Gas meter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas meter (10), comprising: a box-shaped body (11); an air inlet (15) and an air outlet (16), which are suitable for allowing air flow and are defined on the box-shaped body (11); wherein a metering device (19) is provided inside the box-shaped body (11), which is designed to measure one or more parameters for determining the air flow, and the metering device (19) is provided with an air inlet opening (19a) and an air outlet opening (19b). The gas meter (10) comprises: an air inlet pipe (25) extending from the air inlet (15) toward opposite sides of the box-shaped body (11), an air outlet pipe (40) extending between the air outlet (16) and the opposite sides of the box-shaped body (11), and the metering device (19) is located in the middle area between the air inlet pipe (25) and the air outlet pipe (40).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a gas meter.

[0002] Gas meters of the static type, ie gas meters without moving parts, are currently known and widely used; such gas meters are equipped with a sensor which measures the values ​​and transmits the measured data to an electronic control unit located outside the metering unit.

[0003] In this field, there is a growing need to ensure that gas meters are secure against tampering.

[0004] According to current national regulations, installers are not obliged to seal the outlet connection element of the gas meter with a lead seal to prevent it from being tampered with, so the outlet connection becomes a potential access point from which the meter body can be reached and tampered with.

[0005] In order to overcome this drawback, known meters are configured to stop the gas flow in abnormal situations, or in the event of an attempt at tampering, or in the event that the user has not paid for the gas.

[0006] More specifically, the gas meter is currently known to include a box-shaped body with an air inlet and an air outlet, both of which are facing upwards relative to the normal use configuration of the gas meter; inside the box-shaped body, in the given order, at the height of the air inlet there is a mechanical filter, a solenoid valve designed to cut off the flow, and a metering device suitable for measuring one or more parameters for determining the gas flow, such as a static type device with a temperature sensor.

[0007] In said gas meters of known type, the metering device is located such that it is directly connected to the outlet connection element and is arranged such that it is adjacent to the outlet connection element, where it is likely to be tampered with because, as mentioned above, the outlet connection element is not required to be sealed due to current regulations.

[0008] For example, similar situations are described in patent documents WO2012 / 169201A1, WO99 / 51943A1, US4406163A and US2013 / 199290A1.

[0009] The mesh protective filter present between the metering device and the air outlet connection element also does not appear to be an effective solution in the event of tampering attempts, such as disconnecting the metering device, fouling one or more sensors present in the metering device, destroying the metering device by compressed air, and similar attempts.

[0010] Another serious limitation of the known gas meters is that the switching solenoid valve is located at the level of the gas inlet of the gas meter; in this position, the solenoid valve is therefore subject to contamination by dust contained in the gas coming from the gas mains.

[0011] It is possible to place a mechanical filter before the valve, for example a filter with a metal mesh type, which will block particles of larger sizes, but in any case, finer dust falls into the interior of the solenoid valve due to gravity, thus negatively affecting its operation over time.

[0012] Furthermore, as the filter becomes saturated, the filter's resistance to air flow increases, thereby causing an increase in the pressure differential between the distribution network upstream of the meter and the meter outlet.

[0013] Furthermore, the particles are not collected in the surrounding space and are continuously struck by the main airflow before it enters the solenoid valve, so the solenoid valve ends up collecting most of such particles.

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and limitations of the known technology.

[0015] More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a gas meter which is more secure against the risk of tampering.

[0016] Likewise, the object of the invention is to provide a gas meter having a performance level no lower than that guaranteed by known gas meters.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter in which the metering device and the solenoid valve are more protected from dust contained in the gas from the gas supply network.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas meter capable of operating within the limits set by current regulations.

[0019] The above-mentioned aim and objects are achieved by a gas meter according to claim 1 .

[0020] Further features of the gas meter according to claim 1 are described in the dependent claims.

[0021] The above-mentioned aims and objects, as well as the advantages which will be further described, are highlighted in the description of embodiments of the invention provided by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] - Figure 1 A perspective cross-sectional view of a gas meter according to the present invention is shown.

[0023] - Figure 2 A perspective exploded view of a gas meter according to the present invention is shown.

