Meter unit

Abstract

To provide a meter unit that can be reliably aligned with the water meter. [Solution] The device comprises an elbow portion 21 with one end connected to a primary or secondary pipe, connecting members 22 and 32 with one end connected to the other end of the elbow portion 21 and the other end connected to the primary or secondary side of a water meter M, and a base portion 4 for fixing the elbow portion 21 in contact with the base portion 4, the base portion 4 having a flat surface 41A against which the elbow portion 21 contacts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a meter unit for connecting a primary pipe and a secondary pipe to a water meter.

Background Art

[0002] The meter unit includes plate-like fastening bodies that are raised upward from both longitudinal ends of a base. A stop valve connected to the primary side of the water meter is supported on one of these fastening bodies, and a check valve connected to the secondary side of the water meter is supported on the other fastening body. The stop valve fixed fitting that abuts against the supported stop valve and the check valve fixed fitting that abuts against the supported check valve are pressed against the fastening body using bolts and nuts to fix the stop valve and the check valve to the base (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the meter unit with the above configuration, since each of the stop valve and the check valve is only supported by the plate-like fastening body raised from the base, the fastening body is likely to bend due to the weight of the stop valve and the check valve, etc., and an axial displacement occurs in the stop valve and the check valve, resulting in a problem that the connection to the water meter does not work well.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In view of the above situation, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a meter unit that can surely align the center with respect to the water meter.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problems, the meter unit of the present invention comprises an elbow portion, one end of which is connected to a primary or secondary pipe; a connecting member, one end of which is connected to the other end of the elbow portion and the other end of which is connected to the primary or secondary side of a water meter; and a base portion for fixing the elbow portion in contact with the base portion, the base portion having a flat surface against which the elbow portion makes contact.

[0007] According to the present invention, by fixing the elbow portion in contact with the flat surface of the base portion, the elbow portion can be supported by the flat surface, thereby suppressing axial misalignment due to bending, etc., and ensuring accurate centering with respect to the water meter.

[0008] Furthermore, the meter unit of the present invention may be configured such that the elbow portion can be oriented in the direction of the flat surface.

[0009] As described above, the orientation of the elbow section can be changed relative to the primary or secondary piping, allowing the elbow section to be adjusted to match the orientation of the primary or secondary piping, thus facilitating connection to the primary or secondary piping.

[0010] Furthermore, the meter unit of the present invention comprises an outwardly projecting portion of the elbow portion, a top plate portion having a flat surface, and a support portion extending from the top plate portion toward the opposite side of the flat surface to support the top plate portion spaced apart from the installation surface of the meter unit, the flat surface having a hole formed through the top plate portion for inserting the projecting portion, and a fixing member provided for fixing the elbow portion to the top plate portion by engaging with the projecting portion inserted into the hole, and an operating space may be formed between the top plate portion and the installation surface for holding the fixing member in order to operate the fixing member.

[0011] As described above, the fixing member can be held in the operating space formed between the top plate and the mounting surface, making it easy to fix and release the fixing member.

[0012] Furthermore, the meter unit of the present invention may be configured such that the elbow portion can be adjusted in position relative to the flat surface in the axial direction of the water meter.

[0013] As described above, by adjusting the position of the elbow portion in the axial direction of the water meter, it is possible to accommodate connecting members with different dimensions in the axial direction of the water meter, making connection to the water meter easier.

[0014] Furthermore, the meter unit of the present invention may have an elbow portion comprising a first cylindrical portion extending in the plane direction of the flat surface of the base portion, a second cylindrical portion extending substantially perpendicular to the first cylindrical portion in the direction normal to the flat surface, and a curved portion connecting the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, wherein the extended end of the second cylindrical portion is provided with a connecting portion extending in a direction away from the flat surface in the normal direction, and the second cylindrical portion and the connecting portion are connected in the normal direction.

