GB2138910A - Gas supply conduit system - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket 42 for supporting a gas meter 2 has a platform 46 and a backing plate 44 which is secured to a wall. The platform has oppositely faced notches 50 and 52 each receiving a respective coupling 14 or 28 annularly grooved for engagement by the sides of the notch so that the engaged couplings cannot pass downwards through the notches. Coupling 10 is connected to meter inlet 6 and coupling 28 to meter outlet 10 whereby the meter is suspended from the platform. Gas from the mains is supplied by a pipe to a pressure reducer 4 connected to the upper end of coupling 14, and gas is supplied to a gas consuming appliance by another pipe connected to the upper end of coupling 28. The couplings connected to the meter are at the closed ends of the notches so the meter cannot be dislodged from the platform. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A gas supply conduit system This invention concerns a gas supply conduit system.

It is known to measure the amount of gas supplied from a source, for example the gas mains, to a gas consuming apparatus, for example a burner, by a gas meter disposed in the gas flow path between the source and the apparatus. Known gas meters have two substantially vertical pipes a fixed distance apart projecting from a top of the meter. One pipe is a gas inlet to the meter, and the other pipe is the gas outlet from the meter.

Gas from the source is conveyed to the meter through a first portion of conduit (which may include a pressure regulator) connected to the inlet by a first coupling. Gas from the meter is conveyed to the consuming apparatus via a second portion of conduit connected through a second coupling to the meter outlet.

Each coupling has a tubular part provided with an extermal collar from which a tab projects.

To support the meter, a meter support bracket is mounted on a vertical wall or other support and comprises a horizontal rectangular platform of sheet metal formed with two parallel notches extending into the metal from the same edge of the platform and spaced apart by the same distance as the inlet and outlet pipes of the meter. The couplings are fitted into the two notches through the open ends thereof at the edge of the platform so that the collars overlie and rest on the platform at the margins of both notches so that the meter is supported by the bracket. A number of holes are formed in the platform alongside each notch whereby a bolt or screw engaging the tab of each coupling can engage a said hole to lock the coupling in position on the bracket. This prevents the couplings becoming inadvertently dislodged from the notches so that the meter would fall off the bracket.

A number of drawbacks are associated with the known system. These are (A) The cost of the bracket is increased by having to form holes alongside the notches; (B) The cost of couplings is increased by having to provide them with collars and tabs plus locking screws or bolts whether the collar be rigidly integral with the coupling using a sweated jointing technique or is screwed thereon using additional screw thread formations; (C) The cost of fitting the system is increased by gas fitters having to spend time locking the tabs of the collars to the bracket by screws or bolts, which time is further increased if the tab of a sweated-on collar is (after the coupling is connected to the meter) out of position with the nearest hole in the bracket and has to be hammered into the correct position using considerable force.

According to the invention a gas supply conduit system comprises a gas meter provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet respectively, first and second portions of conduit connected through first and second respective couplings to the inlet and outlets respectively, bracket means mounted on a support, the bracket means being formed with first and second notches each through in a vertical direction, said notches extending into the bracket means from one or more edges of said bracket means, at said edge or edges the open end or lead-in to one said notch facing in a different direction to that faced in by the open end or lead-in to the other said notch, the first and second couplings fitting in the first and second notches respectively and adjacent to each notch the bracket means hav- ing an upper-surface portion extending transversely to the vertical and supporting an overlying part of the coupling fitting in the notch so that the meter is supported by said bracket means.

The dispositions and dimensions of the notches can be such that neither coupling can be displaced from its respective notch through the open end thereof. The open ends or leadins to the two notches can face in substantially opposite directions. In such a case, for example, provided spacing betwween the closed ends of the notches is substantially equal to the distance between the two couplings on the meter (and/or the notches have appropriate length dimensions), it is not possible to dislodge either coupling from the bracket means when both couplings are connected to the meter. Thus the mounting of the meter on the bracket means can be secure without the need to use tabs and locking bolts.

At least one of the notches can be appropriately shaped to accommodate only one of the couplings. If one of these couplings is specifically designed or intended for connection to the meter inlet and the other coupling is for connection to the meter outlet, then the meter can only be mounted in one disposition on the bracket means and inadvertent mounting of it the wrong way round is more easily avoided.

Each notch may be formed in a sheet metal platform of the bracket means.

