counter which is easy to read in a side view and provides a fluid meter which is more versatile in its ability to be mounted in locations (e.g. on walls, in piping system and in cabinets) where an end view counter is not visible.

In a first aspect, there is provided a side view fluid meter counter assembly, wherein the assembly comprises: a mounting bracket to mount a mechanical counter to an end of a fluid meter; and a drive mechanism to drive a counter shaft of the mechanical counter from a rotation of a driven member actuated by a flow of fluid through a housing of the fluid meter, the driven member having a drive shaft, extending externally to the housing in an end facing direction, to connect to the drive mechanism and the mounting bracket providing a surface to mount the mechanical counter in an transverse direction to the end facing direction such that a face of the mechanical counter is viewable from a side of the fluid meter.

The drive mechanism may comprise a worm drive.

The drive mechanism may comprise a pair of bevel gears in engagement. One of the pair of bevel gears is mounted to a transverse axel extending between the drive shaft and the driven member. The transverse axel may be mounted for rotation by the mounting bracket. The assembly may be wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pair of spaced arms to mount the transverse axel. The assembly may be wherein the mechanical counter is mounted to one of the pair of spaced arms. One of the pair of bevel gears may be mounted to the drive shaft of the mechanical counter.

The mechanical counter may define a first mechanical counter and the assembly may further couple to a second mechanical counter such that a drive shaft of the second mechanical counter extends to define the transverse axel and the second mechanical counter faces the end direction.

A worm gear may be mounted to the transverse axel for coupling to a worm driven by the driven member.

The may be wherein the end of the fluid meter defines a first end and the fluid meter comprises an electronic compensator mounted on a second end of the fluid meter opposite to the first end.

The fluid meter may comprise a counter housing to house the assembly and mechanical counter, the counter housing having a window through which the mechanical counter is visible.

The fluid meter may comprise a gas meter.

In a second aspect there is provided a fluid meter with a side view counter wherein a mechanical counter is coupled to the fluid meter via a side view fluid meter counter assembly such as in accordance with the first aspect herein.

The present concept is best described through certain embodiments thereof, which are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features throughout. It is to be understood that the term invention, when used herein, is intended to connote the concept underlying the embodiments described below and not merely the embodiments themselves. It is to be understood further that the general concept is not limited to the illustrative embodiments described below and the following descriptions should be read in such light. More than one concept may be shown and described and each may standalone or be combined with one or more others unless stated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is directed toFIG. 1. There is shown a perspective view of a first end of a gas meter100showing a side view gas meter counter assembly mounting a mechanical counter to an end plate102of the gas meter100in accordance with an example, where the remainder of the gas meter is not shown.FIGS. 2-4show a top view, side view and end view of the example ofFIG. 1.FIG. 7shows a side view of a gas meter, in accordance with an example, with a side view counter where the side view counter is in accordance with the example ofFIGS. 1-4.

A mounting bracket104mounts a mechanical counter106to end plate102in a side facing direction. That is, a dotted arrow A points in an end facing direction and the side facing direction is generally transverse or orthogonal (at 90°) to the end facing direction. Mounting bracket104further mounts a drive mechanism108in the present example, as further described.

Though not shown, it is readily understood that gas meter100comprises one or more rotationally driven members (e.g. impellers) housed internally in the gas meter. A flow of gas through the meter rotates the rotationally driven members such as on respective shafts. At least one of such shafts may define or be coupled to a drive shaft110that extends through end plate102. An end (or other portion) of the drive shaft110may have a drive worm112(e.g. in the form of a screw) as a component of a worm drive for driving the mechanical counter. In the example ofFIGS. 1-4, drive worm112is coupled to worm gear114(e.g. a wheel) mounted on transverse shaft118. A pair of bevel gears116A and116B translate the rotational movement of transverse shaft118to drive a counter shaft120of mechanical counter106. Counter shaft120rotates counter wheels of mechanical counter106to change the display of the counter. Here, an 8 digit counter having a display face122is shown. The counter may have more or fewer digits. The counter wheels of mechanical counter106(or any counter herein) are not fully shown for reasons of simplicity. Similarly, the grooves or teeth of the worm drive components and the pair of bevel gears116A,116B are also not shown in any of the drawings for simplicity.

Mounting bracket104has a pair of spaced arms124A and124B. Transverse shaft118may be mounted such as in apertures or other structure formed or carried, etc. in the pair of spaced arms124A and124B. One arm (e.g.124B) may extend further than the other (e.g.124A) to provide a surface on which to mount mechanical counter106with its face122facing the side of the gas meter. Mounting bracket104may have a middle portion126(e.g. between the arms124A and124B) for mounting to end plate102via fasteners, or other manner(s). Mounting bracket104is roughly U shaped with a broader bottom and one longer arm. Mounting bracket104has a simple configuration to permit easy manufacture (e.g. by stamping and bending).

In the example ofFIGS. 1-4, mechanical counter106has its counter shaft120that is parallel to the drive shaft110so that when the gas meter is mounted horizontally, the mechanical counter is horizontal. However, a vertical mounting of the gas meter may also be used and the counter viewed from the side but in a vertical orientation.

