Mounting kit for water distribution network user meter equipment, mounting rail

Abstract

"Assembly for mounting a water distribution network user metering equipment, mounting rail" The assembly comprises a mounting rail (1) and metering equipment comprising at least one water meter (4), a pre-meter shut-off valve (20), a post-meter member (3), the metering equipment being mounted in an adjustable manner and removably fixed on the rail by means of the shut-off valve and the post-meter member, the rail resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material comprises raised end fixing supports (11a, 11b), slidably receiving, for fixing, the shut-off valve and the post-meter member, at least one locking device (12, 17) being arranged between at least one of the two fixing supports (11a) and the shut-off valve (20) or the member (3). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly for mounting a water distribution network user meter equipment, mounting rail Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of water distribution installations and more particularly to the measurement of water consumption by network users. It relates to a mounting assembly for water distribution network user meter equipment and a mounting rail for the meter equipment. The water is typically drinking water but the mounting assembly can be used with another type of water. The water is typically cold / room temperature water but the mounting assembly can be used with hot water or, in a particular case, with chilled water. Technological background

[0002] Systems using mounting rails are known in the field of installing water consumption meters. In particular, the following documents are known: EP 2 003 255 A1 for “Rail for fixing a water metering assembly”, DE 197 16 165 A1, DE 734 050 C, CN219656951 U and CN219798449 U.

[0003] The known systems have certain disadvantages listed below.

[0004] The assembly of rails generally proves to be difficult, long, tedious and uncomfortable, in particular because of the weight of the elements handled, the gestures and postures required, in particular when the installation is carried out in a "niche" in a manhole or a box or when the meter environment is particularly cluttered.

[0005] The rails and meter valves are not optimized with regard to storage and transport, which creates logistical problems and environmental impacts.

[0006] The most common rails require the addition of sliding sleeves or even extensions or adapter fittings to allow adjustment to the variable lengths of the meters, the DN15 models existing in lengths L 80, 105, 110, 115, 165, 170 mm in particular.

[0007] The installation of the most common rails and taps made of metal, stainless steel, brass, etc., exposes you to risks of injury, e.g. cuts, shocks and even musculoskeletal disorders.

[0008] Rails made of metallic materials are not very tolerant of tensile and bending-rotation stresses and are exposed to corrosion, e.g. galvanic.

[0009] The opening and / or closing operations of the taps are potentially subject to blockages due to possible detachment torques to be overcome, which may possibly can lead to deformation or breakage with some traditional brass faucets.

[0010] The present invention proposes a solution that simplifies the installation of metering equipment and, in addition, makes it immune to the risks of corrosion compared to traditional solutions using metal devices. In addition, the proposed solution allows simplified disassembly and replacement of the metering equipment. Statement of the invention

[0011] Within the scope of the invention, a mounting assembly for user meter equipment for a water distribution network is proposed, the assembly comprising a mounting rail and meter equipment, the meter equipment being elongated longitudinally between two opposite ends and comprising at least one water meter, a pre-meter shut-off valve, a post-meter member and at its upstream end a water connection system on the distribution network side and at its downstream end a water connection system on the user side, the meter equipment being mounted in an adjustable manner and fixed in a removable manner on the mounting rail by means of the pre-meter shut-off valve and the post-meter member,

[0012] the mounting rail resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material comprising a body elongated longitudinally between two upstream and downstream ends, an upper face, a lower face and two longitudinal lateral edges, the two ends of the mounting rail comprising respective fixing supports, the two fixing supports being raised relative to the middle part of the body of the mounting rail and receiving for fixing the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member,

[0013] the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member of the meter equipment being respectively mounted in the fixing supports on the side of the upper face of said two fixing supports, by longitudinal sliding,

[0014] the two fixing supports, on the one hand, and the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member, on the other hand, comprising complementary forms of longitudinal sliding guidance and retention allowing the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member to be held in the two fixing supports with the exception of the possibility of sliding,

[0015] at least one locking device being further arranged between at least one of the two fixing supports and the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member in order to lock in fixed position the pre-meter stopcock and / or the post-meter member having been mounted by sliding in the support(s) of fixing, the / each locking device being removable in order to allow the pre-meter stopcock and / or the post-meter device to be unlocked and to allow its / their sliding for disassembly from the mounting rail.

