GB2258898A

GB2258898A - Flow meter mounting assembly and component assembly suitable for use therewith

Info

Publication number: GB2258898A
Application number: GB9216174A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald John Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-30
Filing date: 1992-07-30
Publication date: 1993-02-24
Also published as: GB9216174D0

Abstract

In order to connect inlet and outlet pipes 22, 24 to the base 10 of a meter support unit for supporting a flow-meter unit 14, the ends of the pipes 22, 24 are widened by a widening ring 30 and slid into a sleeve formed by the base 10, to trap a resilient sealing member 32, between the widened end of the pipe 22, 24 and the wall of a bore in the sleeve. Also disclosed is a tool (Fig 4) for removing valves (26, 28) in a flow-way of the meter support unit, which tool has a compressible flange (68) which is inserted into an opening in the valve and compressed to increase its diameter sufficient for it to engage the lip bounding that opening and so enable the valve (26, 28) to be withdrawn from the flow-way by withdrawal of the tool. In other embodiments bases for flow-meters or stopcocks have an opening in a flow-way connected to a removable passageway (102) and either a seal (116) to stop flow from the opening when passageway (102) is disconnected (Figs 5, 6) or a baffle (154) to direct flow from the flow-way to the opening (Fig 7), or have an upstanding flange (146) surrounding the meter or stop cock on the top of the base (Fig 8). <IMAGE>

Description

FLOW METER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY. AND COMPONENT ASSEMBLY SUITABLE FOR USE THEREWITH The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for mounting a flow meter. It is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with arrangements in which that flow meter unit is for metering the flow of water. The present invention is also concerned with component assemblies which may be used, for example, with such a mounting assembly.

In GB-A-2210465, GB-A-2230614, GB-A-2232181, GB A-2239711 and GB-A-2244812, I discussed various meter mounting assemblies. Aspects of the present invention seek to modify and adapt such assemblies. In the meter mounting assemblies discussed in the above specifications, a flow meter unit was mounted on a meter support assembly containing flow-ways leading to and from the flow meter unit. In some of the assemblies described in the above specifications, the meter mounting assembly comprised an upper support plate and a lower base plate interconnected by upstanding pillars, with the flow-ways extending therebetween. The flow-way leading to the flow meter unit preferably contained a stop-cock.

With such an assembly, flow pipes needed to be connected to the meter mounting unit to provide paths of fluid communication to and from the flow-ways. Suitable seals between those pipes and the meter mounting unit then need to be provided. In GB-A2244812, it was proposed that a ring be provided on the end of the pipe, which ring carried one or more sealing members and which ring fitted inside an end of the respective flow-way of the meter mounting unit, the resilient seals then sealing together the pipe and the meter mounting unit, whilst permitting rotation of the end of the pipe within the end of the corresponding flow-way.

The arrangement proposed in GB-A-2244812 has been considered further, and it has been realised that alternative arrangements are possible.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a sealing member, such as an O-ring is fitted onto a pipe, and then a widening member is inserted in an end of the pipe to widen that end. The resulting arrangement is then inserted into a sleeve which has a bore with a diameter greater than the diameter of the widened part of the pipe, but which is sufficiently wide to contact the sealing member even when it is on the narrower part of the pipe. It has been found that the effect of sliding the pipe into the sleeve is to roll the sealing member onto the widened part of the pipe, thereby trapping it between that widened part and the internal surface of the bore. Of course, it is also possible to fit the pipe into the sleeve before fitting the widening member and/or sealing member.

It has been realised that this provides a more straightforward way of achieving sealing between the inlet and outlet pipes and the meter support unit at the ends of the flow-ways. The parts of the meter support unit forming those flow-ways is then designed so as to form the sleeve discussed above. If the pipes are made of plastics material, a widening member in the form of e.g. a metal ring is insertable into the end of the pipe to provide a simple way of achieving sealing. The first aspect of the present invention therefore provides a method of forming such a seal, and to the resulting assembly.Whilst this first aspect of the present invention originated in a desire to improve the sealing of pipes to a meter mounting unit, for fluid communication to the flowways thereof, this first aspect of the present invention is applicable to any arrangement for sealing together a pipe and a sleeve.

