Passive assembled external water meter box

Abstract

The application relates to a passive assembled external water meter box, and belongs to the technical field of buildings, which solves the problem that the water meter box and related equipment in the prior art are difficult to overcome different outdoor climate environments and day and night temperature differences. Specifically, the box body is arranged outdoors and is composed of a surrounding structure adopting passive building technology, the surrounding structure comprises various material layers and is assembled in an assembled mode; the material layers comprise a phase change heat storage layer which has the functions of heat preservation and energy storage; and the water meter equipment is fixed in the box body and is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet connected with an external water pipe to measure water flow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of building technology, and specifically relates to a passive prefabricated external water meter box. Background Technology

[0002] In modern times, water meters in water supply areas utilizing municipal pipe networks are managed by water companies. These meters are generally installed inside or outdoors. Indoor water meters present considerable difficulties in inspection and maintenance due to space and labor costs. Outdoor water meters, on the other hand, have different problems depending on their location.

[0003] In existing technologies, the installation of outdoor water meters faces different challenges due to varying environmental conditions in the north and south. In the north, low temperatures pose a freezing problem, typically requiring underground installation in meter wells. This increases both construction costs and complexity, and in the event of heavy rains, the meter wells could be flooded, leading to meter corrosion and water pollution. In the south, freezing is not an issue, and water meters are generally exposed outdoors. However, due to the humid climate, exposed meters lack protection and are prone to damage and corrosion from years of wind, sun, and moisture. Furthermore, significant diurnal temperature variations in some parts of my country cause expansion and contraction in water meter equipment, posing multifaceted challenges to its performance. Therefore, designing a water meter that can adapt to different outdoor climates and overcome diurnal temperature variations has become a pressing technical problem for those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on the above analysis, the present invention aims to provide a passive assembled external water meter box to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] The objective of this utility model is mainly achieved through the following technical solutions: This utility model provides a passive assembled external water meter box, including: The enclosure, located outdoors, is constructed using passive building technology. The enclosure comprises multiple material layers assembled in a prefabricated manner. The material layers include a phase change thermal storage layer employing passive PCM phase change thermal storage technology, which simultaneously provides insulation and energy storage. It absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, overcoming the temperature difference problem present in some parts of my country. Its automatic cycle eliminates the need for manual maintenance and requires no additional energy. The water meter, fixed inside the enclosure, has inlet and outlet ports for connecting to external water pipes to measure water flow.

[0006] Furthermore, the material layer also includes a decorative and solar energy absorption layer, which is set on the outer surface of the heat storage layer. It adopts selective absorption coatings such as aluminum alloy outer plate with blue film, aluminum-nickel coating, titanium-aluminum coating, or black heat-absorbing coating to absorb heat and store it in the heat storage layer.

[0007] Furthermore, the material layer also includes a waterproof layer and a fireproof layer that also serve as the inner base layer, which are sequentially arranged on the inner surface of the heat storage layer to form the main skeleton of the box and play a role in waterproofing and fire prevention, preventing moisture or spontaneous combustion caused by severe weather. The fireproof layer also serves as the decorative base layer on the inside of the water meter box, supporting the material layer structure.

[0008] Furthermore, a base is provided on the outer side of the bottom of the box. From the connection point with the box to the bottom, the base includes a reinforced concrete base plate, a concrete pad, and a crushed stone pad in sequence. This base is used to effectively isolate external moisture and prevent frost heave, while also serving as the core for load-bearing and providing a stable working surface for the water meter box.

[0009] Furthermore, an installation through hole is provided at the bottom of the box, through which a concrete valve base is installed to support the water meter device and keep it away from the bottom plate of the box, so as to prevent moisture and water accumulation inside the box from affecting the normal operation of the water meter.

[0010] Furthermore, the water meter equipment is equipped with expansion joints to compensate for the displacement stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction or foundation settlement.

