Utility Bypass Valve for Continuous Meter Servicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing utility metering systems require interrupting utility flow when an inline meter needs service, leading to service disruptions and safety risks, especially with natural gas lines.

Innovation Solution

A bypass valve configurable in meter, bypass, and shutoff configurations, allowing utility flow to continue while the meter is serviced, ensuring safety by preventing gas accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the meter is taken out of service for physical disconnection, then the meter can be serviced or replaced, but the utility flow to the point of consumption is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeter servicingVSAvoidutility flow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate flow paths: one through the meter and another through the bypass valve. This segmentation allows the meter to be serviced independently without affecting the overall utility flow, as the bypass path can remain active while the meter path is isolated for maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass valve acts as an intermediary component that provides an alternative flow path around the meter. When the meter needs servicing, the bypass valve can be activated to maintain utility flow through the intermediary path, eliminating the need to interrupt service for meter maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If the flow of natural gas is disrupted to the point of consumption, then the meter can be serviced, but the pilot lights will go out and gas accumulation creates fire and explosion risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeter servicingVSAvoidgas accumulation and explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve is pre-configured and positioned to be activated before the meter is disconnected. This preliminary action ensures that the alternative flow path is ready in advance, allowing continuous gas flow to maintain pilot lights during meter servicing and preventing the harmful condition of gas accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass valve provides a safety cushion by maintaining a continuous flow path for natural gas. This beforehand cushioning prevents the adverse effect of pilot light extinction and subsequent gas accumulation, creating a safety buffer that eliminates explosion risks during meter maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the flow of natural gas is resumed without turning off or relighting the pilot light, then utility service is restored, but natural gas flows out through the unlit pilot light and accumulates indoors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutility service restorationVSAvoidgas accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve maintains continuous gas flow through the utility system during meter servicing. This continuity of useful action ensures that gas flow never completely stops and restarts, preventing the condition where gas would escape through unlit pilot lights. The flow remains steady and controlled throughout the maintenance process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250189046A1Revolver bypass valve

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 MUELLER INT LLC

AI summary

A bypass valve includes a meter configuration, a bypass configuration, a shutoff configuration, a base, and a selector moveably connected relative to the base between a meter position, a bypass position, and a shutoff position, the base defining an upstream utility bore, a downstream utility bore, a meter inlet bore, a meter outlet bore, and a base locking lug defining a base locking aperture.