Within the first aspect, it is desirable that the end of the pipe in the seal does not move significantly, and to achieve this it is possible to provide a stop member which has an abutment surface which abuts the free end of the pipe in the sleeve, thereby restricting movement thereof, and preventing that end of the pipe being forced out of the sleeve, which could release the sealing member.

Alternatively, or in addition, a ring may be placed between the widened end of the pipe and the adjacent wall of the bore, to stop lateral movement.

Furthermore, in order to improve the effect of the rolling of the sealing member from the narrower to the wider part of the pipe, a shoulder may be provided at the end of the bore, with a further bore extending in the sleeve from that shoulder and containing part of the pipe. The shoulder then limits movement of the sealing member within the sleeve.

In the specifications discussed above, at least the outlet flow-way in the meter mounting unit contained a one-way valve for preventing back-flow of water. Indeed, GB-A-2239711 was concerned with arrangements in which there were two such one-way valves. Inevitably, such one-way valves are not wholly reliable, and therefore, there is need to remove the or each one-way valve for repair and/or replacement. Access to the flow-way can be obtained by removing the flow-meter unit from the meter mounting unit, which may then expose a part of the flow-way containing the one-way valve(s). Of course, fluid flow through the other flow-way must then be prevented by closing of a stop-cock. However, even when the flow meter unit has been removed, it is sometimes difficult to remove the or each one-way valve.

Therefore, a second aspect of the present invention seeks to devise a way of removing the valve, such as a one-way valve, from a flow-way. Firstly, it is proposed that the valve has an opening bounded by an internal lip. Then, a removing tool is provided which has a resilient flange which is compressible, which compression increases the diameter of that resilient flange. Hence, by suitable choice of diameter for the opening and flange, the flange may be inserted through the opening with the flange in an uncompressed state, and the flange then be compressed to increase its diameter sufficient that it exceeds the diameter of the opening. Then, when the tool is withdrawn from the flow-way, the flange abuts against the internal lip, permitting the valve to be drawn out of the flow-way by suitable movement of the removing tool.

Again, although primarily envisaged for use in the removal of a valve from a flow-way of a flow-meter mounting assembly, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Preferably, the removing tool has an abutment surface and a movable plate, with the resilient flange located therebetween. Then, when the plate is moved towards the abutment surface, the flange is compressed. The abutment plate may be connected to a shaft extending through a bore in the removal tool to an end of that removal tool remote from the flange, to permit the flange to be compressed by movement of the remote end of that shaft. Hence, the user may insert the tool into a flow-way to a depth sufficient to reach the valve, but need move only parts which are clear of the flow-way.

As has previously been mentioned, the specifications discussed above were concerned with meter mounting assemblies, and some of those specifications, such as GB-A-2244812, had proposed that a pipe, or other passageway, lead out of the flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit. That pipe could then be used for carrying out fluid pressure tests, and fluid flow tests.

However, when such tests are not being carried out, the previous proposals resulted in there being stagnant water, or other fluid, within the pipe which is undesirable particularly because such stagnant water has an interface with water from passing through the flow-way from the flow-meter unit.

Therefore, a third aspect of the present invention proposes that the passageway formed eg, by a pipe is removably secured to the opening, and there is a removable seal for sealing the opening when the passageway is removed. Thus, in normal operation, the passageway is removed and the opening is sealed by the seal. Hence, there is little or no stagnant water.

When fluid pressure or flow tests are required, the seal is removed and the passageway secured to the opening so that water or other fluid in the second flow-way passes into the passageway, to enable the test to be carried out.

Preferably, the seal is insertable into, and removable from the passageway so that the opening may be sealed prior to the removal of the passageway. In this way, there will be little or no fluid loss.

Where the opening is upstream of a one-way valve, it is possible to test for back-siphonage of fluid through that valve. If the valve is faulty, back siphonage could occur when the flow meter unit was removed, and this can be avoided by tests made using the passageway provided by the third aspect of the present invention.

When two valves in the flow-way leading from the flow meter unit, as in GB-A-2239771, it is preferable that the junction of the passageway with the flow-way is intermediate those valves.

In some of the specifications described above, proposals had been made to mount a meter mounting assembly within a lined cavity, a lining of which can be provided by a casing enclosing the meter mounting assembly. In this case, it is preferable that the casing has a sealable opening into which the passageway can be inserted, so that fluid pressure and flow test can be carried out without otherwise opening the casing.

