Abstrict The method includes using a flow meter system having a meter assembly
and a transmitter device in conjunction with a utility distribution
system disposed behind a wall in a space and having a conduit extending
through a conduit opening in the wall for coupling a fixture thereto.
The meter assembly is connected in fluid communication with the
conduit, and positioned outside of the space and in front of the
wall. The transmitter device is installed within the space and positioned
remotely from the meter assembly. The transmitter device is connected
electrically to the transmitter device, and the fixture is coupled
in fluid communication with the meter assembly, thereby concealing
the meter assembly and the conduit opening.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A method for installing a flow meter system onto a utility distribution
system disposed in a space behind a wall and having a conduit extending
through a conduit opening in the wall for coupling a fixture to
the utility distribution system, the flow meter system including
a meter assembly and a transmitter device, the method comprising:
connecting the meter assembly in fluid communication with the conduit,
wherein the meter assembly is positioned outside of the space and
substantially in front of the wall;
installing the transmitter device within the space and positioned
remotely from the meter assembly;
connecting electrically the transmitter device to the meter assembly;
and
coupling the fixture in fluid communication with the meter assembly,
wherein the meter assembly and the conduit opening are substantially
concealed by the fixture.
2. A method according to claim 1 further including:
making an access opening through the wall to enable the transmitter
device to be disposed within the space; and
positioning a cover over said access opening to conceal the transmitter
device and said access opening.
3. A method according to claim 2 further including adjusting the
axial length of the conduit extending outwardly from the wall by
an amount corresponding to about the axial length of the meter assembly.
4. A method according to claim 3 further including:
using a given length of an electrical conductor connected to the
meter assembly to connect electrically the transmitter device to
the meter assembly; and
drawing said electrical conductor through the conduit opening into
the space from said access opening to facilitate the connection
of said electrical conductor with the transmitter assembly.
5. A method according to claim 4 further including disposing a
spacer means between the meter assembly and the fixture, and in
fluid communication therewith, to facilitate the coupling of the
fixture to the meter assembly.
6. A method according to claim 5 further including:
using a housing assembly to enclose the transmitter device within
the space; and
said installing of the transmitter device includes disposing said
housing assembly containing the transmitter device within the space,
wherein said cover also conceals said housing assembly.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the utility distribution
system further includes another conduit extending through another
conduit opening in the wall for coupling another fixture to the
utility distribution system, and the flow meter system further includes
another meter assembly, the method further including:
connecting the second mentioned meter assembly in fluid communication
with the second mentioned conduit, wherein the second mentioned
meter assembly is positioned outside of the space and substantially
in front of the wall, wherein the transmitter device is located
remotely from the second mentioned meter assembly;
connecting electrically the transmitter device to the second mentioned
meter assembly; and
coupling the second mentioned fixture in fluid communication with
the second mentioned meter assembly, wherein the second mentioned
meter assembly and the second mentioned conduit opening are substantially
concealed by the second mentioned fixture.
8. A flow meter apparatus for installation on a utility resource
distribution system having a supply conduit extending through a
conduit opening in a wall, comprising:
a fixture means having a housing defining a hollow interior for
controlling the distribution of the utility resource, said housing
including an internal coupler disposed within said hollow interior
to facilitate the coupling of said fixture means to the supply conduit;
a meter means connected in fluid communication with said fixture
means for measuring the quantity of the utility resource being supplied
to said fixture means, said meter means being adapted to be disposed
substantially within said hollow interior to enable said fixture
means to conceal said meter means when said fixture means is installed
on the distribution system.
9. A flow meter apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said meter
means transmits information indicative of the quantity of the utility
resource being supplied when the utility resource flows in one direction,
and wherein said information is substantially not transmitted by
said meter means when the utility resource flows in another direction.
10. A flow meter apparatus according to claim 9 further including
a spacer means coupled between said meter means and said internal
coupler, and in fluid communication therewith, for positioning said
meter means within said hollow interior to facilitate the connection
of said fixture means to the supply conduit.