[0024] - Figure 3 A side cross-sectional view of a gas meter according to the present invention is shown.

[0025] - Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Details of the side cross-sectional view;

[0026] - Figure 5 A perspective sectional view of a modified embodiment of a gas meter according to the present invention is shown.

[0027] - Figure 6 A perspective sectional view showing another variant embodiment of the gas meter according to the present invention is shown.

[0028] With reference to the above-mentioned drawings, a gas meter according to the present invention is indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 10 .

[0029] The gas meter 10 comprises

[0030] -Box 11,

[0031] An air inlet 15 and an air outlet 16 designed to allow air flow to pass through and defined on the box-shaped body 11 .

[0032] Inside the box-shaped body 11 there is a metering device 19 designed to measure one or more parameters determining the air flow; the metering device 19 is also provided with its own air inlet opening 19a and air outlet opening 19b.

[0033] The specific feature of the gas meter 10 according to the present invention is that it comprises:

[0034] an air inlet duct 25 extending from said air inlet opening 15 towards the opposite side 13 of the box-shaped body 11,

[0035] An air outlet duct 40 extending between the air outlet opening 16 and the opposite side 13 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0036] The metering device 19 is located in the intermediate region between the inlet pipe 25 and the outlet pipe 40 .

[0037] The term “middle region” is used to refer to the space contained within the box-shaped body 11 between the air inlet pipe 25 and the air outlet pipe 40 .

[0038] Therefore, the metering device 19 must be designed to be suitable for placement at any point and with any configuration in the space between the inlet pipe 25 and the outlet pipe 40 .

[0039] Inside the box-shaped body 11 there is a device 20 which is configured to deflect the gas flowing out through the gas outlet opening 19 b of the metering device 19 towards the gas inlet opening 40 a of the gas outlet pipe 40 .

[0040] As in Figure 3As can be clearly seen in the figure, the device 20 is configured to deflect the gas flowing out through the outlet opening 19b of the metering device 19 toward the inlet opening 40a of the outlet pipe 40, and the device 20 defines a trajectory X3, which includes a deflection produced at a deflection angle 21, and the deflection angle 21 is between the direction X1 across the metering device 19 and the direction X2 across the outlet pipe 40, and the deflection angle 21 is included in the interval within the range between the neighborhood of 90° and 225°.

[0041] The term "neighborhood of 90°" is used to denote the interval between -15° and +15° relative to 90°.

[0042] Said deflection angle 21 is preferably comprised between 91° and 225°.

[0043] More specifically, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 It can be clearly seen that the deflection angle 21 is equal to 180°.

[0044] In the example of the present embodiment, for a configuration commonly used, the box-shaped body 11 comprises a top side 12 , an opposite bottom side 13 and side walls 14 .

[0045] An air outlet 16 is defined on the top side 12 .

[0046] More specifically, the air inlet 15 and the air outlet 16 are both defined on the top side 12 .

[0047] It should be understood that the air inlet 15 and the air outlet 16 can both be arranged on another, but identical, side different from the top side 12 .

[0048] It should be understood that the air inlet 15 and the air outlet 16 may be disposed on respective sides of the box-shaped body 11 that are different from the sides on which the other side is disposed.

[0049] In a preferred different embodiment, the gas meter 10 further comprises a switch valve 18 adapted to intercept the gas flow across the gas meter 10 , wherein the switch valve 18 is provided with an inlet opening 18 a and an outlet opening 18 b .

[0050] In the example of the present embodiment, the switch valve 18 is located at the level of the gas outlet 16 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0051] The on-off valve 18 is part of the gas outlet pipe 40 .

[0052] In the example of the present embodiment, the gas meter 10 comprises a first threaded connection element 23 at the level of the gas inlet 15 of the box-shaped body 11 and a second threaded connection element 24 at the level of the gas outlet 16 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0053] The gas meter 10 further comprises a filter element 17 adapted to filter the gas flow.

[0054] The filter element 17 comprises a dust deposition chamber 26 defined between the bottom side 13 of the box-shaped body 11 and a mechanical filter spacer 27 interposed between the bottom side 13 and the top side 12 .