In the arrangements described in GB-A-2244812, involving a passageway for fluid flow and pressure tests, it has been found that fluid does not reliably enter the passageway from the second flow-way. This is true even where a widened region is provided between the opening from the flow-way and the passageway. Therefore, a fourth aspect of the present invention proposes that there is a baffle in the second flow way adjacent the opening leading to the passageway. That baffle may then direct some of the fluid flow from the second flow-way into the passageway.

Where a widened region is provided between the opening and the passageway, that widened region may surround the second flow-way and there may then be a further opening from that widened region to the second flow-way. Thus, a fluid path may be formed from the second flow-way into the widened region, and hence into the passageway, due to the effect of the baffle, from where fluid will then flow out of the widened region into the second flow-way via the further opening. Thus, it is not possible for stagnant water to develop within the widened region or the passageway. Although the use of such a baffle may be used in conjunction with the removable passageway of the third aspect, the fourth aspect is not limited thereto and is thus an independent aspect of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the meter mounting assembly may be enclosed within a casing. Inevitably, if the flow meter unit is removed from the meter mounting unit, fluid in the flow-meter unit will be released from within the flow-meter unit itself, even if a stop-cock is blocking one of the flow-ways to the flow-meter unit, and one or more one-way valves prevent back flow of fluid through the flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit.

In the arrangements disclosed in the above specifications water so released would immediately fall to the bottom of the casing, and it is then difficult to remove such water. Repeated removals and replacement of the flow-meter cause water to build up within the casing, which is undesirable. Therefore, a fifth aspect of the present invention proposes that the upper surface of the meter mounting unit, on which upper surface the flow-meter unit is mounted, has an upstanding flange, that upstanding flange extending around the flow meter unit and being sealed to the upper surface of a meter mounting unit.

With such a flange, the fluid which escapes when the flow meter unit is removed is held on the upper surface of the meter mounting unit. Since that surface is readily accessible, such water may then be removed easily. Hence, the risk of fluid build-up within the casing is reduced or eliminated.

It should be noted that although the above aspects have been described with reference to flowmeter units, they may also be applicable to arrangements involving stop-cock units, or arrangements in which the assembly has both flow-meter units and stop-cock units.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a meter mounting assembly incorporating an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention; Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate in more detail the joining of a pipe and sleeve according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate a further arrangement of a meter mounting assembly, incorporating the first aspect of the present invention; Figs. 4a to 4c illustrate a removing tool and the arrangement for removal of a valve, according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment incorporating a third aspect of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 5;; Figs. 7a and 7b illustrate another embodiment incorporating the fourth aspect of the present invention; Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the present invention incorporating a fifth aspect of the present invention; and Fig. 9 shows another embodiment also incorporating the fifth aspect of the present invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a mounting assembly comprises a base 10 and a support plate 12, which each contain flow-ways and are connected by flow-ways, and form a meter support unit. A flow meter unit 14 is mounted on the support plate 12 so that the flow-ways of the meter unit 14 are in fluid communication with the flow-ways in the support plate 12. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the meter unit has an outer casing 16 which fits into a recess in the support plate 12, and is held on the support plate 12 by a locking ring 18. That locking ring 18 has a screw engagement with the support plate 12. A stopcock assembly 20 is also mounted on the support plate 12, which stop-cock assembly 20 permits the flow-way to the meter unit 12 to be sealed, or opened as appropriate. An inlet pipe 22 and an outlet pipe 24 are connected to the base 10. The resulting structure is normally mounted within a pit in the ground and is covered by a lid.

The resulting mounting assembly as described above, is similar to that in e.g. GB-A-2230614, and the base 10 and the support plate 12 may be interconnected by pillars as in GB-A-2210465.

Therefore, for further details of these parts of the mounting assembly, reference should be made to those specifications, to GB-A-2232181, GB-A-2239711 and GB A-2244812.

In the mounting assembly of Fig. 1, the flow-way leading from the meter unit 14 has two one-way valves 26, 28, as in GB-A-2239711.