[0016] Other advantageous characteristics of the mounting assembly according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are the following:

[0017] - the composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material is a syn material composite material, the synthetic material being a plastic material made from polymer(s),

[0018] - the complementary forms of longitudinal sliding guidance and retention are of the groove or groove type, on the one hand, and tenon or tongue type, on the other hand,

[0019] - the locking device between the two parts which are the fixing support and the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member consists, on the one hand, of an elastic arm terminated at its free end by a projecting finger and on the other hand, of a hollow housing, the finger naturally fitting into the hollow housing to lock the two parts together,

[0020] - preferably, the elastic arms are arranged on the mounting rail and the housing hollow is arranged in the pre-meter stopcock and / or the post-meter device,

[0021] - unlocking corresponds to a voluntary action on the elastic arm in order to remove the finger from the hollow housing,

[0022] - the recessed housing is arranged in the mounting rail and the elastic arm is arranged on the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter device,

[0023] - in the locking device, the pre-meter stopcock or the member after-meter has a single hollow housing,

[0024] - in the locking device, the pre-meter stopcock or the member after-meter has several recessed housings to allow a choice in locked position,

[0025] - in the locking device, the mounting rail has a single housing in hollow,

[0026] - in the locking device, the mounting rail has several housings hollow to allow a choice in locked position,

[0027] - in the locking device, in the case of several hollow housings, said hollow housings are arranged in the form of a rack,

[0028] - the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member is not limited and the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter device can be inserted on one side of their fixing support and come out on the other side after sliding,

[0029] - the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member is limited by at least one sliding stop,

[0030] - said at least one sliding stop is arranged on the front stopcock- meter and / or the after-meter organ,

[0031] - said at least one sliding stop is arranged on the fixing support,

[0032] - the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member is carried out from the middle part of the mounting rail towards the respective upstream or downstream end of the mounting rail, at least one sliding stop being arranged on the upstream and downstream end side of the mounting rail on the fixing supports,

[0033] - the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member is carried out from the respective upstream or downstream end of the mounting rail towards the middle part of the mounting rail, at least one sliding stop being arranged on the fixing support on the middle part side,

[0034] - the upstream water connection system on the distribution network side is arranged on the pre-meter stopcock,

[0035] - the downstream water connection system on the user side is arranged on the after- counter,

[0036] - the upstream water connection system on the distribution network side is arranged on the pre-meter stopcock, the downstream water connection system on the user side is arranged on the post-meter component, and in which the upstream and downstream water connection systems of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter component mounted extend longitudinally beyond the two support ends and therefore the mounting rail,

[0037] - in the mounting rail, the levels of the two fixing brackets are at the same general height, laterally and above the level of the middle part,

[0038] - in the mounting rail, the two fixing brackets form two trays elongated longitudinally,

[0039] - in the mounting rail, the middle part forms an elongated longitudinal plate finally,

[0040] - in the mounting rail, the plates of the two fixing brackets are in a same plan,

[0041] - in the mounting rail, the plates of the two fixing supports, on the one hand, and the middle part, on the other hand, are in planes parallel to each other,

[0042] - the longitudinal sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the after-meter member counter during assembly or disassembly is carried out in a direction parallel to the general longitudinal extension of the mounting rail,

[0043] - the longitudinal sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and the after-meter member counter during assembly or disassembly is carried out in a longitudinal direction- longitudinal and parallel to the plane carrying the two longitudinally elongated plates formed by the two fixing supports,

[0044] - the after-meter member is chosen from a tap, a bleeder, a check valve return, an extension with non-return insert, a non-return valve with bleeder(s), a bleeder valve, a non-return valve valve, a bleeder valve(s) and non-return valve,

[0045] - the valve of the after-meter organ is a stop valve,

[0046] - the mounting rail is one-piece,

[0047] - the mounting rail has reinforcing ribs,

[0048] - the mounting rail has reinforcing overthicknesses,

[0049] - the mounting rail resulting from a molding of a thermoplastic or thermoplastic material composite modurcissable is made of PA6, filled with 30% by mass of glass fiber or of PA6.6 (ie “NYLON”), filled with 30% by mass of glass fiber or of PA6.6 (ie “NYLON”), filled with 50% by mass of glass fiber,

[0050] - preferably, the mounting rail resulting from a molding of a thermo material plastic or thermosetting composite is made of PA6, loaded with 30% by mass of glass fiber,

[0051] - the pre-meter stopcock contains metal,

[0052] - the after-meter organ comprises metal,

[0053] - the pre-meter stopcock comprises a thermoplastic or thermo material composite curable,

[0054] - the after-meter member comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset material composite cissable,

[0055] - the pre-meter stopcock is entirely made with one or more thermoplastic or thermosetting materials including composite,

[0056] - the after-meter organ is entirely made with one or more thermal materials- thermoplastic(s) or thermosetting(s) including composite,

[0057] - the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member is obtained by as assembly and joining of different molded parts,

[0058] - the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member comprises a two-part body frame welded together by ultrasound,

[0059] - the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member comprise parts external parts resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material, said external parts comprising the longitudinal sliding guide and retaining shapes complementary to those of the two fixing supports,

[0060] - the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member have parts external parts resulting from molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material is made of PA6.6 loaded with 50% by mass of glass fiber,

[0061] - preferably, the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member have external parts resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material is made of modified PA6.6 loaded with 50% by mass of glass fiber,

[0062] - the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member comprises a body metallic and an overshell made of thermoplastic or thermosetting material, preferably composite, which is installed around the metallic body of the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member and is secured to it, said overshell being configured to be mounted and fixed on the fixing support of the mounting rail by sliding,

[0063] - the over-shell is in several parts and said parts are clipped together around the metal body of the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter component,

[0064] - the over-shell is in several parts and the parts are clipped together and onto the metal body of the pre-meter stopcock or of the post-meter member,

[0065] - the over-shell is over-molded onto the metal body of the pre-meter stopcock meter or post-meter organ.