[0015] As described above, by butting the second cylindrical end of the connecting member against the extended end of the second cylindrical section, which extends in the direction normal to the flat surface, and connecting them with the connecting portion provided on the second cylindrical section, the second cylindrical section and the connecting member overlap in the normal direction, thus shortening the longitudinal dimension of the meter unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, a meter unit can be provided that can be reliably centered relative to a water meter by fixing the elbow portion in contact with the flat surface of the base portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the meter unit. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the meter unit. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the meter unit. [Figure 4] (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the base, and (b) is a bottom view of the base. [Figure 5](a) and (b) show another form of the base part, where (a) is a longitudinal sectional side view of the base part and (b) is a bottom view of the base part. [Figure 6] Figures 5(a) and (b) show another form of the elbow part to be mounted, where (a) is a front view of the elbow part and (b) is a bottom view of the elbow part. [Figure 7] (a) and (b) show another form of the base part, where (a) is a longitudinal sectional side view of the base part and (b) is a bottom view of the base part. [Figure 8] Figures 7(a) and (b) show another form of the elbow part to be mounted, where (a) is a front view of the elbow part and (b) is a bottom view of the elbow part. [Figure 9] Figure 12 is an enlarged bottom view showing a state where a pair of ridges of the second protrusion of the second elbow part in Figure 8(b) are locked to a pair of arc portions of the long hole on the right side of the base part shown in Figure 7(b).

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0018] Figures 1 to 3 show the meter unit 1. The left - right direction in Figure 1 is the longitudinal direction of the meter unit 1 or the axial direction of the water meter M (see the two - dot chain line). Also, in Figure 1, the left side in the left - right direction is the primary side (upstream side or front side), the right side in the left - right direction is the secondary side (downstream side or rear side), and the direction passing through the paper surface is the left - right direction (the front side of the paper surface is the left side and the back side of the paper surface is the right side). Note that the primary - side pipe and the secondary - side pipe connected to the first and second elbow parts 21, 31 described later are not shown (omitted).

[0019] The meter unit 1 is provided for inserting a water meter M between a primary side pipe and a secondary side pipe (both not shown) and connecting (joining) the two pipes. The meter unit 1 includes a first unit portion 2 disposed on the primary side of the water meter M, a second unit portion 3 disposed on the secondary side of the water meter M, and a base portion 4 to which the first unit portion 2 and the second unit portion 3 are fixed. The meter unit 1 in a state where the first unit portion 2 and the second unit portion 3 are temporarily connected (joined) to the base portion 4 is carried into the site where the water meter M is installed. The temporarily connected (joined) state means a state where the first unit portion 2 and the second unit portion 3 are connected (joined) to the base portion 4 such that their orientations can be changed.

[0020] The first unit portion 2 includes a first pipe connection pipe portion for connecting to the primary side pipe, a first connecting pipe portion extending in the height direction and connected to the first pipe connection pipe portion, and a first meter connection pipe portion for connecting the first connecting pipe portion and the primary side of the water meter M.

[0021] The first pipe connection pipe portion is composed of a first elbow portion 21. The first connecting pipe portion is composed of a vertically long, vertically oriented, cylindrical first stopcock body 221 connected to the upper end of the first elbow portion 21. The first meter connection pipe portion includes a cylindrical member 23 connected to an opening 221A formed at the downstream end of the upper portion of the first stopcock body 221, a socket nut 23N screwed to the secondary side end of the cylindrical member 23, and a first meter connection pipe 24 having one end inserted into the secondary side end of the cylindrical member 23 and the other end connected to the primary side end of the water meter M via a nut 24N. The first meter connection pipe portion and a second meter connection pipe portion described later are arranged such that the pipe axes of the first meter connection pipe portion and the second meter connection pipe portion are on the same straight line. The first connecting pipe portion extending in the vertical direction and the first meter connection pipe portion extending in the horizontal direction form an inverted L-shaped (angle-shaped) first stopcock 22. In this embodiment, the first unit portion 2 is formed by connecting the inverted L-shaped (angle-shaped) first stopcock 22 to the first elbow portion 21.