The arrangement of Fig. 1 differs from arrangements discussed in the specifications mentioned above in the arrangement for joining the inlet pipe 22 and outlet pipe 24 to the base 1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the ends of the pipes 22, 24 each are widened by a widening ring 30, and a resilient seal 32, which may be an O-ring, is then trapped between that widened part of the pipe 22, 24 respectively, and the adjacent wall of the flow-way into which the end of the pipe is fitted, which wall is defined by part of the base 10.

Figs. 2a and 2b then show the arrangement for forming the join between the pipes 22,24 and the base in more detail. In Figs. 2a and 2b, the inlet pipe 22 is considered, but the arrangement is equally applicable to the outlet pipe 24. In Fig. 2a, showing an initial stage in the formation of the sealing between the pipe 22 and the base 10, it can be seen that the pipe 22 is received in a sleeve 40 which, in the arrangement of Fig. 1, will be integral with the base 10. The sleeve has a first bore 42 and a second bore 44 with a smaller diameter, with a shoulder 46 at the junction of those bores 42,44. The sealing member 32, in the form of an O-ring, is fitted over the end of the pipe 22, and the widening member 30 then fitted into the pipe to give the pipe a widened part 48 at and adjacent the end thereof. Then, the widened part 48 is slid into the bore 42.

When this is done, the sealing member 32 will contact the inside surface of the bore 42 and be moved upwardly in Fig. 2a, over a step part 50, until it lies over the widened part 48. The shoulder 46 prevents the sealing member 32 from moving excessively within the sleeve 40. When the sealing member 32 lies around the widened part 48, it is trapped between that widened part 48 and the wall of the bore 42, so that it is compressed. The result is shown in Figs. 2b and it can thus be seen that a seal is formed between the pipe 22 and the sleeve 44.

In such an arrangement, it is important that lateral movement of the end 48 of the pipe 22 within the bore 42 is prevented. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, this is achieved by a downwardly extending part 52 which forms part of the meter mounting assembly defining the flow-way between the base 10 and the meter support plate 12. However, it has been appreciated that the sealing shown in Figs. 2a and 2b is applicable to other arrangements for sealing between a pipe and a sleeve, and contexts other than in the connection to flow-ways of a meter mounting assembly. Hence, as shown in Fig. 2b, a stop member 54 may be provided which is received on the sleeve 44, and which has an abutment surface 56 which abuts against the widened end 48 of the pipe 22. Hence, lateral movement is prevented.

Figs. 3a and 3b show another arrangement for preventing lateral movement of the end 48 of the pipe 22 (or the corresponding end of the pipe 24) in which a rigid ring 58 is fitted between that end 48 and the internal wall of the bore 42. Figs. 3a and 3b show this arrangement in the context of a meter mounting assembly corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but again this arrangement is not limited thereto. For example, the ring 58 may be an integral part of the downwardly extending part 52.

It should be noted that where a stop 54, or equivalent, is provided, this also has the effect of limiting movement of the end 48 of the pipe 22, or pipe 24) out of the sleeve 44.

In all the above arrangements, the pipes 22,24 may be of plastics, and the widening member 30 of metal, e.g. copper. The sealing member 32 may be an O-ring of e.g. rubber.

In the arrangements discussed above, there are valves 26, 28 in the flow-way leading from the flowmeter unit 14 to the outlet pipe 24. It is sometimes necessary to remove those valves from that flow-way for inspection and/or replacement, and it has proved difficult easily to achieve such removal. Of course, when the locking ring 18 is released, the housing 16 containing the flow-meter unit may be removed from the meter support plate 12 which gives access to the top of the flow-way containing the valves 26,28. Even when such access is possible, however, removal of the vales 26,28 is not straightforward.

Therefore, Fig. 4a shows a removal tool for removing suitably designed valves 26,28. The tool has an elongate body 60, terminating in a block 62. A shaft 64 then extends through the body 60, and the block 62, and has a plate 66 at an end thereof. A resilient flange 68, for example a rubber O-ring, is then trapped between the block 62 and the plate 66.

At the end of the shaft 64 remote from the plate 66, the shaft 64 has a threaded part 70, and a nut 72 is threaded onto that part 70 of the shaft 64, which nut abuts against a further block 74. It can be seen that when the nut 72 is turned, the shaft 64 will move within the body 60. To prevent the shaft 64 turning within that body, the end 76 within the block 62 is square, as shown in Fig. 4b or with any other suitable shape. The opening 78 within the block 62 is then of corresponding shape, so that the end 76 cannot rotate within the block 62. In this way, the resilient flange 68 may be compressed between the plate 66 and block 62 by suitable movement of the nut 72.