[0066] The invention also relates to a mounting rail specially configured for the mounting assembly of a user meter equipment for a water distribution network of the invention. The mounting rail can be declined according to all the embodiments described and according to all the technically possible combinations of these embodiments.

[0067] The invention also relates to a pre-meter stopcock or a post-meter member specially configured to be fixed on the mounting rail of the mounting assembly of a user meter equipment for a water distribution network of the invention, the pre-meter stopcock and post-meter member comprising tenons or tabs intended to slide in the grooves or grooves of the mounting supports of the mounting rail during the longitudinal sliding mounting of said pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member on the mounting rail and resulting in the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member being held in the two mounting supports with the exception of the sliding possibility, and the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member comprise external parts resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material,said external parts comprising the tenons or tabs.

[0068] In an advantageous embodiment, the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member are entirely made of molded synthetic material.

[0069] In a variant of the pre-meter stopcocks or the post-meter member made entirely of molded synthetic material, the invention relates to a stopcock before-meter or a post-meter member specially configured for a mounting assembly of user meter equipment for a water distribution network of the invention described. Preferably, the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member have external parts resulting from a molding of a thermoplastic or thermosetting composite material in modified PA6.6 loaded with 50% by mass of glass fiber. In addition, the pre-meter stopcock or the post-meter member can be declined according to all the embodiments described and according to all the technically possible combinations of these embodiments.

[0070] The invention also relates to a kit intended to allow the mounting of user meter equipment for a water distribution network, said kit comprising a mounting rail and meter equipment, the meter equipment being elongated longitudinally between two opposite ends and comprising at least one water meter, a pre-meter shut-off valve, a post-meter member as well as at its ends, an upstream water connection system on the distribution network side and a downstream water connection system on the user side, the meter equipment being mounted in an adjustable manner and fixed in a removable manner on the mounting rail by means of the pre-meter shut-off valve and the post-meter member, in the kit the mounting rail and the meter equipment are configured according to one or more of the compatible implementation variants described within the scope of the claimed invention.

[0071] In a particular kit embodiment, the invention proposes a pre-assembled kit with a reserved meter position. In this latter embodiment, the kit comprises a mounting rail, a pre-meter shut-off valve, a post-meter member which is preferably a non-return valve with bleeders and a water connection spacer between the pre-meter shut-off valve and the post-meter member, these elements being mounted / installed on the mounting rail. Thus, it is possible to carry out a water purge during connection to the distribution network and the subsequent installation of a meter by replacing the spacer with a meter.

[0072] Finally, within the scope of the invention, the water meter can be replaced by a water pressure limiter or regulator. Thus, in the assembly, the meter equipment is replaced by water pressure limiter or regulator equipment for a water distribution network, and in the limiter or regulator equipment there is, in addition to the limiter or regulator, an upstream stopcock which corresponds to a pre-meter stopcock and a downstream member which corresponds to the post-meter member. Brief description of the drawings

[0073] [Fig. 1] represents a plan of a mounting rail according to the invention in top view,

[0074] [Fig. 1 AA] represents a vertical longitudinal couple of the mounting rail of [Fig.l] according to AA,

[0075] [Fig. IBB] represents a cross-section of the upstream fixing support of the mounting rail of [Fig.l], the marks of the section BB being represented on [Fig.lAA],

[0076] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a metering equipment being mounted on a mounting rail, the metering equipment comprising a pre-meter shut-off valve, a meter and a post-meter member,

[0077] [Fig.3] represents a side view of the metering equipment shown in [Fig.2] but here mounted and fixed on the mounting rail, the latter being seen in vertical longitudinal section,

[0078] [Fig.4] represents a post-meter member which is a straight non-return valve with two bleeders, one before the valve, the other after the valve,

[0079] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of a simple pre-meter stopcock,

[0080] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of a pre-meter shut-off valve with worm rusting as well as the key control device allowing its locking and unlocking,

[0081] [Fig.7] represents an exploded view of a simple pre-meter stopcock,

[0082] [Fig.8] represents a perspective view of a mounting rail,

[0083] [Fig.9] represents an example of a synthetic tubular extension,

[0084] [Fig. 10] shows a perspective view of the quarter-turn ball control part which is a single-piece, non-welded ball-axis element, and

[0085] [Fig. 11] represents a top view of the single-piece sphere-axis element. Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

[0086] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented.

[0087] Thanks to the invention, the storage of the elements necessary for the installation of a water meter, in particular the mounting rails and the valves, is simplified, the valves within the meter equipment to be installed comprising a stopcock before the meter and a member after the meter (in the context of the invention the term valves can cover both a tap and a non-return valve or a bleeder). The mounting rails and the valves are easily storable and transportable, in particular thanks to their configurations. In particular, the mounting rail of the invention allows optimal stacking minimizing the space required during storage and transport. The same applies to the specific valves made of synthetic materials.

