Abstract:
A device and method for securing an orifice flowmeter and preventing unauthorized access to the flowmeter while in service is disclosed. The security device includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a closed end, an open end, a front surface, and a back surface forming a cavity. Through bores extend coaxially through the top surface and the bottom surface proximate the open end. Some embodiments include protrusions coupled to the interior of cavity. The protrusions together with the back surface of the housing are configured to surround exposed portions of the flowmeter, such that the addition of a shackle portion of a locking device through the through bores will prevent removal of the security device from the flowmeter and subsequently prevent access to the flowmeter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/076,954, filed Nov. 7, 2014, entitled “Orifice Flowmeter Security Device,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In pipeline operations and other industrial applications, flowmeters are used to measure the volumetric flow rate of a gaseous or liquid flow stream moving through a piping section. The pressure in the flowmeter can be high, so a need exists to control access to the flowmeter. For safety reasons, access to the flowmeter should be limited to authorized parties. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a security device for use with an orifice flowmeter and a locking device includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a closed end, an open end, a front surface, and a back surface forming a cavity. Further, the cavity is exposed at the open end and the back surface, where the back surface includes a cutout forming an upper back surface portion and a lower back surface portion. In addition, the upper back surface portion and the lower back surface portion of the device are configured to slidingly and releasably engage an indentation disposed on the flowmeter. Moreover, the top surface includes a through bore that is coaxial with a through bore of the bottom surface proximate the open end. Further, the top surface through bore and the bottom surface through bore are configured to allow a rod to pass therethrough thereby preventing removal of the security device from the flowmeter. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, an orifice flowmeter having a security device includes a body, a gear shaft disposed on the body, a lower drive disposed on the body, a first nut disposed on the gear shaft and forming a first indentation between the first nut and the body, and a second nut disposed on the lower drive and forming a second indentation between the second nut and the body. In addition, the security device covers the gear shaft, lower drive, and first and second nuts to prevent access. The security device further includes a back surface having a cutout that forms an upper back surface portion and a lower back surface portion. Moreover, the upper back surface portion and the lower back surface portion are configured to slidingly and releasably engage the first and second indentations. Further, the security device includes a through bore that extends from a top surface through a bottom surface, the through bore is configured to allow a rod to pass therethrough to prevent removal of the security device from the flowmeter. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, a method of securing an orifice flowmeter includes sliding an open end of a security device onto a gear shaft and a lower drive of the flowmeter, the security device further having a top surface, a bottom surface, a closed end, a front surface, and a back surface forming a cavity. In addition, the method includes engaging a first indentation between a first nut on the gear shaft and the flowmeter with an upper back surface portion and a lower back surface portion formed by a cutout in the back surface. The method further includes engaging a second indentation between a second nut on the lower drive and the flowmeter with the upper back surface portion and the lower back surface portion. Moreover, the method includes passing a shackle of a locking device through a through bore that extends from the top surface through the bottom surface proximate the open end, and engaging the locking device to a closed or locked position. 
         [0007]    Embodiments described herein comprise a combination of features and advantages intended to address various shortcomings associated with certain prior devices, systems, and methods. The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. The various characteristics described above, as well as other features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, and by referring to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an external view of an orifice flowmeter with a security device in accordance with the principles described herein; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an external view of the orifice flowmeter of  FIG. 1  without the security device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional isometric view of a dual chamber orifice flowmeter; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an external side view of the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an external side view of the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an internal side view of the security device of  FIG. 2   
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a partial cross-sectional side view of the security device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8A  shows a partial cross-sectional top view of the orifice flowmeter with the security device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8B  shows a partial cross-sectional side view of the orifice flowmeter with the security device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The following discussion is directed to various exemplary embodiments. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the examples disclosed herein have broad application, and that the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. 