[0011] Furthermore, the enclosure structure of the enclosure has an openable structure, which facilitates the replacement and maintenance of the water meter equipment.

[0012] Furthermore, the outer surface of the openable structure of the box is provided with a grip and a locking mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, drainage holes are provided on the enclosure structure of the container to drain water accumulated inside the container.

[0014] Furthermore, the top of the container is slightly sloping to prevent rainwater from accumulating.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve at least the following beneficial effects: This invention provides an external water meter box and related structure that can adapt to different outdoor climates and overcome the problem of diurnal temperature differences in some parts of my country. It adopts passive phase change heat storage technology, which requires no manual maintenance and no excess energy consumption. It passively and automatically circulates every day, and the long-term use requirements of the water meter box can be met solely by the material properties. By adopting a prefabricated structure, this invention has many advantages such as fast installation, low engineering cost, reduced production cost, and easy recycling and maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the base and water meter device of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the specific layering of the building envelope material.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the entire view.

[0021] Figure 5 This is an overall perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Housing; 101. First mounting hole; 102. Second mounting hole; 2. Enclosure structure; 201. Upper and side enclosure structure; 202. Bottom enclosure structure; 203. Openable structure; 3. Material layers; 301. Phase change heat storage layer; 302. Finishing and solar energy adsorption layer; 303. Waterproof layer; 304. Fireproof layer and internal base layer; 4. Water meter equipment; 401. Water supply pipe; 402. Expansion joint; 403. Water meter; 404. Butterfly valve; 405. Backflow preventer; 5. Base; 501. Reinforced concrete base plate; 502. Concrete cushion layer; 503. Crushed stone cushion layer. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the implementation methods and features in the implementation methods in this disclosure can be combined, separated, interchanged, and / or rearranged. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions and relative dimensions of components may be exaggerated for clarity and / or descriptive purposes. When exemplary embodiments can be implemented differently, a specific process sequence may be performed in a different order than that described. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order of their description. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same components.

[0025] When a component is referred to as being "on" or "above" another component, "connected to," or "joined to" another component, the component may be directly on, directly connected to, or directly joined to the other component, or there may be intermediate components. However, when a component is referred to as being "directly on" another component, "directly connected to," or "directly joined to" another component, there are no intermediate components. Therefore, the term "connection" can refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection, etc., and may or may not have intermediate components.

[0026] For descriptive purposes, this disclosure may use spatial relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “below,” “under,” “under,” “below,” “above,” “above,” “higher,” etc., which are relative to components, to describe the relationship between one component and another (other) component as shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well. Furthermore, when the terms “comprising” and / or “including” and variations thereof are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or groups thereof, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or groups thereof. It should also be noted that, as used herein, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms are used as approximate terms rather than as terms of degree, thus explaining the inherent biases in measurements, calculated values, and / or provided values ​​that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0028] A specific embodiment of this utility model discloses a passive assembled water meter box, comprising: The housing 1 has an openable structure 203 at one end, and a plurality of first mounting holes 101 for installing water supply pipes 401 and a second mounting hole 102 for installing base brackets at the other end, which is fixed to the installation plane or foundation direction.

[0029] It should be noted that the water meter box involved in this utility model is mainly installed outdoors. Depending on the specific environment, rainfall and other external factors, the water meter box can be installed on the ground or underground.

[0030] It should be noted that the first mounting hole 101 for installing the water supply pipe 401 can also be opened on the side wall of the box 1. In this case, the water supply pipe is also introduced into the box 1 from the side wall.

[0031] In this embodiment of the utility model, the water meter box adopts passive temperature protection and prefabricated assembly construction technology. Specifically, the water meter box body 1 is composed of an enclosure structure 2 using prefabricated assembly construction technology, including an upper and side enclosure structure 201 that serves as the main body of the water meter box body 1; and a bottom enclosure structure 202.