Fig. 4c then shows the arrangement for removing a valve 80 from a flow-way 82. The valve 80 corresponds generally to the valve 28 in Fig. 1, and it is thus assumed that the valve 26 has already been removed. However, the present invention is also applicable to the removal of the valve 26. It can be seen that the valve 80 has an opening defined by a lip 84, and the end of the removing tool, including the plate 66 and flange 68, then passes through that opening, the flange 68 being in the uncompressed state. Then, the nut 72 is turned to compress the flange 68, thereby increasing its diameter. The dimensions of the lip 84 and the flange 68 are chosen so that, when the flange 68 is compressed by movement of the plate 66, its diameter increases to a diameter greater than that of the opening defined by the lip 84. Hence, as shown in Fig. 4c, the flange 68 can abut against the lip 84 when the removing tool is drawn upwardly. However, the valve 80 can be removed from the flow-way 82, by moving upwardly the body 60 of the removing tool. It can thus be seen that the valve 80 can be removed easily, by actions performed on the end of the removing tool which is outside the flow-way 82.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is a development of embodiments disclosed in e.g. GB-A-2239711. The embodiments of Fig. 5, however, is concerned with an arrangement in which there is not necessarily a flow-meter unit.

In this embodiment, the mounting unit 100 is substantially H-shaped, with downwardly extending legs connecting to the inlet and outlet pipes 22,24. One of the upwardly extending arms receives a stop-cock assembly 20. The other arm, as will be discussed in more detail later, has a pipe 102 extending therefrom.

At the central part of the H-shaped mounting unit, is a fixing part 104, which may receive a flow meter unit. However, in the embodiment of Fig. 5, the flowmeter unit is not necessary and that fixing part 104 may be sealed by a cover 106. It should also be noted that the connection of the inlet and outlet pipes 22,24 to the downwardly extending arms of the H-shaped mounting unit 100 is based on the arrangement of Figs.

2a and 2b, and corresponding reference numerals are used.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the H-shaped mounting unit 100 is contained within a casing 108, and a shaft 110 of the stop-cock assembly extends through the lid 112 of the casing 108, and is sealed thereto by a suitable seal 114.

It is sometimes necessary to investigate the flow of fluid within the mounting assembly e.g. to test the stop-cock assembly 20 or to test a flow-meter mounted on the support 104.

If, in the arrangement of Fig. 5, the pipe 102 was permanently secured to the mounting unit 100, with its upper end 115 sealed, then stagnant water could collect in the pipe 102. Therefore, the pipe 102 is removable from the mounting unit 100, with there being a plug 116 fitting in an opening in a part 118 of the mounting unit 100 to seal that part 118 and prevent water entering the pipe 102 from the flow-ways of the mounting unit 100. As can be seen, the plug 116 is inserted by a suitable tool 120.

Once the opening in part 118 is sealed by the plug 116, the pipe 102 is removed from the mounting unit 100 by unscrewing it from a threaded flange 121 of the mounting unit 100. If further pressure or flow tests need to be made, the pipe 102 is re-threaded into the flange 121, and the plug 116 removed from the opening 118 using the tool 120. Water may then pass from the flow-ways of the mounting unit 100 into the pipe 102, enabling the appropriate test to be made.

It may further be seen from Fig. 5 that the end 115 of the pipe 102 projects through the lid 112 of the casing 108. This enables the tests to be made without otherwise breaking the seal of the casing 108.

In such an arrangement, removal of the pipe 102 will cause there to be an opening the casing 108, which opening may be sealed by a suitable plug (not shown).

Fig. 6 shows a modification of this arrangement, in which the plug 116 has O-ring seals 122 thereon, for improving the sealing of the plug to the part 118.

Furthermore, instead of the pipe 102 making threaded engagement with the flange 121, the end 126 of the pipe 102 fits within that flange 121 and a further seal 124 seals that end 126 to part 118 defining the opening. In such an arrangement, the pipe may be threaded at an upper part 130 adjacent upper the end 115, which interlocks with a corresponding thread 132 of the lid 112 of the casing 108.