[0088] The invention is applicable to any type of water meter, for example water meters of mechanical, speed, jet, ultrasonic, electro- measurement technologies. genetics...

[0089] Furthermore, thanks to the invention, the mounting of the elements is easy, quick and effortless. The mounting rail is easily installed and the adjustment of the elements between them is easy both longitudinally and angularly. Indeed, the mounting on the rail of the pre-meter and post-meter elements is carried out by sliding / guided translation using flat slides. The sliding is further limited in distance by sliding stops for the end of travel. Finally, the blocking / locking of the pre-meter and / or post-meter element(s) in a fixed position on the mounting rail is obtained by arms / elastic blades / spring preferably integrated into the mounting rail. In the example shown, on the upstream / pre-meter side, a clip-type locking is implemented and on the downstream / post-meter side, a friction tightening is implemented.

[0090] In particular, the mounting of the metering equipment on the mounting rail, the metering equipment typically comprising a pre-meter shut-off valve, a meter and a post-meter member, e.g. a valve or a non-return valve with bleeders, does not require tools and can be carried out in a confined environment. Any necessary tool may for example be pliers, a flat spanner, an adjustable spanner or a wrench for connecting and tightening the water pipes of the upstream inlet and the downstream outlet on the two ends of the metering equipment. The tightening of the water connections of the elements of the metering equipment between them is preferably manual but it is however possible to provide for the use of pliers, a flat spanner, an adjustable spanner or a wrench for this.

[0091] Furthermore, it is possible and advantageous to implement within the meter equipment which is installed a custom-made pre-meter stopcock and a post-meter member, having in particular a flat base and a given thickness, each presenting particular advantages such as the imperdability of their components and the possibility of integrating anti-fraud devices, and which is / are made of synthetic materials, making them insensitive to the various corrosion phenomena characteristic of metallic materials.

[0092] An additional advantage of using synthetic materials is the galvanic isolation (excluding water) between the upstream networks, i.e. before the meter and downstream, i.e. after the meter. Finally, elements made of synthetic materials have a certain robustness with respect to various and multiple constraints and handling due to a certain flexibility and they tolerate deformations better than metals which can be brittle or undergo permanent deformations under stress.

[0093] Furthermore, the invention is particularly interesting in that it can be adapted to the installation of known meters in general use for the distribution of water. in private homes. In particular, in the example shown, the mounting rail allows the installation of standard DN15 L110 meters for drinking water.

[0094] The mounting rail 1 of the invention is specifically shown in Figures 1, 1AA, 1BB and 8. The mounting rail 1 is a single-piece, longitudinally elongated element comprising a middle portion 10 between two end fixing supports 11a, 11b, an upstream fixing support 11a intended to be installed on the water inlet side (i.e. distribution network side) and a downstream fixing support 11b intended to be installed on the user / user side. The two fixing supports 11a, 11b are intended to receive and fix respectively upstream equipment 2 for upstream water connection 5, typically a stopcock 20 before the meter 4 and a member 3 after the meter for downstream water connection 6, e.g. a tap 30 or a non-return valve with bleeders 30'. Please note that the 30 post-meter tap may or may not include one or more bleeders and / or a non-return valve.

[0095] The middle part 10 and the two fixing supports 11a, 11b each form respective plates, the middle part 10 being lower than the two fixing supports 11a, 11b which are both at the same height. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the middle part and the two fixing supports are at the same height and in this case it is advantageous to provide a configuration of the two fixing supports for a higher fixing (i.e. further from the mounting rail) of the stopcock 20 before the meter and the member after the meter.

[0096] The mounting rail 1 is synthetic and in the example given, the mounting rail is obtained by molding a thermoplastic material which is PA6 30% FV, i.e. PA6 loaded with 30% by mass of glass fiber.

[0097] The mounting rail 1 is a single-piece / one-piece structure and includes reinforcements, in particular transverse, longitudinal and oblique ribs, essentially on the lower face of the mounting rail, which gives it high rigidity and resistance to multiple handling, for 10 to 25 years and with circulation of pressurized drinking water which may contain various disinfection products, e.g. based on chlorine, ozone, etc., as well as insensitivity to corrosion compared to metals (stainless steel rails; taps and fittings made of dezincifiable brass) usually used in this type of application, all of this at a moderate cost.

[0098] Furthermore, thanks to the molding, the mounting rail 1 can have useful indications on the surface which are in relief and which will therefore also withstand the time and the constraints of use of the mounting rail. As an example of relief marking, the DN (nominal diameter) for the installable meter equipment and the direction of water flow can be indicated on the mounting rail 1 by an arrow-type marking.

[0099] The mounting rail 1 of the example has a length of approximately 222 mm and allows the mounting / installation of meters 4, type DN15 L105 or L110, of length between fittings between 102 mm and 112 mm.