11. A flow meter apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said meter
means includes a meter housing defining a bore to facilitate the
flow of the utility resource therethrough, and a sensing means disposed
partially in said bore for detecting the flow of the utility resource
in said one direction.
12. A flow meter apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the meter
housing further includes a transverse sensor opening in fluid communication
with said bore, said sensing means includes a paddle wheel having
a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly from a hub having
an axle therethrough, said meter means further including a pair
of spaced apart support walls extending through said sensor opening,
each of said walls having a corresponding offset elongated opening
therein for supporting rotatively said axle therebetween, wherein
said paddle wheel is substantially centered in said sensor opening
when the utility resource flows in said one direction to permit
said paddle wheel to rotate freely, and wherein said paddle wheel
is substantially offset in said sensor opening when the utility
resource flows in said another direction for enabling said meter
housing to obstruct the rotation of said paddle wheel.
13. A method of making a flow meter apparatus for installation
on a utility resource distribution system having a supply conduit
extending through a conduit opening in a wall, comprising:
using a fixture means having a housing defining a hollow interior
for controlling the distribution of the utility resource, said housing
including an internal coupler disposed within said hollow interior;
coupling a meter means in fluid communication with said housing
means via said internal coupler for measuring the quantity of the
utility resource being supplied to said fixture means; and
disposing said meter means substantially within said hollow interior
to enable said housing to conceal said meter means when said fixture
means is installed on the distribution system.
14. A method according to claim 13 further including coupling
a spacer means between said meter means and said internal coupler
and in fluid communication therewith to permit said meter means
to be received within said hollow interior.
15. A method according to claim 13 further including adapting
said meter means to be a one way meter means.
Description TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to an improved method
for installing a flow meter system and a flow meter apparatus therefor.
The invention more particularly relates to a method of installing
a flow meter system onto a utility distribution system for monitoring
the use of a utility resource from a remote location, and which
installation can be accomplished utilizing a novel flow meter apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
The use of flow metering devices is well known for measuring the
quantity of a particular utility resource which is supplied by a
utility provider. For example, measuring the quantity of natural
gas, electricity and water supplied by the local gas, power and
water utility providers to a user of those utility resources has
been utilized to determine the payment required for the utility
resources actually used by the user. Primarily, such measurements
have been accomplished at a service connection point for a building
or other structure for each utility resource, without regard to
the usage of the utility resources by individual utility resource
users within each building.
A flow meter system was disclosed in prior filed and commonly owned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/560161 which is incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth herein, for sub-metering the
use of utility resources utilized by many individual utility resource
users within a single building. The sub-metering flow meter system
disclosed therein is especially suitable for enabling the specific
usage of a utility resource by an individual user to be monitored.
For example, the sub-metering flow meter system is particularly
adapted to measuring water usage in a typical one bedroom, one bath,
residence apartment or condominium within a multi-family residence
having seven separate water pipes for delivering water, including:
(1) a kitchen sink hot water supply pipe; (2) a kitchen sink cold
water supply pipe; (3) a bathroom sink hot water supply pipe; (4)
a bathroom sink cold water supply pipe; (5) a toilet cold water
supply pipe; (6) a shower hot water supply pipe; and (7) a shower
cold water supply pipe.
Prior filed and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/633537
which is also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein,
disclosed a wireless transmission system which could be utilized
with a sub-metering flow meter system to facilitate the remote monitoring
of the many water supply pipes associated with each tenant of a
building.
As a result, a sub-metering flow meter system could now be utilized
within each tenant occupied space to monitor the specific usage
of water therein from a remote location. Each flow meter comprising
the flow meter system could be coupled to each water supply pipe,
and the information obtained by the meters concerning the amount
of water used could be transmitted by a wireless transmission system.
However, the installation of such a sub-metering flow meter system
with the wireless transmission system required that portions of
the systems be exposed within the tenant occupied space in some
instances, especially the flow meters for exposed water supply pipes.