[0022] The first meter connecting pipe 24 is equipped with a check valve 25 inside. The first meter connecting pipe 24 is inserted into the cylindrical member 23 so that it can move longitudinally (axially) relative to the cylindrical member 23. In this way, the distance between the water meter M and the first stop valve 22 can be changed, which has the advantage of making it easy to attach and detach the water meter M to the first stop valve 22.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the first elbow section 21 has a connection section 211A at its tip for connecting the primary side piping, and comprises a first cylindrical section 211 extending parallel to the flat surface 41A (described later), a second cylindrical section 212 extending substantially perpendicular to the first cylindrical section 211 in the direction normal to the flat surface 41A (upward in Figure 1), and a curved section 213 connecting the first cylindrical section 211 and the second cylindrical section 212.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the end of the curved portion 213 of the first cylindrical portion 211 on the side opposite to the side to which the second cylindrical portion 212 extends (the bottom surface in Figure 1) is provided with a linear, solid projection 214 that protrudes outward, that is, toward the base portion 4 (downward in Figure 1). The projection 214 comprises a first projection 214A, which is a cylindrical body that abuts against the upper surface (flat surface) 41A of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4, which will be described later, and a second projection 214B, which extends further toward the installation surface side (downward in Figure 1) from the first projection 214A and has a smaller diameter than the first projection 214A. The second projection 214B is made of a cylindrical body that can be inserted into a circular hole 41K formed in the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4, which will be described later. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the first protrusion 214A is larger than the diameter of the circular hole 41K formed in the top plate portion 41.

[0025] The lower surface 214a of the first projection 214A is formed as a ring-shaped flat surface. The outer surface of the second projection 214B has a male threaded portion 214n onto which a nut N, described later, is screwed. By bringing the lower surface 214a formed on the flat surface of the first projection 214A into contact with the upper surface (flat surface) 41A formed from the flat surface of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4, described later, the first elbow portion 21 can be supported by the upper surface (flat surface) 41A, thereby suppressing axial misalignment of the first stop valve 22 due to deflection, etc. Therefore, the first stop valve 22 can be reliably centered relative to the water meter M.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 212 of the first elbow portion 21 and the lower end of the first stopcock 22 are abutted together via a packing 26 made of synthetic rubber or the like, and a connecting nut 27 is screwed onto a threaded portion formed on the outer surface of the lower end of the first stopcock 22, thereby connecting the first elbow portion 21 and the first stopcock 22 in a way that prevents water leakage. By connecting the first elbow portion 21 and the first stopcock 22 in this way, overlapping them in the direction normal to the flat surface 41A (up and down in Figure 1), the longitudinal dimension of the meter unit 1 can be shortened. The connecting nut 27 forms a connecting portion at the extended end of the second cylindrical portion 212 that extends in a direction away from the flat surface 41A in the direction normal to the flat surface 41A, and this connecting portion is connected to the second cylindrical portion 212 in the normal direction.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 4(a), and 4(b), the base portion 4 is configured in a box shape with at least one side (the bottom surface in this embodiment) open. The base portion 4 comprises a top plate portion 41 whose upper surface 41A is a flat surface, front and rear plate portions 42, 42 whose longitudinal ends are bent at 90 degrees and hang down, and left and right plate portions 43, 43 whose widthwise ends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 41 are bent at 90 degrees and hang down. The front and rear plate portions 42, 42 and the left and right plate portions 43, 43 constitute support portions that extend from the top plate portion 41 toward the side opposite to the flat surface 41A in order to support the top plate portion 41 at a distance from the installation surface of the meter unit 1. The base portion 4 may be supported in a state of being suspended from the floor surface using support legs fixed to the floor that constitutes the installation surface, or it may be left without being fixed to the floor.

[0028] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), circular holes 41K, 41K are formed at both longitudinal ends of the top plate portion 41 of the box-shaped base portion 4, through which the second projections 214B, 314B (see Figure 1) that protrude downward from the first elbow portion 21 and the second elbow portion 31 (described later) are inserted. The first elbow portion 21 and the second elbow portion 31 (described later) can be fixed to the top plate portion 41 by engaging (screwing) nuts N, N as fixing members onto the threaded portions 214n, 314n (see Figure 1) of the second projections 214B, 314B that are inserted into the holes 41K, 41K. A spring washer 28 is interposed between the top plate portion 41 and the nut N.

