GB2424934A

GB2424934A - Gas meter bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2424934A
Application number: GB0604970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Garrod
Original assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERIN
Current assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERIN
Priority date: 2005-03-14
Filing date: 2006-03-13
Publication date: 2006-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-13
Also published as: GB0604970D0; GB0505165D0; GB2424934B

Abstract

A bracket 10 is disclosed for supporting a gas meter. The bracket 10 includes a first support plate 12 having, in opposed edges a first slot 13 to accommodate a pipe fitment of a gas meter and a second slot 15 to accommodate pipework. The edges of the second slot 15 are bent at right angles to engage a pipework-retaining clamp 17. The first support plate 12 includes support means 11 to enable the bracket 10 to be fixed to a surface such as a wall. The first support plate 12 includes a means 21 of securing the pipe fitment to prevent unauthorised tampering with the gas meter. The securing means can be an aperture to receive a locking nut, having a head of sufficient size to project partially into the first slot 13.

Description

A GAS METER BRACKET

The present invention relates to a bracket facilitating the installation of new meters, in particular gas meters to be fitted where an existing, long standing gas- supply pipework is present.

When fitting replacement gas meters into older properties, difficulties arise for the installer in retaining the gas meter in position and in particular connecting the gas meter to existing pipework. It is not unknown for the pipework to have been installed shortly after the Second World War and, due to its age or materials available at the time of installation, is in a poor state of repair. The outlet : ** pipework is quite often made from lead and unlikely to be of a size which S...

*...* 15 connects readily with standard modern connections. S...

* : Existing means of supporting the gas meter require a substantial amount of work, * * often involve replacing a pipework and occasionally having to remove and * subsequently repair, surrounding brickwork or plaster. Moreover, gas meters are often located in areas which are not readily accessible and so a simple installation S...

* means would be advantageous.

In addition to the above, it is recognised that a number of customers, in order to reduce the size of their energy bills or to reinstate a supply disconnected by the gas-supply company, will tamper with the gas meter. It would be useful therefore to have a gas meter which is provided with a means by which tampering with the gas meter is made more difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems.

According to the invention therefore, there is disclosed a bracket for use in supporting a gas meter, the bracket comprising a first support plate, including support means, the support means being fixable to a wall or other supporting surface, the first support plate having a generally rectangular slot, to accommodate a pipe fitment of a gas meter, in one of its edges and a further slot, in the opposed edge to accommodate pipework; wherein the plate edge to either side of the further slot is bent at right angles to accommodate a pipework-retaining clamp. The two slots allow gas meters to be replaced, relatively quickly and easily.

Preferably the support means comprises a second support plate at right angles to and joined along a common edge with the first support plate. The plate provides a large surface area across which to spread the weight of the meter.

Advantageously, the width of the first support plate is generally greater than that : *s of the second support plate to facilitate fitment to a wall surface. S... S...

The first support plate advantageously includes securing means operable to hinder * : removal of a union. The securing means particularly advantageously comprises an aperture to receive a locking nut.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of * supporting a gas meter comprising the steps of; (i) securing a bracket to a support surface, the bracket including a gas- meter support plate, (ii) locating an inlet-supply union of a gas meter into a cut out in a first outer edge of the plate, (iii) locating an outlet-supply of a gas meter into a further cut out in the edge opposing the first outer edge, (iv) applying retaining means to secure the gas meter in position.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of reference only one embodiment of a bracket. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket; and Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a bracket.

The bracket 10 comprises two substantially rectangular plates 11, 12 joined along a conimon edge and at right angles to one another. The first plate 11 is secured to the wall or other suitable surface sufficiently to be able to support the weight of a gas meter. The plate 11 has a number of holes 11 A within its structure to enable screws to be passed through to secure the plate to the wall or surface by conventional means.

The second plate 12, in use, is substantially horizontal to support a gas meter. The : ** plate 12 has an aperture 13 along one edge 14 to accommodate a brass union. The *.S.

union can be further held in position by conventional means, not illustrated. S...

* : :* The edge of the plate 12 opposite to the edge 14, includes a semicircular cut out :. 15 to accommodate existing household pipe work. The edge immediately surrounding the cut out 15 is bent downwards at right angles to the plate 12 to

: 20 form tabs 16A, 16B. In order to secure pipework in position, a clamp 17 is * a.. secured to the tabs I 6A, I 6B, with the gas meter or pipework within the cut out 15. Firstly, the clamp 17 is located such that the tab 18 is located within the slot in tab 16B, and the hole 19 in the clamp 17 aligned with the hole in tab 16A. A non-tamper screw 20 then secures the clamp 17 in position. ..DTD: Where required, a number of further holes can be included in the plate 12 to enable further security features to be included. For example, locks or other anti- tamper measures can be included to prevent the gas supply from being turned on, when the gas supplier has turned said supply off, perhaps due to non-payment of bills by the user. As a further example, means can be included to prevent bypassing of the gas supply measurement facilities incorporated into the meter.

As an example of security means, the plate 12 on Figure 1 has an aperture 21 through which a locking nut (not illustrated) can be passed. The locking nut is secured such that it cannot readily be removed without being broken and has a head of such a size that it juts partially into the aperture 13. The union, which fits relatively snugly into the aperture, is thereby prevented from being removed.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention. * ** * . * S...

*Se.S. 15 S... * S. * . . *.* *

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*..* : 20 I... S * *ISS

Claims

Claims 1. A bracket for use in supporting a gas meter, the bracket

comprising a first support plate, including support means, the support means being fixable to a wall or other supporting surface, the first support plate having a generally rectangular slot, to accommodate a pipe fitment of a gas meter, in one of its edges and a further slot, in the opposed edge to accommodate pipework; wherein the plate edge to either side of the further slot is bent at right angles to engage a pipework-retaining clamp.
2. A bracket according to Claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a second support plate at right angles to and joined along a common edge : with the first support plate. S...

*.e. 15

S S S...
3. A bracket according to Claim 2, wherein the width of the first support * :: .5 plate is generally greater than that of the second support plate. *5S

S
4. A bracket according to any preceeding claim wherein the first support :::: * 20 plate includes securing means operable to hinder removal of a pipe S...

fitment.
5. A bracket according to Claim 4 wherein the securing means comprises an aperture to receive a locking nut.
6. A bracket substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A method of supporting a gas meter comprising the steps of (i) securing a bracket to a support surface, the bracket including a gas- meter support plate, (ii) locating an inlet-supply union of a gas meter into a cut out in a first outer edge of the plate, (iii) locating an outlet-supply of a gas meter into a further cut out in the edge opposing the first outer edge, (iv) applying retaining means to secure the gas meter in position. * a. I. S *4Sa * asa * . * 54 * A Al *

S pp A S * a. a Is., * * *48