GB2117524A - A meter display housing - Google Patents

Abstract

A body part 1 and an end cap 3 with a transparent window 2 all of shatterproof polycarbonate material making a housing suitable for insertion into a wall. The end cap provides a flange 4 to engage on the rim of a hole in a wall in which the body 1 is set, and screws 5 are provided at intervals for providing a key for bonding between the body and the structure into which it is set. The body is shown as cylindrical with a circular end cap, but the shape may be varied as convenient. This housing enables a meter display to be inspected from outside a building without access in an air and water tight construction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved display housing This invention relates to an improved meter display housing.

Meters for public utility supplies require to have numerical displays to show the quantity of e.g.

water, gas, electricity supplied to any particular premises. It is convenient if the display can be read from outside the building without gaining access to the building for charging purposes so that the reading may be conducted even when the occupier is absent. However, because the meter or at least a display unit slaved to the meter must be mounted in an aperture through the building wall, it is necessary at the same time for the aperture to be effectively air and water4ight. The requirement of airtightness is particularly important for gas meters as an inrush of air can start an outbreak of fire, orfan a minor outbreak into a major one. Other reasons are for draughtproofing and avoiding damp problems. At the same time it is necessary to make the housing vandal proof and at least partly transparent.

According to this invention a meter display housing comprises at least an end part for fitting in a passage through a wall, made of shatterproof material and providing at least a transparent area of sufficient size to enable the display to be seen without removal or opening of any part of the housing.

The shatterproff material is advantageously of polycarbonate and the housing may be for example cylindrical with a circular end part all or part of which may be of transparent polycarbonate material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a meter display housing according to the invention.

The meter display housing shown comprises a generally cylindrical or tubular part 1 within which can be accommodated a meter display, the display elements of which (rotating number wheels or liquid crystal elements for example) are directed to show through a circular transparent window part 2 of an end cap 3 having a flange 4 for engaging an outer rim of an aperture in a wall into which the part 1 can be inserted. Screws 5 are also provided, not to secure the cap to the part 1 but to provide a key for plaster to bond the housing into a wall aperture. The cap 3 with its window 2 may be a single unitary moulding or turning with the tubular part 1, or may be adhesive bonded thereto.

The housing is made from a shatterproof polycarbonate material, the window 2 being of transparent shatterproof polycarbonate and is not openable. The display can be seen from the outside and if the display is mounted in a building wall the meter display may be readable without gaining access to the premises. A further duplicate display may be provided within the premises for the occupier's reference.

The geometric form of the housing may be varied, e.g. the cross-section may be rectangular or square and the window part 2 be of any size or shape sufficient to allow the display to be clearly visible.

CLAIMS (Filed 31.8.82) 1. A meter display housing comprising at least an one part for fitting in a passage through a wall, made of shatterproof material, and providing at least a transparent area of sufficient size to enable the display to be seen without removal or opening of any part of the housing.

2. A housing according to Claim 1 which comprises a body in the form of a four or more sided prism or a cylinder with a correspondingly shaped end part all or part of which is made of transparent shatterproof polycarbonate material.

3. A housing according to Claim 2 wherein the end part provides a flange at its end of greater dimension than the body, for engaging the outer rim of an aperture in a wall into which the body is set.

4. A housing according to Claim 3 wherein means such as screws projecting from the wall of the body are provided where necessary to provide a key to bond the housing into a wall aperture.

5. A meter display housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved display housing This invention relates to an improved meter display housing. Meters for public utility supplies require to have numerical displays to show the quantity of e.g. water, gas, electricity supplied to any particular premises. It is convenient if the display can be read from outside the building without gaining access to the building for charging purposes so that the reading may be conducted even when the occupier is absent. However, because the meter or at least a display unit slaved to the meter must be mounted in an aperture through the building wall, it is necessary at the same time for the aperture to be effectively air and water4ight. The requirement of airtightness is particularly important for gas meters as an inrush of air can start an outbreak of fire, orfan a minor outbreak into a major one. Other reasons are for draughtproofing and avoiding damp problems. At the same time it is necessary to make the housing vandal proof and at least partly transparent. According to this invention a meter display housing comprises at least an end part for fitting in a passage through a wall, made of shatterproof material and providing at least a transparent area of sufficient size to enable the display to be seen without removal or opening of any part of the housing. The shatterproff material is advantageously of polycarbonate and the housing may be for example cylindrical with a circular end part all or part of which may be of transparent polycarbonate material. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a meter display housing according to the invention. The meter display housing shown comprises a generally cylindrical or tubular part 1 within which can be accommodated a meter display, the display elements of which (rotating number wheels or liquid crystal elements for example) are directed to show through a circular transparent window part 2 of an end cap 3 having a flange 4 for engaging an outer rim of an aperture in a wall into which the part 1 can be inserted. Screws 5 are also provided, not to secure the cap to the part 1 but to provide a key for plaster to bond the housing into a wall aperture. The cap 3 with its window 2 may be a single unitary moulding or turning with the tubular part 1, or may be adhesive bonded thereto. The housing is made from a shatterproof polycarbonate material, the window 2 being of transparent shatterproof polycarbonate and is not openable. The display can be seen from the outside and if the display is mounted in a building wall the meter display may be readable without gaining access to the premises. A further duplicate display may be provided within the premises for the occupier's reference. The geometric form of the housing may be varied, e.g. the cross-section may be rectangular or square and the window part 2 be of any size or shape sufficient to allow the display to be clearly visible. CLAIMS (Filed 31.8.82)

1. A meter display housing comprising at least an one part for fitting in a passage through a wall, made of shatterproof material, and providing at least a transparent area of sufficient size to enable the display to be seen without removal or opening of any part of the housing.

2. A housing according to Claim 1 which comprises a body in the form of a four or more sided prism or a cylinder with a correspondingly shaped end part all or part of which is made of transparent shatterproof polycarbonate material.

3. A housing according to Claim 2 wherein the end part provides a flange at its end of greater dimension than the body, for engaging the outer rim of an aperture in a wall into which the body is set.

4. A housing according to Claim 3 wherein means such as screws projecting from the wall of the body are provided where necessary to provide a key to bond the housing into a wall aperture.

5. A meter display housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.