[0100] Thanks to these characteristics, the mounting rail 1 of the example has a moderate weight, which contributes to the comfort of installation. Thus, the mounting rail described weighs approximately 110 g.

[0101] The fixing of the mounting rail for securing to a rigid support, typically to the masonry of a building or to an ad-hoc box, is simple by implementing two screws of diameter 6 mm or smaller but with washers, which are passed through oblong openings 16 of the middle part 10 of the mounting rail 1. These two oblong openings 16 allow longitudinal and angular adjustment for optimal and burr-free positioning of the mounting rail. The installation and screwing of the two screws can be done before or after the installation of the stopcock 20 before the meter and the member 3 after the meter but before the installation of the meter 4.

[0102] This mounting rail 1 allows the mounting / installation of the stopcock 20 before the meter and the member 3 after the meter on the two fixing supports 11a, 11b as visible in figures 2 and 3. This mounting is carried out by longitudinal sliding / translation of the equipment before the meter 2, eg 20, and of the member after the meter 3, eg 30, 30', with guidance by flat slides or equivalents of the groove or groove type 14 of the mounting rail 1 and tenon or tongue 28, 38 on the equipment before the meter 2 and on the member 3 after the meter.

[0103] In this example, sliding stops 15 are arranged at the two opposite ends of the mounting rail 1 on the two end fixing supports 11a, 11b. In this latter configuration, the installation of the meter equipment, i.e. the stopcock 20 before the meter and the member 3 after the meter and finally the water meter 4, is carried out from the middle part 10 of the mounting rail 1. The water meter 4 is therefore installed between the upstream equipment 2, i.e. the stopcock 20 before the meter, and the member 3 after the meter, e.g. the tap 30 or the non-return valve with bleeders 30'.

[0104] Figures 2 and 3, the stopcock 20 before the meter comprises a butterfly valve 21 for operating the valve allowing the opening and closing of said valve. The valve 30 after the meter comprises a butterfly valve 31 for operating the valve allowing the opening and closing of said valve.

[0105] Incidentally, the sliding stops are also ribs, here transverse, which play a role of additional reinforcement of the mounting rail 1.

[0106] Note that the mounting rail 1 can be supplied alone, or else, within a kit or pre-assembled with one or more of the following elements: a meter, a stopcock 20 before the meter, a member 3 after the meter. In the latter case, provision is preferably made for the supply of a mounting rail with a reserved meter position, the mounting rail being supplied with a stopcock 20 before the meter, a 3-piece after-meter which is a 30' non-return valve with bleeders, and a spacer, i.e. a temporary synthetic tubular extension between the 20-piece before-meter stopcock and the 3-piece after-meter, allowing the water supply purge and the subsequent installation of a meter by replacing the spacer with a meter. In a supply variant, a temporary 30'' synthetic tubular extension is provided which can replace the 3-piece after-meter and is installed like the latter on the rail for temporary water connection on the user side. An example of a 30” temporary synthetic tubular extension of this latter type is shown [Fig.9].

[0107] Alternatively, this latter type of 30” extension of [Fig.9], can be part of the after-meter members 3 and be permanently installed on the rail in place of an after-meter tap or a non-return valve or other.

[0108] It is therefore understood that more generally, the usable extension, depending on its purpose (e.g. temporary or not, between two upstream and downstream taps, etc.), can be more or less long and may or may not include the means of installation / maintenance by sliding on the downstream end of the rail.

[0109] In the case of the supply of a mounting rail with a reserved meter position, provision is also made, for the purpose of enhanced anti-fraud security, for the supply with the pre-meter stop valve 20 mounted with an integrated seal delivered under the butterfly 21 and to be placed between the body of the valve 20 and the nut on the meter side in order to provide non-return and anti-rotation functions to the pre-meter stop valve 20 mounted on the mounting rail 1, which can be added to the conventional sealing possibilities (02.5 mm holes for standard wires on the operating butterfly and nut) present on the butterfly 21 and on the nut, thus making the valves unremovable without prior removal of the meter. It should be noted that these reinforced anti-fraud security measures are supplied independently of the reserved meter position mounting kit and, for example, with a mounting rail alone or with a pre-meter shut-off valve, or even a post-meter device.

[0110] Concerning the valves of the meter equipment which comprises the stopcock 20 before the meter and the member 3 after the meter, the latter are preferably specific and in synthetic materials and obtained by molding a thermoplastic or thermosetting composite material. For example, the stopcock before the meter results from the assembly of molded parts which are fixed together by ultrasonic welding.

[0111] In a variant, standard metal fittings can be used, but in this case an over-shell obtained by molding a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material is also used, which encloses the metal fittings and includes the means allowing the mounting and fixing, if necessary, of the metal fittings by longitudinal sliding / translation on the mounting rail 1. Alternatively, the over-shell can be made by direct over-molding onto the metal fittings.

[0112] The manufacture of pre-meter stopcocks and metal post-meter components 3 which directly / integrally include the means allowing the mounting and fixing of the metal valves by longitudinal sliding / translation on the mounting rail 1 is also envisaged.