The resulting effect on the aesthetic appearance of the space was,
in some applications, somewhat less than desirable, though, due
to the presence of the flow meters.
Alternatively, openings in the wall near the exposed water supply
pipes would receive and hide the flow meters associated with the
exposed pipes. Unfortunately, in some applications, such a procedure
would be time consuming, expensive, and would not be entirely aesthetically
pleasing in appearance.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved
method for installing a flow meter system, and which method can
be accomplished with a novel flow meter apparatus. Such a method
should enable the flow meter system to be installed onto a utility
distribution system quickly and easily, and should substantially
conceal all evidence that the flow meter has been installed.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to
provide a new and improved method for installing a flow meter system,
and a flow meter apparatus therefor, wherein the flow meter system
is installed in quick and easy manner, and which hides all evidence
indicating that the flow meter system has been installed.
Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention
are realized by providing a new and improved method of installing
a flow meter system which can be accomplished quickly and easily,
and in a concealing manner, with a novel flow meter apparatus.
The method includes using a flow meter system having a meter assembly
and a transmitter device in conjunction with a utility distribution
system disposed behind a wall in a space and having a conduit extending
through a conduit opening in the wall for coupling a fixture thereto.
The meter assembly is connected in fluid communication with the
conduit, and positioned outside of the space and in front of the
wall. The transmitter device is installed within the space and positioned
remotely from the meter assembly. The transmitter device is connected
electrically to the transmitter device, and the fixture is coupled
in fluid communication with the meter assembly, thereby concealing
the meter assembly and the conduit opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention
and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention
itself will be best understood by reference to the following description
of the embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a flow meter
system which is installed on a utility distribution system in accordance
with the present invention;
FIGS. 2-4 are cross-sectional elevational views illustrating the
installation of the flow meter system onto the utility distribution
system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is cross-sectional elevational view of a flow meter apparatus
which may be used in accordance with the method of the present invention;
and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a meter assembly for the flow
meter apparatus of FIG. 5 illustrating the flow direction dependency
thereof.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown a flow meter system 10 which may be installed
on a water supply system 20 in accordance with the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 the water supply system 20 is disposed
substantially in a space behind a wall 14 of a shower/bathtub enclosure
12 having a bathtub 16 and a tile surface 18 or other surface such
as fiberglass (not shown), extending upwardly from the bathtub 16
along the wall 14. Although the water supply system 20 is illustrated
in connection with the shower/bathtub enclosure 12 it will be understood
by one skilled in the art that the flow meter system 10 could also
be installed on other water supply systems. Furthermore, the flow
meter system 10 may also be adapted for installation on other utility
resource distribution systems, such as a natural gas supply system.
To facilitate the supply of water to the shower/bathtub enclosure,
the water supply system 20 includes an elbow 21 coupled to a shower
pipe 22 and a faucet conduit 24 as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The conduit
24 is coupled to the shower pipe 22 disposed in the space behind
the wall 14 and extends outwardly from the space and through the
wall 14 into the shower/bathtub enclosure 12 to receive a faucet
fixture or tub spout 54 thereon. The elbow 21 is adapted to receive
a shower head fixture 43 therein.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4 the elbow 21 is positioned adjacent to an
opening 23 to receive the showerhead fixture 43. The conduit 24
extends outwardly from the space, through the wall 14 and outwardly
through the bathtub 16 via an opening 25 to receive the fixture
54.
To facilitate the monitoring of the water supplied by the water
supply system 20 the flow meter system 10 includes a shower meter
assembly 40 having an electrical conductor 42 connected thereto,
and a faucet meter assembly 50 having an electrical conductor 52
connected thereto. The electrical conductors 42 and 52 each contain
wire conductors to provide an electrical circuit to the meter assemblies
40 and 50 and to transmit an electrical information signal indicative
of the flow of water and generated by the meter assemblies 40 and
50 for remote monitoring purposes.