Thus, these arrangements provide the ability to carry out pressure testing or flow testing of fluid within the mounting unit 100. Since the pipe may be insertable through an opening in the casing, those test may then be made without otherwise opening the casing. These arrangements are also applicable to the embodiment of Fig. 1, eg, by causing the pipe 102 to lead from the chamber 134 which communicates with the flow-way from the flow-meter unit 14 to the outlet pipe 24 intermediate to the values 25, 28.

Figs. 7a and 7b show a further embodiment of the present invention, which are also concerned with arrangements in which there is pipe 150 leading from the flow-way 151 from the flow-meter unit. There is an opening 152 in the wall of that flow-way 151, which permits the flow-way 151 to communicate with a widened region 153 which, in turn, communicates with the pipe 150. A baffle 154 is provided in the flow-way 151 adjacent the opening 152, which is shaped so as to direct fluid flowing from the flow-meter (downwardly in Fig. 7a) into the widened region 153. Furthermore, that widened region 153 has therein a flow guide 155 which defines a curved path 156 from the opening 152 directly into the pipe 150.

Fig. 7b shows the flow-guide 155 in more detail, and it can be seen that the flow guide defines the path 156 between side pieces 157, 158 with different heights. The part 157 of the side wall with a lower height then permits fluid to escape from the channel 156 into the widened region 153 whilst the part 158 of the side walls directs water into the pipe 150.

Furthermore, in the arrangement of Fig. 7a the baffle 154 is part of a spacer part 159 between upper and lower one way valves (only the lower valve 28 is shown in Fig. 7a). Thus, the baffle 154 defines an inlet port 160 into the widened region 153.

In use, some of the water of other fluid flowing in the flow-way 151 is directed via the baffle 154 into the flow guide 155, from the majority is directed into the pipe 150. Turbulence is therefore set up within that pipe 150, so there is continuous mixing of the water within the channel 156 and the pipe 150.

Some of the water in the channel 156 will escape from that channel over the part 157 of the side walls, into the widened part 153 That widened part 153 extends around the flow-way 151, and there is a further opening 161 from that widened part 153 back into the flow-way 151. Hence continuous mixing of the water occurs, so stagnancy does not develop.

In the embodiments of Fig. 7a and 7b, the pipe 150 is fixed to the rest of the assembly, although Fig. 7a shows that it may be sealed by a plug 162 mounted in eg, a support part 163 of the assembly.

However, the arrangement is also applicable to the arrangement to the embodiments of Figs. 5 and 6, in which the pipe is removable. Furthermore, the baffle 154 need not be in the shape demonstrated in Fig 7a, and other arrangements are possible in which the baffle is in the form of a paddle rotating on a spindle, which paddle projects into the flow-way 151 as it rotates, to direct water from that flow-way.

Furthermore, again, this arrangement is applicable to assemblies having a flow-meter unit, a stop-cock unit, or both.

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, in which a meter mounting assembly is located within a cavity in the ground. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, there is a casing 140 sealed to the base 10 of the meter mounting assembly. Other parts are generally similar to parts of Fig. 1, and corresponding reference numerals are used. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of Fig. 6, there is only one valve 142 in the flow-way from the flow meter unit 14 to the outlet pipe 24. There is also a meter data connection 144 which also leads out of the interior of the casing 140, through the base 10.

In such an arrangement, and also in the arrangement of Fig. 1, it is sometimes necessary to remove the flow meter unit 14 from the meter support plate 12. Inevitably, there will be some fluid within the flow meter unit 14, and/or within the casing 16.

That fluid will escape when the flow meter unit 14 is removed. Such escaped fluid will naturally tend to flow to the lowest part of the casing 140 (in this case the top surface of the base 10). It is then difficult to remove that fluid because of the limited access, and the need to remove the support plate 12.

Therefore, in the embodiment of Fig. 7, there is a flange 146 on the upper surface of the meter support plate 12, which surrounds the attachment region of the casing 16 (and hence of the meter unit 14) to the meter support plate 12. When the flow meter 14 is removed, any water within it is retained on the upper surface of the meter support plate 12 by the flange 146, which permits easier removal of that water from the exterior of that casing.