[0029] The left and right plate portions 43, 43 of the base portion 4 do not extend over the entire length of the top plate portion 41, but are only provided in the middle portion of the top plate portion 41, excluding both ends in the length direction of the top plate portion 41. As a result, an operating space (space) 29, 29 (see Figures 1, 4(a), (b)) is formed between the top plate portion 41 and the mounting surface to hold the nuts N, N for operating the nuts N, N as fixing members. The nuts N, N are temporarily fastened by screwing them onto the male threaded portions 214n, 314n of the second protrusions 214B, 314B and held in the operating space (space) 29, 29. A tool (such as a spanner or ratchet wrench, not shown) can be accessed to fix or release the nuts N, N. The longitudinal dimensions of the operating spaces 29,29 are set to be large enough to allow the tool to rotate beyond a predetermined angle, but in the case of a power tool, it may be large enough to allow the engaging part of the power tool to engage with the nuts N,N. The vertical dimensions of the operating spaces 29,29 are set to be larger than the vertical thickness dimension of the engaging part at the tip of the tool so that the engaging part at the tip of the tool can be inserted. In this embodiment, spaces 29,29 are formed so that the tool can be accessed toward the nuts N,N from either side in the width direction of the base portion 4, but an operating space for accessing the nuts N,N with a tool and performing fixing or releasing operations on the nuts N,N may be formed on only one side in the width direction of the base portion 4. Alternatively, the base portion may be configured by providing a support portion consisting of a vertical plate portion extending downward from the left-right center of the top plate portion 41 and a substantially rectangular mounting plate portion that contacts the mounting surface from the lower end of the vertical plate portion. In this case, the tool can be accessed toward the nuts N,N from any direction and the nuts N,N can be fixed or released.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4(a) and 4(b), an arrow 41B indicating the direction of water flow is punched out on the primary side of the top plate portion 41, and an elongated hole 41C is formed on the secondary side of the top plate portion 41. This reduces the weight of the base portion 4.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, a ball valve 222 is housed inside the first stopcock body 221, and an operating lever 223 for rotating the ball valve 222 protrudes from the upper end of the stopcock body 221. By rotating the operating lever 223, the amount of water supplied from the primary side piping to the water meter M can be adjusted in stages, from a shut-off state to a fully open state.

[0032] Furthermore, the first elbow portion 21 is configured to be oriented in a way that allows it to change direction relative to the upper surface (flat surface) 41A. In other words, by releasing (loosening) the nut N which is fixed (tightened), the first elbow portion 21 is rotated around the vertical axis X, as shown in Figure 2. This allows for stepless orientation changes relative to the upper surface (flat surface) 41A within a rotation range of at least 180 degrees, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the case where the connecting portion 211A at the tip of the first elbow portion 21 is located at a position that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the right plate portion 43 of the base portion 4 (indicated by the solid line), and at a position that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the left plate portion 43 of the base portion 4 (indicated by the dashed line). However, the connecting portion 211A at the tip of the first elbow portion 21 may also be located at a position that protrudes outward in the front-rear direction from the front plate portion 42 of the base portion 4 (a position rotated 90 degrees from the position indicated by the solid line).

[0033] The second unit section 3 includes a second pipe connection section connected to the secondary side piping, a second connecting pipe section extending in the height direction and connected to the second pipe connection section, and a second meter connection pipe section connecting the second connecting pipe section to the secondary side of the water meter.

[0034] The second pipe connection section consists of a second elbow section 31. The second connecting pipe section consists of a vertically elongated, vertically oriented, cylindrical second stop valve body 321 connected to the upper end of the second elbow section 31. The second meter connection pipe section includes a second meter connection pipe 33, one end of which is connected to an opening 321A formed at the upper upstream end of the second stop valve body 321, and the other end of which is connected to the downstream (secondary) end of the water meter M via a nut 33N. The second connecting pipe section extending vertically and the second meter connection pipe section extending horizontally constitute an inverted L-shaped (angle-shaped) second stop valve 32. In the present invention, the second unit section 3 is formed by connecting the inverted L-shaped (angle-shaped) second stop valve 32 to the second elbow section 31.

[0035] The second elbow section 31 is the same member as the first elbow section 21 in shape and size, and is equipped with a connecting section 311A ​​at its tip for connecting secondary side piping. It comprises a first cylindrical section 311 (see Figure 2) extending horizontally, a second cylindrical section 312 (see Figure 1) extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first cylindrical section 311 (upward in this embodiment), and a curved section (not shown) connecting the first cylindrical section 311 and the second cylindrical section 312.