It will be further understood with reference toFIG. 1that bevel gear116B could be oriented with a 90 rotation (e.g. clockwise or counter clockwise) such that counter shaft120is orthogonal to drive shaft110. Mounting bracket104may be adapted to provide a surface to mount the mechanical counter in the different (rotated) orientation.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of a first end of a gas meter200showing a side view gas meter counter assembly mounting a mechanical counter to the first end in accordance with another example, where the remainder of the gas meter is not shown. In the present example, mounting bracket204has a different configuration from mounting bracket104. Spaced arms are not employed. Mounting bracket204is generally L shaped with one portion206mounting to end plate102and the other portion208to mechanical counter106.

In the present example, the worm drive components (112,114) are similar to those ofFIGS. 1-4but they are differently mounted such that worm gear114is differently oriented to drive worm112. In this way, a pair of bevel gears is not utilized. Counter shaft120of mechanical counter106is orthogonal to drive shaft110yet the face122is also transvers to end direction A. It is understood that mechanical counter106could be positioned in a mirrored manner with mechanical counter106located below worm gear114and the face122presenting in the same direction to the side. The mounting bracket204may be repositioned accordingly.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of a first end of a gas meter300showing a side view gas meter counter assembly mounting a first mechanical counter106to the first end, according to the example ofFIG. 5, as well as an end view gas meter counter assembly having a mounting bracket304mounting a second mechanical counter306in accordance with an example, where the remainder of the gas meter is not shown. In the present example, worm gear314drives counter shaft320. A face322of the second mechanical counter304is in the same direction as end direction A. Viewing is enabled from both a side and an end of the gas meter. The two counters are driven by a same driven member to stay synchronized.

Though not shown, the example ofFIGS. 1-4may be adapted to present a second mechanical counter facing in the end direction A. A second mechanical counter (e.g.306) may be mounted similarly to that shown inFIG. 6. However, its counter shaft320may extend to define transverse shaft118. In this way, one worm gear drives both mechanical counters106and306.

In the respective examples, there is provided a side view gas meter counter assembly comprising a mounting bracket to mount a mechanical counter to an end of the gas meter and a drive mechanism to drive a counter shaft of the mechanical counter from rotation of a driven member of the gas meter. The driven member has a drive shaft extending in an end facing direction to connect to the drive mechanism and the mounting bracket mounts the mechanical counter in an transverse direction to the end facing direction such that a face of the mechanical counter is viewable from a side of the gas meter.

FIG. 7is a simplified illustration of a (positive displacement) gas meter700with side view counter in accordance with an example. In the present example, gas meter700is configured with a side view gas meter counter assembly with a mechanical counter as shown inFIGS. 1-4. Gas meter700is shown with a housing702coupled to an inlet conduit at704and an outlet conduit at706with a through flow of gas as indicated by the arrows. Housing702houses a driven member (or more than one) such as lobed impellers (not shown) that rotate on respective drive shafts actuated in response to the flow of gas.

The side view gas meter counter assembly and the mechanical counter106are mounted at a first end708. Shown cut away is a housing710for the side view gas meter counter assembly and the mechanical counter106. Housing710may have a window (not shown) through which to view mechanical counter106.

At an opposite end (e.g. a second end)712to the first end is a housing714for a compensator (not shown) with a display716. The compensator may comprise an electronic, mechanical, electro-mechanical compensator or any combination thereof.

It is understood that to read a volume of gas using the mechanical counter (106,206or306) as mounted according to the disclosure herein a multiplier (e.g. a conversion factor) is used. The conversion factor is proportional to the size of the gas meter and the gear ratio (gas volume displacement) used in the gear combination which couples the rotationally driven members (e.g. impellers) with the mechanical counter (106,206or306).

In each of the examples described herein, whether illustrated or not, the components of the counter assembly and counter may be made of metal or a strong (e.g. resistant) plastic. The mechanical counter shown can be any commercially available counter (e.g. those manufactured by Veeder-Root Inc. of Connecticut, U.S.A.).

In each of the examples described herein, whether illustrated or not, a counter end housing for the gas meter may be provided to securely house the end of the gas meter. The counter end housing protects the mechanical counter and its assembly as well as prevents tampering. The counter end housing may have a viewing window through which the mechanical counter may be viewed.

The gas meter may comprise a conventional positive displacement rotary gas meter. Examples include the AdEM and ECM2 models (e.g. sold under the trademarks AdEM-S, AdEM-T, AdEM-PTZ, ECM2-PTZ, etc.) available from Romet Limited. It should be understood that the assembly could be utilized with any type of gas meter. An opposite end of the gas meter (or other location) may comprise electronic components of an electronic compensator providing an electronic counter which counter compensates for changes in the density of the gas due to fluctuations in temperature, as flow data is being recorded.

While the present description is being provided assuming that medium of natural gas, it should be understood that the positive displacement meter could be used to measure any type of gas or other fluid.

In the examples shown herein, the end plate102is configured for two (e.g. lobed) impellers though only one has a shaft or connecting member extending through the end plate102. The other impeller or both may have such shafts and the worm drive configured accordingly. It should be understood that other embodiments are contemplated.

Practical implementation may include any or all of the features described herein. These and other aspects, features and various combinations may be expressed as methods, apparatus, systems, means for performing functions, program products, and in other ways, combining the features described herein. A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the processes and techniques described herein. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to” and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps. Throughout this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context requires otherwise. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. Herein, “A and/or B” means A or B or both A and B.