[0113] Concerning the specific pre-meter stop valve 20 and post-meter member 3, in synthetic materials, [Fig. 4] of a non-return valve with bleeders 30' and figures 5, 6 and 7 of the pre-meter stop valve 20 allow a clear view of the means allowing, on the valve side, the mounting and fixing of the valve on the mounting rail 1 by longitudinal sliding / translation. These means on the valve side are tenons or tongues 28, 38 intended to slide in the grooves or grooves 14 of the mounting rail 1 (see for example [Fig. 1] and 1AA). Note that the grooves or grooves 14 of the mounting rail 1 are discontinuous in the example shown.

[0114] Due to the presence of the tenons or tabs 28, 38 at the lower part of the tap 2, 3, the base or base of the tap may have a flat lower face which is caused to slide against the upper face of the fixing supports 11a, 11b during the installation of the tap 2, 3 by sliding on the mounting rail 1.

[0115] A recessed housing is provided in the lower face of the base or base of the valve in order to allow the latter to be locked by the projecting finger 17 of the elastic locking arm (or blade) (i.e. spring) 12 of the mounting rail 1, the projecting finger 17 entering the housing and blocking the sliding. Due to the elasticity of the elastic locking arm 12, the locking is removable and it is sufficient to press from the top downwards the free end of the elastic arm 12 which projects from the upstream end of the mounting rail to unlock the valve. The finger 17 projects upwards relative to the rest of the elastic arm. The elastic arms 12, 13, when unstressed, slightly extend upwards beyond the planes of the upper faces of the fixing supports 11a, 11b on which the valve slides.

[0116] In the exemplified mounting rail 1, the elastic arm with projecting finger 12 is on the upstream side and the hollow housing is preferably made in the valve intended for the upstream side. However, this hollow housing can be made on the entire valve, the locking only being carried out for the side(s) of the mounting rail having the elastic arm with projecting finger 12.

[0117] Still in the exemplified mounting rail 1, on the downstream side an elastic arm 13 is present but it is essentially flat and does not have a protruding finger.

[0118] The elastic arm with protruding finger 12 therefore allows locking, in addition to tightening, unlike the flat elastic arm / without protruding finger 13 which only allows tightening of the faucet in the slide of the mounting rail. This tightening results from the application by the elastic arm 12 or 13 of a substantially vertical force from bottom to top against the base / base of the faucet.

[0119] Thus, during assembly, the pre-meter stop valve 20 is inserted / slid into / onto the fixing support 11a, pushing it from the center of the mounting rail 1 toward the upstream end of the latter, until the locking is heard or felt by the entry of the finger 17 projecting from the elastic arm 12 into the hollow housing of the lower face of the base or base of the pre-meter stop valve 20. The pre-meter stop valve 20 is thus locked in a fixed position.

[0120] On the downstream side of the mounting rail 1, the post-meter member 3 is inserted / slid into / onto the fixing support 11b, pushing it from the center of the mounting rail 1 towards the downstream end of the latter, until it is blocked by the sliding stop.

[0121] Because the after-meter member 3 remains free to slide (within the limit of the sliding stop), it is possible to adjust its position when mounting the meter. For example, for the installation of a DN15 L110 meter between the stop valve 20 before the meter and the after-meter member 3, the rotating nut of the stop valve 20 before the meter is tightened, preferably manually, on the threaded inlet, upstream, of the meter then the rotating nut of the after-meter member 3 on the threaded outlet, downstream, of the meter by bringing the after-meter member 3 closer to the outlet of the meter.

[0122] Note that the locking means can be implemented differently, for example by providing one or more upward recesses / housings in the slide of the fixing supports 11a, 11b and making the elastic arm (with or without projecting finger 17) pushing the valve upwards, the tenons or tabs 28, 38 engage in the recesses / housings and are locked in translation when the longitudinal position provided for the valve is reached during sliding. It is understood that unlocking will consist of applying a vertical force from top to bottom to the valve, i.e. opposite to that of the elastic arm.

[0123] Preferably, the valves of the tapware are turn-operated and in this case, the sphere-axis assembly is a single piece made of composite synthetic material.

[0124] We will now describe in more detail an example of a specific pre-meter stopcock 20 made of synthetic materials and in particular its different methods of production.

[0125] With the synthetic materials used which are composite, the valves are particularly resistant to high pressures, typically nominal water pressure PN16, as well as to various mechanical stresses in traction and bending with respect to the upstream and downstream pipes, and tightening, in particular in the case of assembly of fittings using various wrenches or ratchet tools on threaded outlets. The valves put preferably using a modified PA6.6 copolymer loaded with 50% by mass of glass fibers, excluding the operating butterfly and any seal which may be in another material.

[0126] The copolymer is said to be “modified” because it is modified to improve its mechanical behavior and over time, said copolymer comprising PA6.6.