         [0019]    Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not function. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         [0020]    In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices, components, and connections. In addition, as used herein, the terms “axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a central axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the central axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to the central axis, and a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the central axis. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; a security device  100  is installed on an orifice flowmeter  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2  shows the flowmeter  12  without the security device. The security device  100  prevents unauthorized access to the flowmeter  12 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a sectional view of an example of an orifice flowmeter  12 , more specifically a dual chamber orifice fitting, is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Orifice flowmeter  12  includes body  16  and top  18 . Body  16  encloses lower chamber  20 , which is in fluid communication with the interior  34  of pipeline. Top  18  encloses upper chamber  22  and is connected to body  16  by bolts  17 . Aperture  30  defines an opening connecting upper chamber  22  to lower chamber  20 . Valve seat  24  is connected to top  18  and provides a sealing engagement with slide valve plate  56 , which is slidably actuated by rotating gear shaft  54 . Lower drive  36  and upper drive  38  operate to move orifice plate carrier  32  vertically within flowmeter  12 . 
         [0023]    Orifice  31  is located on an orifice plate  33  supported by orifice plate carrier  32 . Orifice plate carrier  32  is shown in a metering position in alignment with bore  34 . To remove orifice plate carrier  32  from flowmeter  12 , the gear shaft  54  is rotated to slide valve plate  56  laterally and away from valve seat  24  and open aperture  30 . Once aperture  30  is opened, lower drive  36  is actuated to move orifice plate carrier  32  upwards into upper chamber  22 . Once orifice plate carrier  32  is entirely within upper chamber  22 , aperture  30  is closed to isolate the upper chamber from bore  34  and lower chamber  20 . Any pressure within upper chamber  20  can then be relieved and orifice plate carrier  32  can be removed from flowmeter  12  by loosening clamping bar screws  46  and removing clamping bar  44  and sealing bar  40  from top  18 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-5 , an embodiment of a security device  100  is shown. Security device  100  includes housing  101  having a top surface  110 , bottom surface  120 , a closed end  130 , an open end  140 , a front surface  150 , and a back surface  160  to form a cavity or interior  170 , in accordance with the principles described herein is shown. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , top surface  110  is generally parallel to and spaced apart from bottom surface  120 ; the top surface  110  and the bottom surface  120  are generally rectangular. In this embodiment, top surface  110  and bottom surface  120  include coaxial through bores  111 ,  121 , respectively, having a central axis  105 . Through bores  111 ,  121  are disposed approximately halfway between the front surface  150  and the back surface  160 , and proximate the open end  140 . In other embodiments, the through bores may be located closer to the front surface  150  or closer to the back surface  160 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , closed end  130  is generally parallel to and spaced apart from open end  140 ; the closed end  130  and the open end  140  are generally rectangular and thus, generally perpendicular to top surface  110  and bottom surface  120 . In the present embodiment, the open end  140  exposes the edges of the top surface  110 , bottom surface  120 , and front surface  150  proximate the open end  140 . Further, cavity  170  is exposed at open end  140 . In an alternative embodiment, the positions of the open end  140  and closed end  150  may be reversed. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , front surface  150  is generally parallel to and spaced apart from back surface  160 ; the front surface  150  and the back surface  160  are generally rectangular and thus, generally perpendicular to top surface  110  and bottom surface  120  and generally perpendicular to closed end  130  and open end  140 . In the present embodiment, the back surface  160  includes a cutout  165  that extends from the closed end  130  to the open end  140  and forms upper back surface portion  162  proximate top surface  110  opposite lower back surface portion  164  proximate bottom surface  120 . Cutout  165  provides access to cavity  170 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the interior or cavity  170  comprises a first and a second generally U-shaped protrusion or channel  115 ,  125 , respectively. The first U-shaped protrusion or channel  115  comprises opposing side walls  115   a,    115   b  separated by a channel or groove  115   c,  the side walls  115   a,    115   b  having a height H 115a , H 115b , respectively. The first U-shaped channel  115  is coupled to an interior side  110   a  of the top surface  110  and extends from the closed end  130  to the open end  140  approximately halfway between the front surface  150  and the back surface  160 . The first U-shaped channel  115  thus has a length approximately equivalent to the length of top surface  110 , and further includes a through bore  116  having a central axis  105 . In the present embodiment, through bore  116  is disposed approximately halfway between the opposing side walls  115   a,    115   b  of the U-shaped channel  115  and is coaxial with and has a similar diameter as the through bore  111  of the top surface  110 . In alternative embodiments, the U-shaped channel  115  does not overlap through bore  111  of the top surface  110  and does not include a through bore. 