A transmitter apparatus 104 having a pair of electrical conductors
108 and 110 and an antenna 106 is adapted to be coupled to the meter
assemblies 40 and 50 for receiving the electrical information signal,
for supplying electrical energy to the meter assemblies 40 and 50
and for relaying the signals to a remote location (not shown). A
transmission system including a transmitter apparatus is described
in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/633537 which
is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. It will
be understood by one skilled in the art that two or more of such
transmitters may be hard wired together to facilitate the transmission
of flow information signals generated by the meter assemblies 40
and 50.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4 the water supply system 20 may require slight
modification to receive the flow meter system 10. In particular,
the length of conduit 24 may require adjustment to receive the flow
meter assembly 50 in a concealed manner. Such an adjustment of
the conduit length may be required when the water supply system
20 is adapted for receiving standard fixtures. However, it will
be understood by one skilled in the art that the existing conduit
24 may be adapted to receive the flow meter system 10 and thus,
the conduit 24 would not require adjustment.
Considering now the installation of the flow meter system 10 the
conduit 24 is adjusted to receive the fixture 54 and to conceal
the flow meter system 10. The adjustment of the conduit 24 may be
accomplished with a saw or other similar cutting device suitable
for the purpose.
The amount of conduit which must be removed to receive the meter
assembly 50 is dependent upon the axial length of the meter assembly
50 as well as the fixture to be attached thereto, such as the faucet
fixture 54. As shown in FIG. 2 the length of conduit 24 is adapted
to receive a standard faucet fixture (not shown), wherein the standard
faucet fixture engages the bathtub 16 to conceal the opening 25.
As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the inventive
faucet fixture 54 is especially adapted for use in installation
of the flow meter system 10. However, the faucet fixture 54 does
not require conduit 24 to extend outwardly as far as a standard
faucet fixture requires the conduit 24 to extend. Thus, a length
D of conduit 24 must be removed to enable the faucet fixture 54
to conceal the meter assembly 50.
An opening 15 in the wall 14 above the tile 18 is made using a
saw or other appropriate instrument. The opening 15 is adapted to
receive a housing 100 having an associated cover plate 102 wherein
the housing 100 and the cover plate 102 enable the transmitter 104
to be concealed within the housing 100 when installed. In some applications
(not shown), the tile 18 may extend upwardly to cover all of wall
14. In such situations, it may be desirable to create an opening
(not shown) in another wall (not shown) that is not covered by tile
to avoid possibly damaging the tile 18 wherein the other opening
would be created instead of opening 15.
Upon adjusting the length of the conduit 24 a nipple or coupling
device 29 is affixed to the conduit 24 to facilitate the coupling
of the meter assembly 50 thereto. The coupling device 29 may be
secured to the conduit 24 in a water tight manner by any acceptable
method known in the art. Depending upon the meter assembly construction,
the coupling device 29 may have either a male or female threaded
portion to engage the respective fixture. For example, as shown
in FIG. 3 coupler device 29 has a male threaded portion for cooperating
with meter assembly 50.
Using a wire pulling device 30 such as fish tape or other similar
device, including an extendable member 32 having a distal end 34
the distal end 34 is extended inwardly through the opening 15 and
into the space behind the wall 14. To facilitate the installation
of meter assembly 40 the distal end 34 is further extended outwardly
through the opening 23 to engage the electrical conductor 42.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 the meter assembly 40 is then coupled
threadably to the elbow 21 to connect the meter assembly 40 in fluid
communication with the pipe 22. The elbow 21 and the pipe 22 are
not shown in FIG. 3 for illustration purposes only. In this regard,
the meter assembly 40 is manually brought into engagement with the
elbow 21 and subsequently rotated to threadably engage the meter
assembly 40.
A water tight sealing compound or tape may be disposed between
the elbow 21 and the meter assembly 40. When secured, the meter
assembly 40 is positioned substantially within the opening 23. Furthermore,
the meter assembly 40 is positioned remotely from the transmitter
104.
