Abstrict A flow meter is disclosed which is securable to the butt end of
a pipe such as a filler tube for domestic fuel oil tanks. The meter
comprises a housing which is threadably securable to the butt end
of a pipe through a first opening in the housing. A transverse opening
is provided in the housing for the insertion of a flow meter through
the first opening and a U-shaped cutout in the pipe to which the
housing is threadably secured. A door is provided over the top of
the housing and the first opening, the door being lockable to the
housing so that the meter and housing may not be unscrewed from
the pipe, the door also comprising a lockable cap over the butt
end of the pipe.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A flow meter adapted to be placed on the butt end of a pipe
comprising meter housing means, first opening means in said housing
for threadably engaging thread means on the butt end of a pipe,
second opening means in said housing, the longitudinal axis of which
is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first
opening, a door means operably secured to the top of said housing
and extending over said first opening, lock means for locking said
door over said first opening and to said housing, flow meter means
removably insertable in said housing through said door and into
said first opening whereby said housing is threadly securable to
the butt end of a threaded pipe, the end of said pipe having a U-shaped
cutout for receiving said meter and when the meter is placed in
said housing and in said pipe, fluid flow in said pipe may be measured,
and said hinged door may be locked to preventremoval of said meter
from the pipe and to seal the butt end of the pipe.
2. The flow meter of claim 1 further comprising a flange extending
from said housing next adjacent said first opening, means for lockingly
securing said door to said flange.
3. The flow meter of claim 2 where said door extends over said
flange, opening means in said door and said flange for receiving
a lock for locking said door to said flange.
Description SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flow meter adapted to be placed
on the butt end of a pipe and comprises a meter housing, a first
opening in the housing for threadably engaging threads on the butt
end of a pipe. A second opening is also provided in the housing,
the longitudinal axis of the second opening being substantially
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first opening. A door
which is openably secured to the top of the housing extends over
the first opening. A lock is also provided for locking the door
over the first opening and the housing. A flow meter is provided
which is removably insertable in the housing through the door and
into the first opening when the housing is threadably secured onto
the butt end of a threaded pipe, the end of such pipe having a U-shaped
cutout for receiving the meter, whereby the meter may be placed
in the housing and in the pipe to measure fluid in the pipe, and
the hinged door may be locked to prevent removal of the meter from
the pipe and to seal the butt end of the pipe.
In another embodiment, a flange is provided which extends from
the housing next adjacent the first opening for lockingly securing
the door to the flange, the door extending over the flange, openings
being provided in the door and the flange for receiving a lock.
The flow meter is especially useful for attachment to the filler
pipe of a domestic fuel oil tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flow meter which may
be secured to and locked to the butt end of a pipe, the meter also
integrating a cover thereon for capping the end of the pipe according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially in section illustrating a
flow meter of the present invention secured to the butt end of a
pipe.
FIG. 3 is a plan view partially in section taken along the line
3--3 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Flow meters for measuring a quantity of fluid passed through a
pipe into a container are disclosed in the prior art U.S. Pat. Nos.
3350937 Brewer; 3190117 Whiteman; 3093973 Williams; 2897672
Glasbrenner, et al.; 2696113 Prescott et al.; and, 2037278 Siber.
None of the above references disclose apparatus for measuring the
flow of fluid through a pipe which may be readily mounted on the
pipe and locked to the pipe. The reference to Siber illustrates
a flow meter which has a pipe-like extension leading from either
side of the turbine wheel used to operate the meter mechanism; however,
does not suggest nor teach apparatus which may be permanently attached
or lockably attached to a pipe.
Because of the high price of fuel oil, many homeowners are interested
in having some means for checking the amount of fuel oil delivered.
Various flow meters may be placed on the delivery pipe or filler
tube of a domestic fuel oil tank. None of the devices suggested
by the prior art disclose a meter that may be conveniently locked
to a filler pipe or in which the metering device, locking device
and cap for the filler pipe are constructed as one unit in order
to minimize the cost of production.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome
these and other difficulties encountered in the prior art.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel
flow meter especially a flow meter readily attached to a domestic
fuel oil filler pipe and which may be locked to the filler pipe
to prevent its removal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flow
meter of the foregoing description which also integrates in its
construction a cap for a filler pipe in which the cap may be locked
to the housing of the flow meter.
These and other objects have been achieved according to the present
invention and will become apparent by reference to the disclosure
and claims that follow as well as the appended drawing.
A flow meter 10 is illustrated comprising a housing 12 having a
flow meter mechanism 14 therein with an impeller wheel 16 operably
connected to the flow meter mechanism. A display window 26 is provided
in the housing 12 for allowing the meter to be read through the
housing.
The housing 12 has a first opening therein 22 for threadably receiving
the butt end of threaded pipe 38 a second opening 24 also being
provided in the housing 12 the second opening having a longitudinal
axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first
opening 22. The flow meter 14 has a neck 28 thereon which is insertable
through a U-shaped cutout 40 in pipe 38 and the opening 24 for holding
the flow meter mechanism 14 securely in place in the opening 24
and the U-shape cutout section of the pipe 38 when the mechanism
14 is in place. A flange 18 extends from the housing 12 next adjacent
the opening 22 flange 18 having an opening 20 therein. A door 30
is hingedly secured to housing 12 by means of piano hinge 34 an
opening 32 being provided in door 30 which is registrable with the
opening 20 in flange 18 when the door is closed as illustrated in
FIG. 1. A padlock 36 may be used to lockably secure door 30 to the
housing 12 through openings 32 and 20.
In use, a threaded pipe 38 is provided with a U-shaped cutout 40
extending from the butt end of the pipe 38 downwardly so that when
meter mechanism 14 is removed, housing 12 may be threadably secured
to the butt end of pipe 38. The opening 40 and the opening 24 are
registered with one another after which flow meter mechanism 14
is inserted into the housing 12 through the open door 30 the impeller
blades 16 being passed through opening 24 and into opening 40 so
that the collar 28 of the meter mechanism 14 is securely inserted
into both the opening 24 and the opening 40 thereby preventing the
housing 12 from being turned in either direction on the threads
of pipe 38. Door 30 may then be closed over the opening in the housing
into which the flow meter mechanism 14 is inserted as well as the
opening in the butt end of pipe 38 to thereby seal the end of pipe
38. Lock 36 may then be used to lock the door 30 to the flange 18
through openings 32 and 20. When fluid is introduced into pipe 38
through nozzle 42 the lock is removed and the door 30 opened after
which the nozzle 42 is removed and the door 30 locked in the manner
previously described.
Although the invention has been described by reference to some
embodiments, it is not intended that the flow meter be limited thereby
but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling
within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure the
following claims and the appended drawing. |