         [0028]    The second U-shaped protrusion or channel  125  comprises opposing side walls  125   a,    125   b  separated by a channel or groove  125   c,  the side walls  125   a,    125   b  having a height H 125a , H 125b , respectively. The second U-shaped channel  125  is coupled to an interior side  120   a  of the bottom surface  120  and extends from the closed end  130  to the open end  140  approximately halfway between the front surface  150  and the back surface  160 . The second U-shaped channel  125  thus has a length approximately equivalent to the length of bottom surface  120 , and further includes a through bore  126  having a central axis  105 . Through bore  126  is disposed approximately halfway between the opposing side walls  125   a,    125   b  of the U-shaped channel  125  and is coaxial with and has a similar diameter as through bore  121  of the bottom surface  120 . In alternative embodiments, the U-shaped channel  115  does not overlap through bore  111  of the top surface  110  and does not include a through bore. 
         [0029]    Further, the through bores  111 ,  116  of the top surface  110  and first U-shaped channel  115 , respectively, are coaxial with and have similar diameters as the through bores  121 ,  126  of the bottom surface  120  and second U-shaped channel  125 , respectively. In an alternative embodiment, cavity  170  does not include any U-shaped channels. In other embodiments, cavity  170  may comprise only one U-shaped channel coupled to either the interior side  110   a  of the top surface  110  or to the interior side  120   a  of the bottom surface  120 . In further embodiments, components having various geometries other than U-shaped channels may be disposed in cavity  170 . Any suitable geometry may be used including, but not limited to, an L-shaped bracket, a rectangular component, and a plurality of cylindrical posts. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example of a flowmeter  12  before installation of the security device  100  is shown. As previously described, the slide valve plate  56  (see  FIG. 3 ) separates the upper chamber  22  from the lower chamber  20  and is actuated by rotation of the gear shaft  54 . Upon rotation of the gear shaft  54 , the slide valve plate  56  slides laterally to create aperture  30  (see  FIG. 3 ). The orifice plate carrier  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) can then be raised from the lower chamber  20  to the upper chamber  22  by actuating the lower drive  36 . In the present embodiment, gear shaft  54  has an end  54   a  and includes a nut  55  proximate the flowmeter  12 , and lower drive  36  has an end  36   a  and includes a nut  37 . To prevent unauthorized actuation of the slide valve plate  56  and orifice plate carrier  32 , the security device  100  is placed around both the gear shaft  54  with nut  55  that actuates the slide valve plate  56  and around the lower drive  36  with nut  37  that actuates the orifice plate carrier  32 , and a lock  180  (see  FIG. 6 ) is inserted through the through bores  111 ,  116 ,  121 ,  126 . In alternative embodiments, the lower drive  36  and gear shaft  54  of flowmeter  12  may comprise components other than nuts having varying geometry that will actuate the slide valve plate  56 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 7, 8A, and 8B , to install the security device  100  on the flowmeter  12 , the open end  140  of security device  100  is aligned with the lower drive  36  with nut  37  and the gear shaft  54  with nut  55  such that back surface  160  is proximate flowmeter  12  (see  FIG. 8B ). The security device  100  then slides across both the lower drive  36  with nut  37  and the gear shaft  54  with nut  55  until cavity  170  encloses both nuts  37 ,  55 , the lower drive  36 , and the gear shaft  54 . More specifically, the nuts  37 ,  55  are located between channel side walls  115   b,    125   b  and back surface  160 . Thus, the distance D 115b , D 125b  between channel side walls  115   b,    125   b  and the back surface  160  is configured to allow the nuts  37 ,  55  to fit between channel side