[0055] The mechanical filter spacer 27 includes a mesh portion 28 .

[0056] The mesh portion 28 has a through opening 28a; the size of the through opening 28a is such as to prevent dust particles with particularly large diameters from passing through, which means that the through opening 28a has a cross-section, the main dimension of which, such as the side length when the through opening 28a is square or the diameter when the through opening 28a is circular, is included between 0.5 and 3 mm, preferably equal to 1 mm.

[0057] In a variant embodiment of the present invention, the mesh portion 28 may include a plurality of filter layers, which are sandwiched or spaced apart from each other and are made of a mesh, a net or a non-woven fabric.

[0058] The air inlet duct 25 extends from the air inlet 15 of the box-shaped body 11 to the inside of the dust deposition chamber 26 .

[0059] The air inlet duct 25 is configured such that the airflow entering through the first threaded connection element 23 is not dispersed in the inner compartment of the box-shaped body 11 , but is directly and completely delivered to the dust deposition chamber 26 .

[0060] Then, the mechanical filter spacer 27 is provided with a through hole 27a configured so that the intake pipe 25 can pass therethrough.

[0061] The dust deposition chamber 26 is configured so that the air flow from the air intake duct 25 can be discharged from the dust deposition chamber 26 only through the mesh portion 28 of the mechanical filter partition 27 .

[0062] In the present example of embodiment, which obviously must be understood as a non-limiting example of the invention, the metering device 19 is positioned as described above in the intermediate region between the outlet duct 40 and the inlet duct 25 , beside them.

[0063] In said intermediate position, and due to the means 20 for deflecting the air flow out of the outlet opening 19 b of the metering device 19 and directed towards the inlet opening 40 a of the outlet pipe 40, the metering device 19 is substantially inaccessible in the event of any tampering attempt through the outlet opening 16 and the inlet opening 15 of the box-like body 11, if such a situation exists.

[0064] Indeed, due to the presence of the air inlet duct 25 and the mechanical filter spacer 27 on the one hand and the air outlet duct 40 and the flow deflection means 20 on the other hand, the metering device 19 is located substantially in the centre of a labyrinth of routes inaccessible to currently known invasive tools.

[0065] In the present example of embodiment, the air inlet duct 25 comprises a tubular element extending along the crossing direction X4 .

[0066] The traversing direction X4 is preferably parallel to the traversing direction X1 of the metering device 19 and to the traversing direction X2 of the outlet pipe 40 .

[0067] In the example of the current embodiment, the air outlet pipe 40 comprises:

[0068] An inlet section 40b, which in turn comprises the air inlet opening 40a.

[0069] - outlet section 40c,

[0070] A switching valve 18 , which is interposed between the inlet section 40 b and the outlet section 40 c .

[0071] The switching valve 18 is connected to the inlet section 40b and the outlet section 40c in a coaxial manner with both the inlet section 40b and the outlet section 40c.

[0072] The outlet section 40 c includes a sleeve which is positioned so that it passes through the gas outlet 16 and is connected to the second threaded connection element 24 .

[0073] The metering device 19 is, for example, a static type flow meter.

[0074] The metering device 19 may include

[0075] a conveying tube 30 designed to allow the passage of air flow, comprising an air inlet opening 19a and an air outlet opening 19b and having a real sensor arranged inside,

[0076] A shut-off protrusion 31 , which is located outside the delivery tube 30 and is designed to meet the air flow coming from the mesh portion 28 .

[0077] Said shut-off projection 31 is constituted, for example, by a flat element which extends from the conveying tube 30 according to a reference plane transverse to the flow direction of the gas flow.

[0078] In a variant embodiment of the invention, the metering device 19 comprises an electronic interface unit, external to the delivery tube 30 and configured such that it can receive the metering signal emitted by the sensor, transmit it to the remote control unit and power the sensor.

[0079] More specifically, in the example of the present embodiment of the gas meter 10 according to the invention, the metering device 19 is positioned in such a way that its traversal direction X1 is parallel to the traversal direction X2 of the gas outlet pipe 40 .