[0127] The stopcock 20 before the meter is produced by assembling and securing different parts 24, 25, 26 as can be understood from the exploded view of [Fig.7],

[0128] In [Fig.7], in addition to the indications of dimensions and types of materials, the abbreviations are as follows: PAP = butterfly; BAG = ring; JTO = O-ring; COR = body; ECR = nut; SIE = seat; COU = cover; SPX = sphere-axis (monobloc construction in this example).

[0129] The pre-meter stopcock 20 comprises a body frame in two parts 24, 25 welded together by ultrasound, a base part or base part 25 towards the bottom and a main part 24 towards the top. The body frame traps a control part 26 with a quarter-turn ball, the control axis of which is accessible through the body frame and can be rotated by a manually actuated butterfly 21. All these parts are obtained by molding composite thermoplastic materials and the pre-meter stopcock 20 is entirely made of synthetic material. In the stopcock 20 before the meter with a flat base, the lower part of the casing forming the base part 25 (i.e. COU [Fig. 7]) is ultrasonically welded to the other, upper, main part 24 (i.e. COR [Fig. 7]) of the casing after assembly of the internal sealing components and comprising a sphere-axis 26 (i.e. SPX [Fig.7]) with a directly monobloc body without welding. The faces of this sphere-axis 26 which are functional for the rotation of the sphere-axis, are spherical. Figures 10 and 11 allow a better view of this sphere-axis produced by injection molding.

[0130] The non-return valves and / or the bleeders can be made in a similar manner. In the case of a non-return valve, the non-return means is in the form of an insert snapped from the rear / downstream to the body of the non-return valve.

[0131] In figures 2, 3, 5 and 7 the butterfly 21 is simple and in [Fig.6] the butterfly 22 is of the key type and locking member 23 with lock to lock in particular in the closed position the stopcock 20 before the meter. The butterfly 22 can therefore be locked at will.

[0132] It is understood that these different embodiments can also be applied to a post-meter member 3 of the tap 30 type. Thus, the tap preferably implemented with the mounting rail is a tap made of synthetic materials, the manufacture of which by molding is simpler than the manufacture of a tap- metalwork.

[0133] It is thus possible to produce a valve with captive nuts and integrated sealing O-rings and rings and which is installed using upstream and downstream slides of the mounting rail, slides which are adapted to the flat base of the pre-meter stop valves and post-meter components including the non-return valves and / or bleeder(s) and which can be tightened and possibly locked in the mounting rail using elastic arms / blades / spring integrated into the mounting rail, in the example described with a clip on the upstream / pre-meter side, by friction on the downstream / post-meter side and blocked in translation by sliding stops, end of travel stops.

[0134] Thanks to the manufacturing using synthetic materials, a compact valve is obtained, typically L67 from reach to reach with flat joints while being full bore, i.e. without pressure losses for the subscriber. The flat base with at least part of the means allowing the mounting and fixing of the valve on the mounting rail (in particular sliding means, locking means) is also easily achievable. In addition, the embodiment described and shown [Fig.7] for the valve body frame in two parts welded together simplifies the adaptation of the valve to mounting rails of different dimensions. In addition, due to the use of synthetic materials, the valves produced have very moderate operating torques, typically <1.0 Nm on delivery.

[0135] In a typical installation, DN 15 and 15G (G for 15 "enlarged") valves are used with an upstream inlet and downstream outlet of the meter equipment threaded to the gas thread (ISO 228) G ¾” without integrated connection or G 1” with or without integrated connection (with brass or composite nut) for connection to PE or PVC plastic pipes.

[0136] It is understood that the invention can be implemented in many other ways. Thus, in variants, the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock and of the post-meter member, instead of being purely longitudinal, may comprise a path that is only partly longitudinal, with part of the sliding being able to be vertical or oblique, in particular at the start of assembly.

[0137] In other variants in symmetry due to the fact that at least one of the two fixing supports further comprises a locking device making it possible to lock in a fixed position the pre-meter stopcock and / or the post-meter member which have been mounted by sliding in the fixing support(s), it is provided that it is at least one of the pre-meter stopcock and the post-meter member which comprises the locking device making it possible to lock it / them in position, for example an elastic arm with a downwardly projecting finger being arranged on the lower face of the pre-meter stopcock, one (or more, ie rack) hollow housing open upwards being arranged on the upper face of the rail fixing support of assembly.