[0032] Furthermore, the upper and side enclosure structures 201 and the bottom enclosure structure 202 are both composed of multiple layers of different materials 3 to achieve composite functions. In this embodiment, the multiple material layers 3 are assembled and combined by a steel keel frame fixedly installed inside the enclosure structure. Compared with the traditional integrated water meter box, the assembled water meter box can not only freely achieve functional composite to meet different usage requirements in different environments, but also has many advantages such as fast installation, low engineering cost, reduced production cost, and easy recycling and maintenance.

[0033] Specifically, the material layer 3 includes a phase change heat storage layer 301, which is made of high heat storage foamed concrete insulation board, polyurethane composite phase change material, or polyurethane phase change foam. It adopts PCM phase change heat storage technology, which enables the phase change heat storage layer 301 to absorb heat during the day and release heat at night, thereby effectively ensuring that the temperature inside the box 1 is always maintained at the expected stable level. This avoids material fatigue caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the water meter device 4 due to the temperature difference between day and night, which could eventually lead to cracking and damage. Moreover, this process is passively and automatically repeated every day without human maintenance or additional energy consumption. The long-term use requirements of the water meter box can be met solely by the material properties, so it can be installed in remote areas.

[0034] Furthermore, the phase change heat storage layer 301 is embedded with a steel keel frame to serve as the frame of the entire box 1, fixing and shaping the phase change heat storage layer 301 to prevent it from falling off or easily deforming due to external forces.

[0035] This utility model embodiment also includes: a water meter device 4, which is fixed inside the water meter box 1 and is provided with a water supply pipe 401 for connecting to an external water pipe to measure the water flow. Specifically, a water meter 403 and a valve are also provided between the water inlet and the water outlet of the water meter device.

[0036] Preferably, the water meter 403 used in the water meter equipment is a remote water meter to realize remote automatic meter reading, saving manpower and investment costs; and it is easy to install, and can automatically report remotely if a fault occurs, reducing inspection and maintenance costs.

[0037] Preferably, the diameter of the water supply pipe 401 is between 15 mm and 20 mm of nominal diameter, ensuring that the normal flow rate of the water meter 403 is greater than the maximum instantaneous flow rate of the water supply pipe 401.

[0038] Furthermore, water supply pipe 401 can be made of various materials such as stainless steel pipe, copper pipe, plastic water supply pipe and metal-plastic composite pipe. The specific material to be used depends on the environment and budget.

[0039] Preferably, the water meter device 4 also includes valves, specifically a butterfly valve 404 for controlling the opening and closing of the pipeline, a backflow preventer 405 for preventing water flow in the pipeline from flowing backward, and an expansion joint 402 for absorbing and compensating for displacement and stress caused by possible thermal expansion and contraction, vibration or settlement of the pipeline.

[0040] Specifically, in this embodiment, the backflow preventer 405 is a check valve. When the water flows in the preset correct direction, the water pressure will open the valve disc inside the valve, allowing the water to pass smoothly. When the water tries to flow in the opposite direction, the valve disc will automatically close under the action of reverse water pressure, its own weight, and spring force, thereby forming a seal to effectively prevent backflow.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the expansion joint 402 is a connector made of flexible materials such as rubber or metal. It is located in the center of the water supply pipe 401 and can extend and retract to connect the two ends of the water supply pipe 401. It is used to compensate for at least one of the axial displacement, lateral displacement and angular displacement generated between the two ends of the connected water supply pipe, and plays a buffering role for the water supply pipe 401. It absorbs and compensates for the displacement and stress caused by possible thermal expansion and contraction, vibration or settlement of the water supply pipe 401, improves the overall stability and material strength, and this setting can significantly isolate and attenuate the transmitted vibration and structural noise, and improve the system's operational stability.

[0042] It should be noted that the use of expansion joint 402 allows for a certain degree of alignment error in the pipe connection structure, which reduces the installation accuracy requirements, simplifies the construction process, and can significantly extend the service life of the pipeline system and related equipment.