[0036] Furthermore, the curved end of the first cylindrical portion 311 is provided with a linear, solid projection 314 on the side opposite to the side to which the cylindrical portion 312 extends (the lower end in Figure 1), projecting outward, that is, toward the base portion 4 (downward in Figure 1). The projection 314 comprises a first projection 314A, which is a cylindrical body that abuts against the upper surface (flat surface) 41A of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4, and a second projection 314B, which extends further toward the installation surface (downward in Figure 1) from the first projection 314A and has a smaller diameter than the first projection 314A. The second projection 314B is made of a cylindrical body that can be inserted into a circular hole 41K formed in the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4.

[0037] The lower surface 314a of the first projection 314A is formed as a ring-shaped flat surface. The outer surface of the second projection 314B has a male threaded portion 314n into which a nut N is screwed. The outer diameter of the first projection 314A is larger than the diameter of the circular hole 41K formed in the top plate portion 41. By bringing the lower surface 214a formed on the flat surface of the first projection 314A into contact with the upper surface (flat surface) 41A formed from the flat surface of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4 (described later) and fixing it, the second elbow portion 31 can be supported by the upper surface (flat surface) 41A, thereby suppressing axial misalignment of the second stop valve 32 due to deflection, etc. Therefore, the second stop valve 32 can be reliably centered with respect to the water meter M.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 312 of the second elbow portion 31 and the lower end of the second stopcock 32 are abutted together via a packing 26 made of synthetic rubber or the like, and a connecting nut 27 is screwed onto a threaded portion formed on the outer surface of the lower end of the second stopcock 32, thereby connecting the second elbow portion 31 and the second stopcock 32 in a way that prevents water leakage. By connecting the second elbow portion 31 and the second stopcock 32 in this way, overlapping them in the direction normal to the flat surface 41A (up and down in Figure 1), the longitudinal dimension of the meter unit 1 can be shortened. The connecting nut 27 forms a connecting portion at the extended end of the second cylindrical portion 312 that extends in a direction away from the flat surface 41A in the direction normal to the flat surface 41A, and this connecting portion is connected to the second cylindrical portion 312 in the normal direction.

[0039] A ball valve 322 is housed inside the second shut-off valve body 321, and an operating lever 323 for rotating the ball valve 322 protrudes from the upper end of the second shut-off valve body 321. By rotating the operating lever 323, the amount of water sent from the water meter M to the secondary side can be adjusted in stages, from a shut-off state to a fully open state.

[0040] The second meter connecting pipe 33 is a connecting pipe for connecting the water meter M and the second stop valve body 321.

[0041] In Figures 1 to 4, the positions of the first and second stopcocks 22 and 32 were fixed relative to the base 4. However, the first and second stopcocks 22 and 32 may be configured to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the water meter M relative to the base 4.

[0042] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), rectangular elongated holes 41D, 41D are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4. Protruding portions 214, 314 are formed so as to be movable (position adjustable) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the elongated holes 41D, 41D, through which the first and second elbow portions 21, 31 are inserted, as follows. In other words, it comprises: first projections 214A, 314A extending downward from the lower ends of the first and second elbow portions 21, 31; second projections 214C, 314C, which are rectangular prisms having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first projections 214A, 314A, and which can be inserted into the elongated holes 41D, 41D and are immobile relative to the elongated holes 41D, 41D when inserted; and third projections 214D, 314D, which are cylindrical and extend downward from the second projections 214C, 314C, and have threaded portions 214d, 314d onto which nuts N, N are screwed.

[0043] Then, by inserting the third protrusions 214D, 314D into the elongated holes 41D, 41D from above, and positioning the second protrusions 214C, 314C in the elongated holes 41D, 41D, the positions of the first and second elbow sections 21, 31, i.e., the first and second stopcocks 22, 32, can be adjusted (changed) steplessly by moving the second protrusions 214C, 314C in the longitudinal direction within the elongated holes 41D, 41D. After the movement, the first and second elbow sections 21, 31, i.e., the first and second stopcocks 22, 32, can be fixed in that position by screwing the nuts N, N onto the third protrusions 214D, 314D as described above and tightening them with a tool. In this way, by adjusting the position of the first and second stopcocks 22 and 32 in the axial direction of the water meter M, it is possible to accommodate stopcocks with different dimensions in the axial direction of the water meter M, and connection to the water meter M becomes easier.