It should be noted that the embodiment of Fig. 8 is generally similar to embodiments of GB-A-2232181 and will not be described further. It differs, as discussed above, in the provision of the flange 146 for water retention.

Fig.9 shows another arrangement incorporating a flange for water retention. The embodiment of Fig. 9 makes use of a mounting unit 180 which is similar to arrangements disclosed in GB-A-2232181 having an upper H-shaped part 181 mounted on a base 182. As illustrated, the upper H-shaped 181 is in two halves, one half of which defining flow-ways leading to and from stop-cock assembly, and the other half having flow-ways leading to and from a flow meter unit 14.

Inlet and outlet pipes 22, 24 are secured to the base 182. There is a one-way valve 183 within the flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit 141. Other details of the construction of the mounting unit 180 are similar to those described in eg, GB-A-2232181, and will not be described in more detail.

The flow-meter unit 14 threads into a collar 184 of an upper part of one arm of the H-shaped upper part 181, and that collar 184 then extends to define the flange 185 surrounding the flow-meter unit 14. Thus, when the flow-meter unit 14 is removed from the collar 184, any water or other fluid which escapes will collect within the collar 185 from where it may be readily removed.

Claims

I. A method of forming a seal between a pipe and a sleeve, the sleeve having an internal bore with a diameter greater than the external diameter of the pipe, the method comprising: fitting the pipe in the internal bore of the sleeve; fitting a resilient sealing member around the pipe adjacent one end thereof; inserting a widening member into said one end of the pipe so as to cause the external diameter of the pipe adjacent that one end to increase, without exceeding the diameter of the bore; and sliding the part of the pipe adjacent said end of the pipe into the bore, thereby to trap the resilient sealing member between the surface of the bore and the part of the pipe adjacent the one end.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the resilient sealing member is an O-ring.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pipe is of plastics material and the widening member is of metal.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bore terminates in a shoulder and a further bore of smaller diameter than said bore extends therefrom, the pipe extending through the further bore away from said one end.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including mounting a stop member on the sleeve, the stop member having an abutment surface which abuts against said one end of the pipe.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, including fitting a rigid ring between the pipe and the bore of the sleeve at or adjacent said one end of the pipe.
7. An assembly of an interconnected pipe and sleeve, the pipe extending into the sleeve and having a widening member in one end of the pipe so as to cause the external diameter of the pipe adjacent that one end to be greater than the other parts of the pipe, the sleeve having an internal bore of a diameter greater than the external diameter of the pipe adjacent the one end, wherein there is a resilient sealing member trapped between the pipe and the internal bore adjacent the one end of the pipe.
8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the resilient sealing member is an O-ring.
9. An assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the pipe is of plastics material and the widening member is of metal.
10. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the bore terminates in a shoulder and a further bore of smaller diameter than said bore extends therefrom, the pipe extending through the further bore away from said one end.
11. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a stop member is mounted on the sleeve, the stop member having an abutment surface which abuts against said one end of the pipe.
12. An assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a rigid ring is fitted between the pipe and the bore of the sleeve or adjacent said one end of the pipe.
13. A mounting assembly for a flow meter, comprising: a meter mounting unit; a flow-meter unit mounted on an upper surface of the meter mounting unit, the meter mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the flow meter unit and a second flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit; wherein inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the first and second flow-ways respectively, and the inlet pipes and the first flow-way are joined, and/or the outlet pipe and the second flow-way are joined at an assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 12.
14. A method of removing a valve from a flow-way, the valve having an opening bounded by an inturned lip, the method comprising inserting a removing tool into the flow-way such that a resilient flange on the removing tool passes through the opening in the check valve, compressing the resilient flange to increase the diameter thereof to a diameter greater than the opening, drawing the resilient flange against the inturned lip, and subsequently withdrawing the removing tool from the flow-way.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the resilient flange is compressed by the interaction of an abutment surface and a compression plate, which compression plate is movable relative to the abutment surface, the moving of the compression plate being activated by a movement of part of the moving tool remote from the resilient flange.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein part of the removing tool is an end of a shaft extending through a bore within the removing tool, the shaft extending to the compression plate through the abutment surface.
