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Meter connection spreading tool

a technology of meter connection and spreading tool, which is applied in the direction of manufacturing tools, instruments, mechanical apparatuses, etc., can solve the problems of increasing maintenance costs, time-consuming and labor-intensive use of two persons to adjust the inline connection, and increasing the burden of labor

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-11-08
GERDES DONALD A
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]These and other features of the present invention will become readil

Problems solved by technology

For example, water meter and related inline couplings are generally located in a pit or other tight spot that makes it difficult to service.
A similar problem exists for the installation of a new meter in a cramped environment where the couplings are already in place.
Water departments have found the use of two persons to effect adjustment in an inline connection to be a time consuming, inefficient burden that raises maintenance costs.
The inline water meter connection is usually a very firm one, often requiring a significant amount of force to spread, which may result in injuries to service personnel.
A labor saving spreading tool should also be compact in design because many meter connections are located at positions, which are difficult to access, thus making maneuverability by the technician(s) difficult.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0018]As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a meter connection spreading tool, designated generally as 105 in the drawings, that can be inserted between a conduit coupler 140 and a water meter M in order to separate the coupler 140 from the meter M. The tool 105 may be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate the variety of conduit sizes that may be encountered. For example, a tool 105 adapted for ⅝″, ¾″ or 1″ water meters may be provided.

[0019]Referring to FIG. 3, the tool 105 has an elongated handle 110 terminating in a fork 115. The tines of the fork 115 are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the water meter M, the tines of the fork 115 being separated enough to fit over the inlet I or outlet pipe of the meter M. The fork 115 may be formed by a U-shaped rod attached to the end of a linear rod 110 by welds 122. A pair of lugs 120 extend normal to the tines of the fork 115 adjacent the ends of the tines. The lugs 120 may be attached to the fork...

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PUM

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Abstract

The meter connection spreading tool is used to separate a water meter from a conduit entering or exiting the meter. The tool has an elongated handle terminating in a bifurcated fork. The tines of the fork are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the meter. A pair of parallel lugs extend normal to the tines adjacent their free end. A rigid U-shaped jaw has a pair of arms rigidly attached thereto and extending normal to the legs of the jaw adjacent the bight, the jaw being adapted to bear against a coupler attached to the end of the conduit. The free ends of the arms are pivotally attached to the lugs, so that the forked handle defines a lever and the lugs and free ends of the arms provide a fulcrum on which the lever pivots.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 797,689, filed May 5, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to pry bar and spreader devices, and particularly to a meter connection spreading tool capable of being applied to a conduit, pipe, or similar meter inline connection in order to replace sealing gaskets, align pipe or conduit fittings, replace water meters, and the like.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]There are many instances where it is necessary to spread inline connections, i.e., couplings, in order to perform maintenance the coupling. For example, water meter and related inline couplings are generally located in a pit or other tight spot that makes it difficult to service.[0006]A similar problem exists for the installation of a new meter in a cramped environment where the couplings are already in place. In both situati...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G01N3/02
CPCF16L23/003B25B27/10
Inventor GERDES, DONALD A.
Owner GERDES DONALD A