[0044] Furthermore, if the orientation of the first and second elbow portions 21 and 31 is to be changed, the second protrusions 214C and 314C are removed upward from the elongated holes 41D and 41D, rotated from 0 degrees to 90 degrees or 180 degrees, and then reinserted into the elongated holes 41D and 41D. This allows the orientation of the first and second elbow portions 21 and 31 to be one of three orientations: 0 degrees, 90 degrees, or 180 degrees. The lower surfaces 214a and 314a of the first protrusions 214A and 314A are formed as ring-shaped flat surfaces, as described above.

[0045] Furthermore, another configuration for adjusting the position of the first and second stopcocks 22 and 32 in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the water meter M is shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(a) and 8(b). As shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(b), elongated rectangular holes 41E, 41E are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 41 of the base portion 4.

[0046] Each elongated hole 41E is formed such that multiple pairs (six in the figure) of arc-shaped projections 41e, 41e extend outward in the width direction from both ends in the longitudinal direction to the center. Projections 214, 314 are formed so as to allow the first and second elbow portions 21, 31 to be inserted into these elongated holes 41E, 41E so as to be movable (position adjustable) in the longitudinal direction. The pairs of arc-shaped projections 41e, 41e are formed facing each other in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0047] In other words, as shown in Figures 8(a) and (b), the first projections 214A and 314A extend downward from the lower ends of the first and second elbow portions 21 and 31, the second projections 214E and 314E are cylindrical bodies having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first projections 214A and 314A, and having four circumferentially positioned, arc-shaped protrusions 214e and 314e that are elongated in the vertical direction and provided on the outer surface at 90-degree intervals, and the third projections 214F and 314F are cylindrical and extend downward from the second projections 214E and 214E, with threaded portions 214f ​​and 314f formed thereon into which nuts N and N are screwed.

[0048] Then, by inserting the third protrusions 214F, 314F into the elongated holes 41E, 41E from above, and engaging the two radially opposing convex ridges 214e, 314e of the second protrusions 214E, 214E with a specific pair of arc sections 41e, 41e (the leftmost end in the left-right direction in Figure 9), the positions of the first and second elbow sections 21, 31 within the elongated holes 41E, 41E, that is, the positions of the first and second stopcocks 22, 32, can be changed in stages. The minimum distance required to move the first and second stopcocks 22, 32 in the longitudinal direction is the distance between adjacent arc sections 41e, 41e in the longitudinal direction. After the modification, the nuts N,N can be screwed onto the third protrusions 214F, 314F as described above and tightened using a tool, thereby fixing the first and second elbow portions 21, 31, i.e., the first and second stopcocks 22, 32, in the modified position. In this way, by adjusting the position of the first and second stopcocks 22, 32 in the axial direction of the water meter M, it is possible to accommodate stopcocks with different dimensions in the axial direction of the water meter M, and connection to the water meter M becomes easier.

[0049] To change the orientation of the first and second elbow portions 21 and 31, the second protrusions 214E and 314E are removed upward from the elongated holes 41E and 41E, rotated from 0 degrees to 90 degrees or 180 degrees, and then the two protrusions 214e and 314e of the second protrusions 214E and 314E are re-engaged with the pair of arc portions 41e and 41e of the elongated holes 41E and 41E. This allows the orientation of the first and second elbow portions 21 and 31 to be changed to the orientation at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees. The lower surfaces 214a and 314a of the first protrusions 214A and 314A are formed as ring-shaped flat surfaces, as described above.

[0050] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the two embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0051] In the above embodiment, a shut-off valve 22 with a check valve 25 is provided as a connecting member connected to the primary side of the water meter M, and a shut-off valve 32 is provided as a connecting member connected to the secondary side of the water meter M. However, a shut-off valve may be provided on the primary side of the water meter M, and a check valve may be provided on the secondary side of the water meter M. In addition to shut-off valves and check valves, the connecting member may also be a joint or the like.

[0052] Furthermore, although the elbow portions 21 and 31 were curved at a 90-degree angle in the above embodiment, they may be curved at any angle less than 90 degrees. Also, although the elbow portions 21 and 31 were configured with their orientation changed from horizontal to upward, they may be configured with their orientation changed from horizontal to a horizontal direction 90 degrees different.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the base portion 4 is constructed with only the bottom portion open, but it may also be constructed with the bottom portion and one of the two sides in the width direction of the base portion 4 being open. In this case, the open portion of the one side constitutes a space for accessing the nut N with a tool.