Once the meter assembly 40 is secured to the elbow 21 the electrical
conductor 42 is engaged by the distal end 34 and brought into the
space behind the wall 14 via the opening 23 where it will be concealed
(FIG. 4).
Similarly, the extendable member 32 may be extended through the
opening 15 into the space behind the wall 14 and extended through
the opening 25 to engage the electrical conductor 52. To couple
the meter assembly 50 to the coupling device 29 the meter assembly
50 is rotated to threadably engage the coupling device 29 to secure
the meter assembly 50 to the conduit 24. The water tight sealing
compound or tape may also be used between the meter assembly 50
and the coupling device 29. Subsequently, the electrical conductor
52 may be engaged by the distal end 34 and drawn through the opening
25 and into the opening behind the wall 14 to conceal the electrical
conductor 52 (FIG. 4).
The electrical conductors 42 and 52 may be left free to spin around
with the meter assemblies 40 and 50 respectively, as they are threadably
engaged with the elbow 21 and the coupling device 29 respectively.
In this way, the electrical conductors 42 and 52 do not become twisted
about the respective conduits 22 and 24.
Alternatively, the electrical conductors 42 and 52 may be wrapped
initially around the respective meter assemblies 40 and 50. For
example, the meter assemblies 40 and 50 are rotated clockwise to
threadably engage the elbow 21 and the coupling device 29. By initially
wrapping the electrical connectors 42 and 52 about the respective
meter assemblies 40 and 50 also in a clockwise manner, the electrical
conductors 42 and 52 can be unwrapped from the respective meter
assemblies 40 and 50 as the meter assemblies 40 and 50 are rotated
in a clockwise direction. In this way, the meter assemblies 40 and
50 are coupled to the elbow 21 and the coupling device 29 without
the electrical conductors 42 and 52 becoming entangled.
The shower head fixture 43 is threadably engaged with the meter
assembly 40 and in fluid communication therewith, to facilitate
the distribution of water therefrom. The escutcheon plate 46 is
then positioned to substantially conceal the meter assembly 40 and
the opening 23. Similarly, the meter assembly 50 is received within
the faucet fixture 54 and coupled therewith, to facilitate the
distribution of water therefrom, whereby the faucet fixture 54 conceals
the meter assembly 50 and the opening 25.
Preferably, the electrical conductors 42 and 52 are long enough
to be drawn out of the opening 15 to facilitate their connection
to the conductors 108 and 110. The connection of the electrical
conductors 42 and 52 to the conductors 108 and 110 may be accomplished
with standard connection devices. However, the use of a tamper proof
connecting technique, such as soldering, or other comparable procedure,
is preferred to prevent the connection from being tampered with.
The connected conductors 42 52 108 and 110 are inserted through
the opening 15 and concealed within the space behind the wall 14.
The housing 100 containing the transmitter 104 is then inserted
into the opening 15 and secured within the opening 15. The cover
plate 102 is secured to the housing 100 to conceal the transmitter
104 the housing 100 and the opening 15.
Considering now the faucet fixture 54 with reference to FIG. 5
the faucet fixture 54 is adapted to be quickly and easily installed
onto a water supply system, such as the water supply system 20.
The faucet fixture 54 includes a housing 55 defines a hollow interior
through which the supplied water flows. A threaded internal female
coupler 56 disposed within the hollow interior facilitates the coupling
of the fixture 54 to the conduit 24. Coupled threadably to the internal
coupler 56 and in fluid communication therewith, are spacer members
60 and 62. The meter assembly 50 is adapted to be threadably coupled
to the spacer member 62 within the hollow interior.
The spacer members 60 and 62 enable the meter assembly 50 to be
secured within the hollow interior at an expanded portion of the
housing 55. The expanded portion of the housing 55 is sufficiently
large enough to receive the meter assembly 50 completely therein.