[0043] In this embodiment, the material layer 3 also includes a decorative and solar energy adsorption layer 302, which is disposed on the outer surface of the phase change heat storage layer 301. The material is an aluminum alloy outer plate with a blue film or other selective absorption coating. In some other embodiments, an aluminum-nickel coating, a titanium-aluminum coating or other black heat-absorbing coatings can also be used to absorb heat. By covering the phase change heat storage layer 301 with the decorative and solar energy adsorption layer 302, on the one hand, it can prevent the external environment from directly causing wear and damage to the phase change heat storage layer 301; on the other hand, it can enhance the heat absorption function during the day, further realizing the heat storage performance of the phase change heat storage layer 301 during the heat absorption period.

[0044] In this embodiment, the material layer also includes a waterproof layer 303, which is disposed on the inner surface of the phase change heat storage layer 301. The material is mainly polyurethane waterproof coating or polymer waterproof mortar and other waterproof coatings. It is mainly used to prevent external dew and rainwater from corroding the water meter equipment 4 inside the box 1 and to prevent ground moisture from penetrating the water meter box.

[0045] In this embodiment, the material layer 3 also includes a fireproof layer and an inner base layer 304, which is set in the innermost layer of the enclosure structure 2. The material mainly uses fireproof gypsum or high-density calcium silicate and other fireproof materials as fireproof boards. It is mainly used to isolate high temperature and prevent combustion, preventing spontaneous combustion or ignition inside the box 1. At the same time, its sturdy material selection also enables it to play the role of the inner base layer of the enclosure structure.

[0046] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the enclosure structure 2 of the box 1 includes an upper and side enclosure structure 201 and a bottom enclosure structure 202. Due to their different functions and direct contact with the external environment, the specific material layer structure composition order is also different.

[0047] Specifically, in this embodiment, the material layers of the upper and side enclosure structure 201 from the outside of the box to the inside of the box are in the following order: decorative layer and solar energy adsorption layer 302, phase change heat storage layer 301, waterproof layer 303, and fireproof layer and internal base layer 304.

[0048] Furthermore, the bottom enclosure structure 202 consists of the following material layers from the inside of the enclosure to the outside: a fireproof layer / internal base layer 304, a waterproof layer 303, a phase change heat storage layer 301, and another waterproof layer 303. Since the bottom enclosure structure 202 is mainly used to contact the base 5, it does not need the heat absorption function of the finishing layer / solar adsorption layer 302. The phase change heat storage layer 301 is mainly set to prevent heat from escaping from the bottom of the enclosure. At the same time, two waterproof layers 303 are set inside and outside the phase change heat storage layer 301 to enhance the isolation and prevention of rainwater, dew, and ground moisture.

[0049] In this embodiment, a base 5 is provided on the outer side of the bottom of the box 1 to support the box 1 and prevent the box 1 from directly contacting the ground, so that harsh environments such as rain and water accumulation will affect the internal function of the box.

[0050] Specifically, the base 5 comprises multiple layers, which, from the connection of the box 1 towards the ground surface, sequentially include a reinforced concrete base plate 501 responsible for core load-bearing and structural integrity, a concrete pad 502 that ensures the box is level and provides a horizontal installation surface for the superstructure, and a gravel pad 503 for drainage and buffering, while also preventing the water meter equipment 4 inside the box 1 from freezing and expanding.

[0051] Furthermore, a second through mounting hole 102 is provided at the bottom of the water meter box 1, through which a concrete valve base is installed. Its main purpose is to support the water meter device 4 inside the box 1, and in extreme environments where water has already penetrated into the box, to support the water meter device 4 and keep it away from the bottom plate of the box 1, so as to minimize the impact of water accumulation and moisture on the water meter device.

[0052] It should be noted that the concrete valve base can be directly connected to the reinforced concrete base plate 501 of the base 5. Its through structure can make the connection between the box 1 and the base 5 tighter, and at the same time reduce the cost required for production and installation.