[0054] Furthermore, although the above embodiment provides elbow portions 21 and 31 on both the primary and secondary sides, it is also possible to provide an elbow portion on only one side.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the lower surface 214a of the first projection 214A was made a flat surface, but it may also be made of a continuous flat straight section or a discontinuous flat straight section.

[0056] Furthermore, although a nut N was used as the fixing member in the above embodiment, a pin or the like that may be used to fix the elbow portions 21 and 31 to the top plate portion 41 by inserting it into the protrusions 214 and 314. In this case, to release the fixation, the pin inserted into the protrusions 214 and 314 would be pulled out. Also, although the fixing and release operations of the nut N were performed using a tool, the nut N may be made of a wing nut or the like, so that the fixing operation is performed by rotating the wing nut to the tightening side and the release operation is performed by rotating it to the loosening side by hand.

[0057] Furthermore, although the base portion 4 is placed on the floor in the above embodiment, it may also be fixed to the wall. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1... Meter unit, 2... First unit section, 3... Second unit section, 4... Base section, 21... First elbow section, 22... First stopcock, 23... Cylindrical member, 23N... Cap nut, 24... First meter connecting pipe, 24N... Nut, 25... Check valve, 26... Packing, 27... Connecting nut (connecting part), 28... Spring washer, 29... Space, 31... Second elbow section, 32... Second stopcock, 33... Second meter connecting pipe, 33N... Nut, 41... Top plate section, 41A... Top surface (flat surface), 41B... Arrow, 41C... Slotted hole, 41D... Slotted hole, 41E... Slotted hole, 41K... Hole, 41e... Arc section, 42... Front and rear plate sections, 43... Left and right plate sections, 211, 311... First cylindrical section, 211A, 311A ...Connection part, 212,312...Second cylindrical part, 213...Curved part, 214,314...Protrusion part, 214A,314A...First protrusion part, 214B,314B...Second protrusion 214C, 314C...Second protrusion, 214D, 314D...Third protrusion, 214E, 314E...Second protrusion, 214F, 314F...Third protrusion, 214a ,314a...Bottom surface, 214d,314d...Threaded part, 214e,314e...Protrusion, 214f,314f...Threaded part, 214n,314n...Male threaded part, 221,321...Stopcock body, 221A,321A...Opening, 222,322...Ball valve, 223,323...Operating lever, M...Water meter, N...Nut, X...Upper and lower axis

Claims

1. A meter unit comprising: an elbow portion, one end of which is connected to a primary or secondary pipe; a connecting member, one end of which is connected to the other end of the elbow portion and the other end of which is connected to the primary or secondary side of a water meter; and a base portion for fixing the elbow portion in contact with the base portion, wherein the base portion has a flat surface against which the elbow portion contacts.

2. The meter unit according to claim 1, wherein the elbow portion is configured to be oriented in the direction of the flat surface.

3. The meter unit according to claim 1, wherein the elbow portion has a projection that protrudes outward, the base portion has a top plate portion having a flat surface, and a support portion extending from the top plate portion toward the opposite side of the flat surface in order to support the top plate portion spaced apart from the installation surface of the meter unit, the flat surface has a hole formed through the top plate portion through which the projection portion is inserted, and a fixing member is provided for fixing the elbow portion to the top plate portion by engaging with the projection portion inserted through the hole, and an operating space is formed between the top plate portion and the installation surface for holding the fixing member in order to operate the fixing member.

4. The meter unit according to claim 1, wherein the elbow portion is configured to be adjustable in position relative to the flat surface in the axial direction of the water meter.

5. The meter unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elbow portion comprises a first cylindrical portion extending in the plane direction of the flat surface of the base portion, a second cylindrical portion extending substantially perpendicular to the first cylindrical portion in the direction normal to the flat surface, and a curved portion connecting the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, the extended end of the second cylindrical portion is provided with a connecting portion extending in a direction away from the flat surface in the normal direction, and the second cylindrical portion and the connecting portion are connected in the normal direction.

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