At least one of the couplings can be formed with groove means engaged by the platform.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective and exploded view showing diagrammatically a fragment of a gas supply conduit system formed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged fragment of the view in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view on reduced scale of a modification of the support bracket in Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are also plan views on reduced scale of other embodiments of support bracket.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a known gas meter is shown at 2 and a known gas pressure reducer at 4. Projecting from the top of the meter is a vertical inlet pipe 6 and a vertical outlet pipe 8 a fixed distance from the inlet, the pipes being externally screw-threaded at 10 and 12 respectively.

Shown at 14 is a coupling for connection to inlet 6. This coupling comprises a tubular part 1 6 of circular section with an integral lower collar 18, engageable by the inturned lip 20 of a freely rotatable nut 22 threaded internally at 24 to engage with thread ?0 to con ect the coupling to the inlet 6. At its other end, the coupling is externally screw-threaded at 26 to engage an internally threaded outlet bore (not shown) of the pressure reducer 4 having an inlet (not shown) connectable to a feed pipe (not shown) from the gas mains. the feed pipe and reducer 4 forming a feed conduit connectable to meter inlet 6 by coupling 14.

Shown at 28 is another coupling for connection to outlet 8. Coupling 28 has a tubular part 30 with a collar (not shown) similar to collar 18 engageable by a nut 32 similar to nut 22. The internal thread on nut 32 is to engage with thread 1 2 to connect coupling 28 with the outlet 8. Tubular part 30 is extended by an integral narrower diameter tube part 34 for connection with a gas distribution conduit which can comprise a pipe (not shown) connected to part 34, for example through a known elbow joint 36.

The tubular parts 16, 32 of both couplings are both surrounded by respective annular grooves 38 and 40, groove 38 being located between the lower end of thread 26 and a nut formation 41 fast with the tube part 1 6.

A meter mounting bracket 42 is formed from sheet metal bent into two portions 44 and 46 at a right-angle. Portion 44 is for mounting on a support, for example on a vertical wall, using screws in mounting holes of which some are shown at 48. The other portion 46 forms a flat, horizontal platfform of rectangular shape. A notch 50 or 52, which is through in the vertical direction, extends into the platform 46 from each of its shorter edges or sides 54 and 56 respectively. The notches are substantially co-linear, with their open ends facing in opposite directions and having closed radiused ends 58 and 60. The width of notch 50 in the direction parallel to side 54 is slightly greater than the innermost radius of the groove 38, and the vertical distance between the opposite side walls of the groove is slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet metal forming the platform 46.The radius of the curved end 58 of the notch 50 is substantially the same as the innermost radius of groove 38. Therefore the coupling 14 is a fairly close fit in the notch 50 when slipped into the open end of the notch and moved up to the closed end where the platform margin about the notch supports the upper wall of the groove 38 over substantially 180 about the axis of the coupling. The coupling 28 is likewise supported by the platform 46 using the groove 40 and notch 52; except that since the innermost radius of groove 40 is less than that of groove 38 the width of notch 52 is less than that of notch 50 and the radius of closed end 60 is less than that of end 58. Therefore coupling 14 will not fit into notch 52, and coupling 28 is a readily observable sloppy fit in notch 50. The length of both notches may be substantially the same.

The centres of curvature of the closed ends 58 and 60 are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the vertical axes of the inlet 6 and outlet 8.

With the bracket 42 mounted on a support so the platform 46 is substantially horizontal, the couplings 14 and 28 are located in the notches 50 and 52 respectively and supported by the platform. Then the meter inlet and outlet are connected to the couplings. At this point the meter 2 is supported by the platform 46 and hangs there-below, and cannot be dislodged therefrom since neither coupling 14, 28 can be removed from the respective notch 50, 52 until at least one coupling is disconnected from the meter.

The couplings can be connected to the feed conduit and to the distribution conduit leading to an appliance, either before or after the couplings are attached to the meter.

The arrangement described above with reference to the drawings avoids the drawbacks (A), (B) and (C) listed above.

