Angle Meter Stop Guard with Adjustable Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
During maintenance of water meter assemblies, the angle meter stop can violently blow off from the vertical conduit due to water pressure, posing a risk of injury if the 'grip-tite' friction fit fails to hold it in place.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with adjustable arms and a guard that can be installed in the water meter box to securely engage with the inner walls, preventing the angle meter stop from dislodging under high pressure, featuring a cut-out for horizontal conduit connections and adjustable positioning to fit various meter box configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the angle meter stop is secured using only a grip-tite friction fit to the vertical conduit, then the installation is simple and quick, but the connection reliability deteriorates under high water pressure when the water meter is disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is installed beforehand on the vertical conduit before the angle meter stop is attached. This preliminary installation creates a pre-positioned safety barrier that will contain the angle meter stop if it blows off, without interfering with the simple grip-tite installation process of the angle meter stop itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device acts as a pre-prepared containment structure (cushioning) that is already in place to catch and contain the angle meter stop if it fails to remain securely attached. This beforehand preparation ensures that even if the friction fit fails, the harmful effects are contained and no injury occurs.
2Device complexity
If the safety device uses fixed arms to engage with the meter box walls, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different meter box configurations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The arms of the safety device are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned at different angles and distances from the central axis. This dynamic adjustability enables the safety device to adapt to various meter box sizes and configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable arms allow the single safety device design to serve multiple meter box configurations universally. By adjusting the arm positions, the same safety device can be installed in different sized meter boxes and accommodate various angle meter stop positions, making it a universal solution rather than requiring multiple fixed designs.
3Ease of operation
If the arms are made non-adjustable for easier installation, then the ease of operation improves, but the ability to securely engage with different meter box wall positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arms incorporate an adjustment mechanism that allows operators to set the arm positions during installation to match the specific meter box geometry, then lock them in place. This provides both ease of operation through a simple adjustment process and reliable secure engagement through customized positioning for each installation scenario.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The safety device effectively contains the angle meter stop if it blows off, preventing injuries and ensuring secure installation and removal of water meter components during maintenance, capable of withstanding significant upward forces and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The arms can have end caps (e.g., rubber end caps) that are configured to contact the inner walls of the meter box when the device is installed to create a frictional resistance holding the device securely within the meter box.
Implementation Method 2
The guard can be strong enough to contain the angle meter stop if it violently blows off from the pipe below it under high water pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary safety device can comprise a guard coupled to a lower end of a support shaft and two arms coupled to the support shaft configured to engage with the inner walls of the meter box. The arms can be adjustable to change the distance they extend from the support shaft, such as by rotating the arms about a central bolt that is fixed relative to the shaft. The arms can have end caps that are configured to contact the inner walls of the meter box to create a frictional resistance holding the device securely within the meter box. The arms can be coupled to the support shaft with an adapter ring that is adjustable along the support shaft to change the vertical position of the arms. The guard can partially surround the angle meter stop and can contain it if it blows off the pipe below it.