Monolithic Water Meter Housing for Integrated Valve and Metering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current water meter installations are costly due to the need for separate components and complex assembly, and there is a lack of a cost-effective solution that integrates metering and shut-off valve functionality, with limited flexibility for incorporating additional sensors or modules.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic polymer housing is used to create a single, cast component that integrates a flow tube, a remote controllable valve unit, and a meter unit, allowing for various functional modules to be installed before or after installation, with a self-contained power supply and communication capabilities for remote operation and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate components (water meter and shut-off valve) are installed at consumption sites, then metering and shut-off functionality are provided, but installation costs and device complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water meter and shut-off valve into a single integrated unit with a common housing. The meter unit and valve unit are mounted within the same housing structure, sharing common components such as the flow channel, sealable compartments, and mounting interfaces. This merging eliminates the need for separate installations of meter and valve, reducing installation complexity while maintaining both metering and shut-off functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple functional units (meter unit, valve unit, and optionally sensor units). The standardized mounting interfaces and flow channel design allow the same housing to serve multiple purposes: metering water consumption, controlling water flow via remote shut-off, and potentially integrating additional sensors for leakage detection or temperature monitoring.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional functional modules (sensors, valves) are installed separately, then functionality is expanded, but installation costs and barriers to adoption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a universal platform with standardized mounting interfaces that can accommodate various functional modules. The flow channel interface and sealable compartment design allow optional sensor units or additional valve units to be integrated into the same housing structure, enabling functionality expansion without requiring separate installation infrastructure or additional complex assembly procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple separate units are assembled, then required functionalities are achieved, but assembly imperfections and impermeability issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The meter unit and valve unit are integrated within a single housing structure with shared sealing surfaces. The common housing provides unified seals between the flow channel and internal compartments, eliminating potential leakage points that would arise from multiple separate connections. The integrated design ensures that seals are manufactured as part of the housing structure rather than relying on field assembly of multiple gaskets and connection interfaces.
4Ease of manufacture
If a monolithic housing is used, then production cost is reduced and assembly issues are eliminated, but flexibility for adding modules may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic housing incorporates universal mounting interfaces and standardized flow channel connections that enable flexible installation of various functional modules. The housing design includes predefined mounting locations and connection points that can accommodate different configurations of meter units, valve units, and sensor units, providing manufacturing simplicity while maintaining adaptability for future technology additions.
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
This approach reduces production costs, eliminates assembly issues, and provides a flexible platform for integrating multiple functionalities, including remote controllable shut-off valves and sensors, while enhancing installation efficiency and reducing barriers to adopting new technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a valve piston displaceable arranged to interrupt flow though the flow channel
Implementation Method 2
first and a second gaskets are arranged around the valve piston with a mutual distance defining a seal space to provide a seal against fluid from the flow channel
Implementation Method 3
a drain channel, in fluid communication with the seal space, is provided to drain away fluid entering the seal space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to a water meter platform (1) and a housing component (2) for a water meter platform. The housing component (2) is providing a flow tube (3), a sealable main compartment (4) adapted to house a meter unit (5) for measuring a flow of a fluid flowing through the flow tube (3) and a flow channel interface (6) in fluid communication with the flow tube adapted for mounting additional functional units, particularly a remote controllable valve unit (7) for interrupting the flow. The meter unit (5) is an ultrasonic meter comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers (51). The meter unit (5), the valve unit (7) mounted in association with the flow channel interface (6) and a self-contained power supply are arranged inside the main compartment (4). The housing component (2) is a monolithic polymer structure (11), preferably adapted to be cast as a single component in one machine cycle.