walls  115   b,    125   b  and the back surface  160  when the security device  100  is installed on the flowmeter  12  ( FIG. 8B ). Further, the height H 115b , H 125   b  of side walls  115   b,    125   b,  respectively, is configured to allow side walls  115   b,    125   b  to extend beyond the outer diameter or edge of the nuts  37 ,  55  when installed on flowmeter  12  without contacting or interfering with the lower drive  36  or gear shaft  54  ( FIGS. 7 and 8B ). Side walls  115   b,    125   b  may, but need not, contact the nuts  37 ,  55  when the security device  100  is installed on flowmeter  12 . The top surface  110 , bottom surface  120 , and closed end  130  of housing  101  are all configured such that front surface  150 , when the security device  100  is installed on flowmeter  12 , does not contact or interfere with ends  36   a,    54   a  of lower drive  36  and gear shaft  54 , respectively. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , when security device  100  is installed on flowmeter  12 , the top surface  110  is disposed above lower drive  36  with nut  37  and above gear shaft  54  with nut  55 , and the bottom surface  120  is disposed below lower drive  36  with nut  37  and below gear shaft  54  with nut  55 . In addition, lower drive  36  with nut  37  and gear shaft  54  with nut  55  are located between the closed end  130  and the open end  140 . Further, the back surface  160  is disposed proximate flowmeter  12  such that upper back surface portion  162  and lower back surface portion  164  are disposed in an indentation or narrowed portion  60  between the flowmeter  12  and nuts  37 ,  55 , and ends  36   a,    54   a  of lower drive  36  and gear shaft  54 , respectively, are disposed between the front surface  150  and the back surface  160 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5, 7, 8A, and 8B , after security device  100  is positioned on flowmeter  12  as described above, a shackle portion  182  of a locking device  180  is placed through all the coaxial through bores  111 ,  116 ,  121 ,  126  (see  FIG. 6  for shackle  182  inserted in through bores  111 ,  116 ,  121 ,  126  while not installed on flowmeter  12 ) and engaged with the locking mechanism within the locking device  180  to place the locking device  180  in a closed position (see  FIG. 5 ). When the locking device  180  is engaged, the security device  100  prevents access to the lower drive  36  and gear shaft  54 . More specifically, closed end  130  prevents movement of the security device  100  in direction  94  as closed end  130  would contact nut  37 ; shackle  182  prevents movement of the security device  100  in direction  93  as shackle  182  would contact gear shaft  54 ; top surface  110  prevents movement of the security device  100  in direction  92  as top surface  110  would contact nuts  37 ,  55 ; bottom surface  120  prevents movement of the security device  100  in direction  91  as bottom surface  120  would contact nuts  37 ,  55 ; and upper and lower back surface portions  162 ,  164 , respectively, prevent movement of the security device  100  in direction  90  away from flowmeter  12  as upper and lower back surface portions  162 ,  164  would contact nuts  37 ,  55 . Lock  180  may be any suitable commercial lock known in the art including, but not limited to, a combination lock, a keyed lock, and a padlock. In other embodiments, through bores  111 ,  116 ,  121 ,  126  may be adjusted to accommodate various lock configurations and shapes as well as multiple locks. 
         [0034]    While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teachings herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the systems, apparatus, and processes described herein are possible and are within the scope of the invention. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the steps in a method claim may be performed in any order. The recitation of identifiers such as (a), (b), (c) or (1), (2), (3) before steps in a method claim are not intended to and do not specify a particular order to the steps, but rather are used to simplify subsequent reference to such steps.