GB2054170A - Gas Meter - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas meter casing comprises two mild steel flanged parts 11 and 12 which are coated with a protective paint. To assemble them together they are placed with the flanges abutting and an L-section endless band 13 of stainless steel is placed with one limb in contact with one of the flanges. The band is then swaged over into a U- section the flanges being tightly embraced and held together thereby. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gas Meter This invention relates to gas meters, which include top and bottom casing parts having flanges which are secured together. Such gas meters will be referred to hereinafter as "gas meters of the kind described".

The invention provides a gas meter of the kind described wherein the flanges are secured together by a band of stainless steel tightly fitting over the flanges.

Preferably the band is continuous, with a buttweld joining it into a loop.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a gas meter of the kind described comprising the steps of placing the top and bottom casings together, locating an L-section stainless steel band over one of the flanges and bending the L-section into a Usection embracing the two flanges.

The gas meter may have a valve plate which is interposed between the flanges or may have no valve plate, the flanges then abutting directly.

A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through a gas meter showing the casing parts only, and Figure 2 is a scrap section through part of a securing band for use in the gas meter of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a gas meter casing comprises a top cover 11 and a bottom container 1 2. Both parts have out-turned flanges, which are placed in an abutting position and secured together by a securing band 13, tightly closed over the two flanges. Figure 2 shows the Lshaped cross-section of the band before it is closed over the flanges.

The band is formed from a strip of 0.7 mm stainless steel to B.S. 1449 (Part 2). The strip is first formed into a loop, the two ends being buttwelded together by an electrical discharge welding technique.

The L-section is then formed by stretchforming on a former or die. To secure the flanges together the L-section is placed with the horizontal limb in contact with one flange and the vertical section is then bent over the other flange into the I U-shape shown in Figure 1 , for instance by a swaging operation.

Because the band is of stainless steel it does not require any paint protection and can be applied to the ready-painted casing parts without any following paint-finishing.

Claims

1. A gas meter of the kind described, wherein the flanges are secured together by an endless band of stainless steel tightly fitting over the flanges.

2. A gas meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said endless band is a strip of 0.7 mm stainless steel with the ends butt-welded together.

3. A gas meter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said casing parts are of mild steel and have a protective paint coating.

4. A gas meter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said endless band is of U section, the flanges being embraced by the limbs of the U.

5. A gas meter of the kind described substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of assembling a gas meter of the kind described comprising the steps of placing the top and bottom casings together, locating an Lsection stainless steel band over one of the flanges and bending the L-section into a Usection tightly embracing the two flanges.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of placing a valve plate between the casings before the stainless steel band is located thereon.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, including the step of applying a sealant to said flanges.

9. A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, comprising also the step of painting the top and bottom casings before placing them together.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bending operation is by swaging, which operation causes little or no damage to the paint finish.

11. A method of assembling a gas meter substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Gas Meter This invention relates to gas meters, which include top and bottom casing parts having flanges which are secured together. Such gas meters will be referred to hereinafter as "gas meters of the kind described". The invention provides a gas meter of the kind described wherein the flanges are secured together by a band of stainless steel tightly fitting over the flanges. Preferably the band is continuous, with a buttweld joining it into a loop. According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a gas meter of the kind described comprising the steps of placing the top and bottom casings together, locating an L-section stainless steel band over one of the flanges and bending the L-section into a Usection embracing the two flanges. The gas meter may have a valve plate which is interposed between the flanges or may have no valve plate, the flanges then abutting directly. A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through a gas meter showing the casing parts only, and Figure 2 is a scrap section through part of a securing band for use in the gas meter of Figure 1. Referring first to Figure 1, a gas meter casing comprises a top cover 11 and a bottom container 1 2. Both parts have out-turned flanges, which are placed in an abutting position and secured together by a securing band 13, tightly closed over the two flanges. Figure 2 shows the Lshaped cross-section of the band before it is closed over the flanges. The band is formed from a strip of 0.7 mm stainless steel to B.S. 1449 (Part 2). The strip is first formed into a loop, the two ends being buttwelded together by an electrical discharge welding technique. The L-section is then formed by stretchforming on a former or die. To secure the flanges together the L-section is placed with the horizontal limb in contact with one flange and the vertical section is then bent over the other flange into the I U-shape shown in Figure 1 , for instance by a swaging operation. Because the band is of stainless steel it does not require any paint protection and can be applied to the ready-painted casing parts without any following paint-finishing. Claims

1. A gas meter of the kind described, wherein the flanges are secured together by an endless band of stainless steel tightly fitting over the flanges.

2. A gas meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said endless band is a strip of 0.7 mm stainless steel with the ends butt-welded together.

3. A gas meter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said casing parts are of mild steel and have a protective paint coating.

4. A gas meter as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said endless band is of U section, the flanges being embraced by the limbs of the U.

5. A gas meter of the kind described substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of assembling a gas meter of the kind described comprising the steps of placing the top and bottom casings together, locating an Lsection stainless steel band over one of the flanges and bending the L-section into a Usection tightly embracing the two flanges.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of placing a valve plate between the casings before the stainless steel band is located thereon.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, including the step of applying a sealant to said flanges.

9. A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, comprising also the step of painting the top and bottom casings before placing them together.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said bending operation is by swaging, which operation causes little or no damage to the paint finish.

11. A method of assembling a gas meter substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.