[0053] Furthermore, the enclosure structure 2 of the housing 1 is provided with an openable structure 203, which in this embodiment is a double-leaf openable fan-shaped sliding door opened on the upper enclosure structure, which is conducive to the replacement and maintenance of the water meter equipment 4.

[0054] It should be noted that the openable structure 203 can also be installed in the side enclosure structure or even the bottom enclosure structure to adapt to different scenarios and application conditions, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0055] Furthermore, the outer surface of the openable structure 203 is provided with a gripping part 204 and a locking member 205, which facilitates opening while ensuring that the openable structure 203 will not open by itself when maintenance is not required.

[0056] In this embodiment, the enclosure structure 2 of the box 1 is provided with drainage holes to drain water accumulated inside the box.

[0057] In this embodiment, the top of the box 1 is slightly sloping to prevent rainwater from accumulating.

[0058] In another embodiment of this utility model, suitable for installation adjacent to a building, the lower part is a base 5, and the upper part is a box 1. A water supply pipe 401 is buried underground from the municipal pipeline to the base 5 and directly below the box 1. The base 5 has corresponding reserved openings to accommodate the water pipes. The pipes are introduced into the equipment room from the openings. A horizontal pipe is installed inside the box 1, with a water meter installed on it, before turning into the side wall and connecting to the interior, or turning underground to connect to the building's basement. The base 5 is made of concrete, which has strong waterproofing, stability, and durability. The outer wall of the base 5 is equipped with an openable inspection door, a locking mechanism, and a grip. The top of the box is designed as a single-slope roof to facilitate timely rainwater drainage and prevent snow or freezing. This specific embodiment is more suitable for installation adjacent to the side wall of a building, offering flexibility and convenience. Multiple water supply pipes and water meters can be installed inside the box, facilitating unified management and improving the problem of excessive water wells in existing technologies within residential areas.

[0059] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A passive, assembled external water meter box, characterized in that, include: The box (1) is set outdoors and is composed of an enclosure structure (2) using passive building technology. The enclosure structure (2) includes multiple material layers (3) and is assembled using a prefabricated method. The material layer (3) includes a phase change heat storage layer (301), which has both heat preservation and energy storage functions; The water meter device (4) is fixed inside the box (1) and is equipped with a water supply pipe (401) for connecting to an external water pipe to measure the water flow.

2. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material layer (3) also includes a decorative and solar energy adsorption layer (302), which is disposed on the outer surface of the phase change heat storage layer (301) for absorbing heat.

3. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material layer (3) also includes a waterproof layer (303) and a fireproof layer that also serves as an inner base layer (304), which are sequentially disposed on the inner surface of the phase change heat storage layer (301). The waterproof layer (303) is made of waterproof coating, and the fireproof layer that also serves as an inner base layer is made of fireproof board, so as to meet the fire resistance requirements and also serve as the decorative base layer inside the water meter box.

4. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom outer side of the box (1) is provided with a base (5), and the base (5) includes a reinforced concrete base plate (501), a concrete cushion layer (502) and a crushed stone cushion layer (503) in sequence from the connection with the box (1) to the bottom.

5. The external water meter box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom of the box (1) is provided with a second mounting hole (102). A concrete valve base is provided through the second mounting hole (102) from the reinforced concrete base plate (501) to support the water meter device (4) and keep it away from the base plate of the box (1).

6. The external water meter box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water meter device (4) is equipped with an expansion joint (402) to compensate for the displacement stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction or foundation settlement of the water meter device (4).

7. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The enclosure structure (2) has an openable structure (203) which facilitates the replacement and maintenance of the water meter equipment (4).

8. The external water meter box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer surface of the openable structure (203) is provided with a grip (204) and a locking member (205).

9. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The enclosure structure (2) is provided with drainage holes (206) to drain water accumulated inside the box (1).

10. The external water meter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the box (1) is slightly sloping to prevent rainwater from accumulating.

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