[0080] More specifically, the metering device 19 is positioned such that the air inlet opening 19 a is close to the top side 12 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0081] More specifically, the air inlet opening 19 a faces upward relative to the normal use configuration of the gas meter 10 .

[0082] Thus, relative to the normal configuration of use, the metering device 19 is positioned such that the air inlet opening 19 a faces the top side 12 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0083] Even more specifically, the metering device 19 is positioned in such a way that the shut-off protrusion 31 or the electronic interface unit is arranged above the mesh portion 28; in this way, the shut-off protrusion 31 helps to deflect the airflow, thereby causing any dust residues present in the airflow to accumulate on the surface of the shut-off protrusion 31 itself or on the surface of the housing that accommodates the electronic interface unit.

[0084] In this particular configuration of the gas meter 10 , the mechanical filter spacer 27 is interposed between the bottom side 13 and the gas inlet opening 19 a of the metering device 19 .

[0085] More specifically, the mechanical filter spacer 27 is interposed between the bottom side 13 and the housing of the electronic interface unit 31 housing the metering device 19 .

[0086] In the example of the present embodiment, the mechanical filter spacer 27 is provided with a peripheral sealing edge 65 which is configured in such a way as to contact and press against the inner surface of the box-shaped body 11, thereby ensuring tightness to prevent the passage of gas containing fine dust.

[0087] In the embodiment of the invention described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention itself, the device 20 is configured to deflect the air flow leaving the air outlet opening 19b of the metering device 19 towards the air inlet opening 40a of the air outlet pipe 40, and the device 20 comprises a hollow body 50, in which a deflection chamber 51 is defined.

[0088] In the example of the present embodiment, the hollow body 50 comprises:

[0089] an adapter ring 52 adapted to be connected to the gas outlet opening 19b of the metering device 19,

[0090] and the inlet section 40 b of the air outlet pipe 40 .

[0091] The coupling ring 52 and the inlet section 40 b are obviously open and communicate with the deflection chamber 51 .

[0092] In the example of the present embodiment, the hollow body 50 comprises a container 53 which is closed by a shaped cover 54 .

[0093] The engagement ring 52 and the inlet section 40 b are defined on a shaped cover 54 .

[0094] The container 53 has a first resting edge 55 on which a corresponding second resting edge 56 of the shaped lid 54 can rest.

[0095] The first resting edge 55 and the second resting edge 56 are sealed together, for example by means of a heat welding operation.

[0096] The hollow body 50 is located near the bottom side 13 of the box-shaped body 11 .

[0097] The metering device 19 , the air flow deflecting means 20 and the air outlet pipe 40 are connected to each other in such a way as to define a tight path configured to prevent the air flow that has been measured by the metering device 19 from leaking.

[0098] More specifically:

[0099] - the outlet opening 19b of the metering device 19 is connected to the connecting ring 52 of the hollow body 50, with at least one sealing ring 60 interposed therebetween;

[0100] - the inlet section 40b of the air outlet pipe 40 and the air inlet 18a of the switch valve 18 are connected together, with at least one sealing ring 61 interposed therebetween;

[0101] - The gas outlet 18b of the switch valve 18 is connected to the outlet section 40c, with at least one sealing ring 62 interposed therebetween;

[0102] The outlet section 40c and the second threaded connection element 24 are connected together with at least one sealing ring 63 interposed therebetween.

[0103] Due to the tight connection of this sequence, the measured gas flow out of the metering device 19 cannot return to the inner compartment of the box-like body 11 and cannot be measured again by mistake.

[0104] The mechanical filter spacer 27 extends from the hollow body 50 , and more specifically, it extends from the shaped cap 54 .

[0105] More specifically, the mechanical filter spacer 27 is formed integrally with the shaped cover 54 .

[0106] In the example of the present embodiment, the box-shaped body 11 comprises two half shells 11 a and 11 b which are welded together.

[0107] Figure 5A variant embodiment of a gas meter according to the invention is shown, indicated by reference numeral 110 .

[0108] In this variant embodiment, similar to what is described above with reference to the preferred embodiment, the gas meter 110 includes:

[0109] - Box 111,

[0110] An air inlet 115 and an air outlet 116 adapted to allow air flow and defined on the box-shaped body 111 .