Because coupling 14 will not fit into notch 52, it is not possible, once that coupling has been connected to the feed conduit (or the coupling 28 to the distribution conduit) to suspend the gas meter 2 (in the disposition shown in Fig. 1) from bracket 42 using the couplings and at the same time inadvertently connect the feed conduit to the inlet 6. The dimension between the position of the inlet 6 and outlet 8 and the position of the very front of the gas meter 2 is greater than the dimension between the back plate 44 and the position of the notches 50 and 52. This means the meter can only be mounted on the bracket 42 using the couplings as described provided the meter faces forwardly away from the back plate 44. If the meter were turned round back-to-front, to face the back plate 44, the inlet 6 and outlet 8 would then be too far forwardly of the back plate and could not register with the couplings 14 and 28. Therefore it is not possible to turn the meter round and then connect the coupling 28 in notch 52 to the inlet 6 and to connect the coupling 14 in the notch 50 to the outlet 8. So a meter which has been turned round and has its inlet 6 connected to the distribution conduit and its outlet 8 connected to the feed conduit cannot be suspended from the bracket 42 by the couplings. Turning a gas meter round in the supply conduit system is one method used to obtain gas fraudulently. Accordingly, when the conduit system includes the couplings 14 and 28 connected to the meter 2 which is not and cannot be mounted on the bracket, this readily indicates the equipment has been tampered with.

As shown in phantom lines in Fig.2, holes 62 to receive bolts or screws may be formed through the platform 46 alongside each notch 50, 52. These holes in conjunction with screws or bolts may be used to secure locking means extending across the respective notch to trap or hold the respective coupling previously inserted in the notch. The locking means may be a bar, or, for example, a wwasher or a disc 64 with a central aperture engaged by a screw 66 engaged in a hole 62, the periphery of the disc overlying the adjacent notch. In Fig. 2 the bracket may be supplied to the fitter with the couplings or at least one coupling, for example coupling 28, already engaged in the respective notch and retained therein by the respective locking means.

In the mounting bracket 42A shown in plan in Fig. 3, corners 53 of the platform 46A at the lead-ins or open ends of the notches 50 and 52 are curved or radiused which reduces the chance of injury to the person and facilitates entry of the couplings to the notches.

In another embodiment of mounting bracket 428 shown in Fig. 4, notches 50B and 52B are formed in the platform 468 from the same front edge 68 but with the notches facing in different directions, i.e. the axes of the notches are transverse. When the couplings in the notches SOB, 52B are also connected to the meter the couplings cannot be inadvertently dislodged from the bracket.

A similar advantage is obtained using the embodiment of mounting bracket 42C in Fig.

5 in which the notches are also faced in different directions. In this case one notch, for exanple, notch 50C, in the platform 46C extends from the front edge 68 and the other notch extends from a side edge of platform 46C, for example the notch 52C extending from the side edge 56 therefore the axes of the notches are at substantially 90'.

The bracket 42D in Fig. 6 has a platform 46D formed with notches 50D and 52D with axes at right-angles as a variation of the arrangement in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 4 and 6 holes similar to 62 can be provided alongside one or more of the notches to engage aforesaid locking means.

Either coupling, for example the coupling 14, may comprise a manually operable cut-off valve to stop the supply of gas when desired.

Claims (12)

1. A gas supply conduit system comprising a gas meter provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet respectively, first and second portions of conduit connected through first and second respective couplings to the inlet and outlet respectively, bracket means mounted on a support, the bracket means being formed with first and second notches each through in a vertical direction, said notches extending into the bracket means from one or more edges of said bracket means, at said edge or edges the open end or lead-in to one said notch facing in a different direction to that faced in by the open end or lead-in to the other said notch, the first and second couplings fitting in the first and second notches respectively, and adjacent to each notch the bracket means having an upper surface portion extending transversely to the vertical and supporting an overlying part of the coupling fitting in the notch so that the meter is supported by said bracket means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the dispositions and dimensions of the notches are such that neither coupling can be displaced from its respective notch through the open end thereof.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the open ends of the first and second notches face in opposite directions.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the first and second notches are substantially co-linear.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the notches extend into the bracket means along respective first and second directions which are transverse one to the other.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, in which said first and second directions are at substantially 90 one to the other.

7. A system as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the bracket means comprises a platform in which the notches are formed.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, in which at least one coupling is formed with groove means engaged by the platform so that an upper wall of the groove means sits on an upper surface portion of the platform margining the notch in which the coupling is fitted.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, in which said groove means is an annular groove around the axis of the coupling.

10. A system as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which a said notch and a said coupling are each so shaped that that coupling will not fit into that notch, that coupling only being fittable into the other notch.

11. A gas supply conduit system as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the meter is suspended from the bracket means.

12. A gas supply conduit system substan tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the accompanying drawings.