In this way, the meter assembly 50 and the spacer members 60 and
62 may be coupled to the faucet fixture 54 and concealed therein,
for defining a unitary component.
As described previously, the conduit 24 requires modification to
receive the faucet fixture 54. In this regard, the conduit 24 is
generally sized to be coupled to an internal coupler, such as internal
coupler 56. Thus, to accommodate the spacer members 60 and 62 as
well as the meter assembly 50 the length D corresponding to the
coupled length of the meter assembly 50 the spacer 62 and the spacer
member 60 must be removed.
Considering now the meter assemblies 40 and 50 in greater detail,
only meter assembly 50 will be described hereinafter in greater
detail. Meter assembly 40 is substantially similar to the meter
assembly 50. However, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the meter assembly
40 is adapted to be coupled to the water supply system 20 by the
female end of elbow 21 while the meter assembly 50 is adapted to
be coupled to the water supply system 20 by male coupler 29.
As shown in FIG. 6 the meter assembly 50 includes an elongated
housing 70 defining a bore therethrough to facilitate the flow of
water, and having a threaded female end 72 a central body portion
74 and a threaded male end 76. The threaded female end (not shown)
and the threaded male end (not shown) of the meter assembly 40 are
disposed in a reverse manner from the corresponding ends 72 and
76 of the assembly 50 to facilitate the coupling of the meter assembly
40 to the elbow 21.
A sensor housing 80 is coupled to the housing 70 and is in communication
with the interior of the housing 70 via an opening 75. The sensor
housing 80 includes a top member 82 and encloses a switch 84 therein.
The switch 84 cooperates with a paddle wheel 90 disposed partially
in the bore for generating an information signal indicative of the
flow of water through the housing 70 and which signal is conducted
by the conductor 52.
In this regard, a magnet (not shown) in the paddle wheel 90 cooperates
with the switch 84 to generate electrical pulses defining the information
signal and indicative of the water flow rate. The operation of the
paddle wheel 90 in cooperation with the switch 84 is more fully
described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/560161
which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
A pair of support walls, including support wall 86 extend from
the housing 80 down into the housing bore via the opening 75 to
enable the paddle wheel 90 coupled rotatably between the support
walls to rotate about an axle 92 as water flows through the bore
of the housing 70.
Generally, water flows from the water supply system 20 through
the meter assembly 50 and out of the faucet fixture 54 as indicated
by the rightwardly directed arrow (FIG. 6). However, on occasion,
the flow of water may be reversed, as indicated by the leftwardly
directed arrow (FIG. 6). For example, low pressure in another portion
of the water supply system 20 could cause water retained in the
faucet fixture 54 to flow back into the conduit 24.
To limit the activation of the switch 84 when water flows back
into the system 20 each of the support walls, such as support wall
86 includes an offset elongated opening 88 to slidably receive
the axle 92 therein. The opening 88 enables the axle 92 and the
paddle wheel 90 to be substantially centered within the opening
75 when the water flows in the rightward direction, and to enable
the axle 82 and the paddle wheel 90 to be urged leftwardly when
the water flows leftwardly. The centered paddle wheel 90 is shown
in solid lines in FIG. 6 as a result of rightward water flow. The
offset paddle wheel 90 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6 as a result
of leftward water flow.
The flow of water in the leftward direction simultaneously rotates
the paddle wheel 90 in a clockwise direction about the axle 92
and also urges the axle 92 leftwardly within the slot 88. As a result,
the rotating paddle 90 engages the housing 70 as shown in dashed
lines in FIG. 6 and the paddle 90 is prevented from rotating further.
Thus, the paddle 90 cannot cooperate with the switch 84 to produce
the electrical pulses.
Water flowing in the rightward direction urges the axle 92 and
paddle 90 to the right until the paddle 90 is centered within the
opening 75. In this position, the paddle 90 is free to rotate, and
cooperate with the switch 84 to generate the electrical pulses
as water flows out of the faucet 54.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications
are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope
of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations
to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presented. |