[0111] The following elements are present in the box-shaped body 111:

[0112] A switch valve 118 adapted to intercept the gas flow through the gas meter 110,

[0113] a metering device 119 adapted to measure one or more parameters for determining the air flow;

[0114] The specific feature of the gas meter 110 according to the present invention is that it includes:

[0115] an air inlet duct 125 extending from the air inlet 115 towards the opposite side 113 of the box-shaped body 111,

[0116] an air outlet duct 140 extending between the air outlet 116 and the opposite side 113 of the box-shaped body 111,

[0117] The metering device 119 is located in the intermediate region between the inlet pipe 125 and the outlet pipe 140 .

[0118] In this variant embodiment, the switch valve 118 is placed at the height of the air inlet 115 of the box-shaped body 111 .

[0119] The switching valve 118 is a part of the intake pipe 125 .

[0120] Similar to what was described above with reference to filter element 17, a filter element 117 is provided.

[0121] In this variant embodiment, the air outlet duct 140 comprises a tubular element extending according to the crossing direction X2.

[0122] The switching valves 18 and 118 are to be understood as solenoid valves of known type or another similar and equivalent switching valve.

[0123] Figure 6 A further variant embodiment of a gas meter according to the present invention is shown, indicated by reference numeral 210 .

[0124] In this variant embodiment, similar to what is described above with reference to the preferred embodiment, the gas meter 210 includes:

[0125] - Box 211,

[0126] An air inlet 215 and an air outlet 216 suitable for allowing air flow and defined on the box-shaped body 211 .

[0127] There is a metering device 219 in the box-shaped body 211, which is suitable for measuring one or more parameters for determining the air flow.

[0128] The specific feature of the gas meter 210 according to the present invention is that it includes:

[0129] an air inlet duct 225 extending from the air inlet 215 towards the opposite side 213 of the box-shaped body 211,

[0130] an air outlet duct 240 extending between the air outlet 216 and the opposite side 213 of the box-shaped body 211,

[0131] The metering device 219 is located in the middle region between the inlet pipe 225 and the outlet pipe 240 .

[0132] In the variant embodiment, no switching valve is provided.

[0133] Similar to what was described above with reference to filter element 17, a filter element 217 is provided.

[0134] In this variant embodiment, the air inlet pipe 225 comprises a first tubular element, and the air outlet pipe 240 comprises a second tubular element.

[0135] It has thus been determined that the invention achieves the set aim and objects.

[0136] More specifically, the present invention provides a gas meter 10 which, compared to gas meters known from the prior art, is able to significantly reduce the risk of fraud due to tampering with the metering device 19 from the outside, for example in the event of an attempt to access the metering device through a connecting element using a tool designed to hinder the operation of a sensor present in the metering device.

[0137] Furthermore, since the filter element 17 comprises a dust deposition chamber 26, which is designed to block dust and is confined between the bottom side 13 of the box-shaped body 11 and the mechanical filter partition 27, the gas meter according to the present invention is constructed in this way to prevent dust present in the air flow from being transported by the main air flow to the metering device and even to the switch valve 18; in this way, the metering and functional performance of the valve can be guaranteed and kept constant over a period of time.

[0138] The filter system is constituted in such a way as to collect dust in a space located at the bottom of the flow meter and is peripherally defined by a sealing edge to prevent gas not filtered by the mesh portion 28 from flowing upward.

[0139] Moreover, in our case the total surface area of ​​the through openings of the mesh portion 28 has been dimensioned in an effort to determine the optimum balance between the filtering action exerted on the particles and minimizing the inherent flow resistance within the system, whereas in the known art the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the gas meter itself increases continuously during its service life due to the accumulation of particles on the filter.

[0140] Furthermore, in the gas meter according to the invention, once the compressed air flow has been filtered, it moves upwards towards the top of the box-shaped body 11, where there is an air inlet opening 19a of a metering device 19 for measuring the air flow; this position is relatively higher than the dust deposition chamber 26, so that during the upward flow of the gas, only the lighter particles reach the metering device 19, while the heavier particles fall towards the bottom of the meter or adhere to the sides of this position due to gravity or gravitational force; in this way, the metering device 19 and even more significantly the switch valve 18, which is the last element of the flow link of the gas before it leaves the gas meter 10, are protected from the fouling effect of the gas.