17. A mounting assembly for a flow-meter comprising; a meter mounting unit; a flow meter mounted on the meter mounting unit, the meter mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the flow-meter unit and a second flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit, the second flow-way having an opening at an intermediate point thereof; a one-way valve in the second flow-way, the oneway valve being downstream of the opening relative to the flow-meter unit; a passageway leading from, and being removably secured to, the meter mounting unit such that its interior is in fluid communication with the opening; and a removable seal for sealing fluid communication from the opening when the passageway is removed from its securing to the meter mounting unit.
18. A mounting assembly according to claim 17, wherein there is a further one-way valve in the second flow-way upstream of the opening relative to the flow meter unit.
19. A mounting assembly according to claim 17 or claim 18, having a casing enclosing the meter mounting unit and the flow-meter unit, the passageway extending out of the casing when it is secured to the meter mounting unit.
20. A mounting assembly according to any one of claim 17 to 19, wherein the seal is insertable into the passageway for sealing the opening prior to removal of the passageway.
21. A mounting assembly for a flow-meter comprising; a meter mounting unit; a flow meter mounted on the meter mounting unit, the meter mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the flow-meter unit and a second flow-way leading from the flow-meter unit, the second flow-way having an opening at an intermediate point thereof; and a passageway leading from the opening; wherein there is a baffle in the second flow-way adjacent the opening for directing fluid flowing from the flow-meter unit in the second flow-way through the opening into the passageway.
22. A mounting assembly according to claim 21, wherein there is a widened region extending around the second flow-way and communicating with the second flow-way via the opening and with the passageway.
23. A mounting assembly according to claim 22, wherein there is a further opening in the second flowway, the further opening being on the opposite side of the second flow-way from the said opening and communicating with the widened region of the passageway.
24. A mounting assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein there is a one-way valve in the second flow-way, the one-way valve being downstream of the outlet relative to the flow-meter unit;
25. A mounting assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein there is a further one-way valve in the second flow-way upstream of the opening relative to the flow meter unit.
26. A mounting assembly for a flow-meter, comprising: a meter mounting unit; a flow-meter unit mounted on an upper surface of the meter mounting unit, the meter mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the flow meter unit and a second floor-way leading from the flowmeter unit; wherein there is an upstanding flange on the upper surface of the meter mounting unit, the upstanding flange extending around the flow-meter unit and being sealed to the upper surface of the meter mounting unit.
27. A mounting assembly according to claim 13 or any one of claims 17 to 26, having a stop-valve in the first flow-way.
28. A mounting assembly for a stop-cock, comprising: a stop-cock mounting unit; a stop-cock unit mounted on the stop-cock mounting unit, the stop-cock mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the stop-cock unit and a second flow-way leading from the stop-cock unit the second flow-way having an outlet at an intermediate part thereof; a one-way valve in the second flow-way the one way valve being downstream of the outlet relative to the flow meter unit; a passageway leading from, and being removably secured to, the stop cock mounting unit such that its interior is in fluid communication with the opening; and a removable seal for sealing fluid communication from the opening when the passageway is removed from its securing to the stop-cock mounting unit.
29. A mounting assembly for a stop-cock, comprising: a stop-cock mounting unit; a stop-cock unit mounted on the stop-cock mounting unit, the stop-cock mounting unit having a first flow-way extending to the stop-cock unit and a second flow-way leading from the stop-cock unit the second flow-way having an opening at an intermediate part thereof; a passageway leading from the opening; wherein there is a baffle in the second flow-way adjacent the opening for directing fluid flowing from the stop cock unit in the second flow-way through the opening into the passageway.
30. A mounting assembly for a stop-cock, comprising: a stop-cock mounting unit; a stop-cock unit mounted on an upper surface of the stop-cock mounting unit, the stop-cock mounting unit having a first flow way extending to the stopcock unit and a second flow-way leading from the stopcock unit; wherein there is an upstanding flange on the upper surface of the stop-cock mounting unit; the upstanding flange extending around the stop-cock unit and being sealed to the upper surface of the stop-cock mounting unit.
31. A method of forming a seal between a pipe and a sleeve substantially as any one described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or 5
32. A mounting assembly for a flow-meter substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, or Fig. 3, or Figs. 7 and 7b, or Fig. 8, or Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.
33. A mounting assembly for a stop-cock substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 5 or Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.