[0138] Finally, the dimensions of the rail can be adapted to allow other types of meters to be integrated, in particular larger meters and / or to further facilitate assembly. In addition, the possibility of adding means of reinforcing the rail is provided, in particular with increased ribbing and / or thickening of material, in particular towards the two ends of the rail and possibly in the upper part.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly for mounting user meter equipment for a water distribution network, the assembly comprising a mounting rail (1) and meter equipment (2, 20, 4, 3, 30, 30'), the meter equipment being elongated longitudinally between two opposite ends and comprising at least one water meter (4), a pre-meter shut-off valve (20), a post-meter member (3) as well as, at its upstream end, a water connection system on the distribution network side and at its downstream end, a water connection system on the user side, the meter equipment being mounted in an adjustable manner and fixed in a removable manner on the mounting rail (1) by means of the pre-meter shut-off valve (20) and the post-meter member (3), the mounting rail (1) resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material comprising a longitudinally elongated body between two upstream and downstream ends, an upper face,a lower face and two longitudinal lateral edges, the two ends of the fixing rail comprising respective fixing supports (11a, 11b), the two fixing supports (11a, 11b) being raised relative to a middle part (10) of the body of the mounting rail (1) and receiving for fixing the pre-meter stop valve (20) and the post-meter member (3), the pre-meter stop valve (20) and the post-meter member (3) of the meter equipment being respectively mounted in the fixing supports (11a, 11b) on the side of the upper face of said two fixing supports (11a, 11b), by longitudinal sliding, the two fixing supports (11a, 11b), on the one hand, and the pre-meter stop valve (20) and the post-meter member (3), on the other hand, comprising complementary shapes (14, 28,38) longitudinal sliding guide and retainer allowing the pre-meter stopcock (20) and the post-meter member (3) to be held in sliding position in the two fixing supports, at least one locking device (12, 17) being further arranged between at least one of the two fixing supports (11a) and the pre-meter stopcock (20) or the post-meter member (3) in order to lock in fixed position the pre-meter stopcock (20) and / or the post-meter member (3) having been mounted by sliding in, the fixing bracket(s) (11a, 11b), the / each locking device (12, 17) being removable in order to allow the pre-meter stopcock (20) and / or the post-meter member (3) to be unlocked and to allow its / their sliding for disassembly from the mounting rail.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, in which the complementary shapes (14, 28, 38) for guiding in longitudinal sliding and for retaining are of the groove or groove type (14), on the one hand, and tenon or tongue type (28, 38), on the other hand.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking device between the two parts that are the fixing support (11a, 11b) and the pre-meter stopcock (20) or the post-meter member (3) consists, on the one hand, of an elastic arm (12) terminated at its free end by a projecting finger (17) and, on the other hand, of a hollow housing, the finger (17) naturally fitting into the hollow housing to lock the two parts together, and in which, preferably, the elastic arms (12, 13) are arranged on the mounting rail (1) and the hollow housing is arranged in the pre-meter stopcock (20) and / or the post-meter member (3).

4. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the sliding of the stopcock (20) before the meter and of the member (3) after the meter is limited by at least one sliding stop (15).

5. Assembly according to claim 4, in which the sliding of the pre-meter stopcock (20) and of the post-meter member (3) takes place from the middle part (10) of the mounting rail (1) towards the respective upstream or downstream end of the mounting rail (1), at least one sliding stop (15) being arranged on the upstream and downstream end side of the mounting rail (1) on the fixing supports (11a, 11b).

6. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the upstream water connection system on the distribution network side is arranged on the stopcock (20) before the meter, the downstream water connection system on the user side is arranged on the member (3) after the meter, and in which the upstream and downstream water connection systems of the stopcock (20) before the meter and of the member (3) after the meter mounted protrude longitudinally from the two upstream and downstream ends of the mounting rail (1).

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the after-meter member (3) is chosen from a tap (30), a bleeder, a check valve, an extension with a check insert, a check valve with bleeder(s) (30'), a bleeder valve, a check valve valve, a bleeder valve(s) and check valve.

8. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the pre-meter stopcock (20) and the post-meter member (3) comprise external parts resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material, said external parts comprising the longitudinal sliding guide shapes (28, 38) and retainers complementary to those (14) of the two fixing supports (11a, 11b).

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pre-meter shut-off valve (20) or the post-meter member (3) comprises a metal body and an over-shell made of thermoplastic or thermosetting material, preferably composite, which is installed around the metal body of the pre-meter shut-off valve (20) or the post-meter member (3) and is secured to it, said over-shell being configured (28, 38) to be mounted and fixed on the fixing support of the mounting rail by sliding.

10. A mounting rail specially configured for a mounting assembly of user metering equipment for a water distribution network of any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Pre-meter shut-off valve (20) or post-meter member (3) specially configured to be fixed on the mounting rail (1) of the mounting assembly of a user meter equipment for a water distribution network of any one of claims 2 to 9, the pre-meter shut-off valve (20) and post-meter member (3) comprising tenons or tabs (28, 38) intended to slide in the grooves or grooves (14) of the fixing supports (11a, 11b) of the mounting rail (1) during the mounting by longitudinal sliding of said pre-meter shut-off valve (20) and the post-meter member (3) on the mounting rail (1) and resulting in the pre-meter shut-off valve (20) and the post-meter member (3) being held in the two fixing supports with the exception of the possibility of sliding,and in which the pre-meter stopcock (20) and the post-meter member (3) comprise external parts resulting from a molding of a composite thermoplastic or thermosetting material, said external parts comprising the tenons or tabs (28, 38).,

12. Stopcock (20) before the meter or member (3) after the meter according to claim 11, entirely of molded synthetic material.

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