[0141] The invention is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications, all falling within the inventive concept presented herein; moreover, all the details and elements may be replaced by other technically equivalent details and elements.

[0142] In practice, any components and any materials may be used as long as they are compatible with the intended use, and likewise any sizes and shapes may be chosen according to requirements and the state of the art.

[0143] Where features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals, it must be understood that these reference numerals are merely for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the claims and therefore do not have any limiting effect on the function and meaning of any elements identified by the same reference numerals by way of example.

Claims

1. Gas meter (10), including: - a box-shaped body (11), said box-shaped body (11) comprising a top side (12), an opposite bottom side (13) and side walls (14), - an air inlet (15) and an air outlet (16), the air inlet (15) and the air outlet (16) being suitable for allowing air flow and being defined on the box-shaped body (11), the air inlet (15) and the air outlet (16) being defined on the top side (12), A metering device (19) is present in the box-shaped body (11), the metering device (19) being designed to measure one or more parameters for determining the air flow rate, the metering device (19) being provided with an air inlet opening (19a) and an air outlet opening (19b), Characterized in that the gas meter (10) comprises: - an air inlet duct (25) extending from the air inlet opening (15) towards the opposite bottom side (13) of the box-shaped body (11), - an air outlet pipe (40), the air outlet pipe extending in the vertical direction between the air outlet (16) and the opposite bottom side (13) of the box-shaped body (11) inside the box-shaped body, and the length of the air outlet pipe extending is a certain part of the length of the box-shaped body in the vertical direction, The metering device (19) is located in a middle area between the air inlet pipe (25) and the air outlet pipe (40). The metering device (19) is positioned so that the air inlet opening (19a) faces the top side (12) of the box-shaped body (11), The gas meter (10) further comprises a device (20) configured to deflect the air flow flowing out of the air outlet opening (19b) of the metering device (19) towards the air inlet opening (40a) of the air outlet pipe, thereby defining a close path between the metering device (19) and the air outlet pipe (40). The air inlet pipe (25) comprises a tubular element extending along a crossing direction (X4), wherein the crossing direction (X4) is parallel to a crossing direction (X1) of the metering device (19) and a crossing direction (X2) of the air outlet pipe (40). wherein the device (20) configured to deflect an air flow flowing out of the air outlet opening (19b) of the metering device (19) and directed in the direction of the air inlet opening (40a) of the air outlet pipe (40) defines a trajectory (X3), the trajectory (X3) comprising a deflection extending over a deflection angle (21), the deflection angle (21) being between a direction (X1) crossing the metering device (19) and a direction (X2) crossing the air outlet pipe (40), the deflection angle (21) being comprised between an interval between -15° and +15° relative to 90° and between 225°, The gas meter (10) further comprises a filter device (17) suitable for filtering air flow, the filter device (17) comprising: a dust deposition chamber (26), the dust deposition chamber (26) being defined between the bottom side (13) of the box-shaped body (11) and a mechanical filter spacer (27), the mechanical filter spacer (27) being interposed between the bottom side (13) and the top side (12), the air inlet pipe (25) extending from the air inlet port (15) of the box-shaped body (11) to the interior of the dust deposition chamber (26).

2. The gas meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device (20) is configured to deflect the air flow flowing out of the air outlet opening (19b) of the metering device (19) and directed in the direction of the air inlet opening (40a) of the air outlet pipe (40), comprising a hollow body (50) in which a deflection chamber (51) is defined, and the hollow body (50) comprises: - an adapter ring (52) adapted to be connected to the gas outlet opening (19b) of the metering device (19), - and an inlet section (40b) of the air outlet pipe (40).

3. The gas meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The deflection angle (21) is equal to 180°.

4. The gas meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas meter comprises a switch valve (18).

5. The gas meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metering device (19) is positioned such that the air inlet opening (40a) is placed close to the top side (12) of the box-shaped body (11).

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