GB2478009A

GB2478009A - Gas meter bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2478009A
Application number: GB1003055A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Simon Hollyoak; Luke Peter Price
Original assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-23
Filing date: 2010-02-23
Publication date: 2011-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-23
Also published as: GB201003055D0; GB2478009B

Abstract

An adaptor 10 is disclosed which is for use in a semi-submerged meter box, to support a smart meter. The adaptor 10 comprises an elongate base portion 11 having opposing long edges to support a meter support 15. Feet 12b, (13b) and legs 12a, (13a) extend from the opposed shorter edges of the base portion and the feet 12b, (13b) include apertures 14 enabling fitment means to secure the adaptor 10 to a box. A meter support 15 extends perpendicularly from a long edge of the base portion 11, said meter support 15 having apertures or cut. outs 16,7 to receive the inlet and outlet of a meter. A second meter support may be provided extending from the second elongate edge.

Description

GAS METER BRACKET

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a means of adapting a gas meter box to receive a smart meter or a pre-payment meter. In particular, the type of box referred to is a semi-concealed or semi-submerged box, which is often installed such that at least a portion is below ground.

Background to the Invention

The incorporation of a new generation of meters commonly referred to as smart meters, has been required by the Department of Energy and Climate change. The aim is to complete this by December 31 2020. Smart meters are to bring increased functionality and to provide the consumer with information enabling the consumer to understand how much energy is being consumed, to take advantage of more cost-effective tariffs and to sell energy, where applicable more easily back to the energy supplier. * 0 *0*.

The problem for the supplier is to satisfactorily and speedily bring about the installation into millions of homes, of the smart meters which are usually more * bulky than conventional meters. In addition the installation needs to be durable enough to last for the 20 year lifetime of the meter. Difficulties are further * ** encountered in that different energy suppliers have conventionally used their own : . bespoke meter boxes and so there is no simpler solution to adapting a box to * ** 25 receive a smart meter. In addition whatever solution is proposed must enable the safety requirements in respect of the flexible corrugated piping and the joints in and out of the meter to be met. Moreover, due to the location of the meters, often within a driveway or garden, it is desirable that the box not extend too greatly from the ground.

In one example of a proposed solution, a sleeve is proposed whose lateral has no base portion and so can simply fit inside the box. In addition the sleeve has a fitment means, in the form of a standard bracket fixing providing support for the new meter. One difficulty of this solution is that the upper edge of the sleeve sits when installed, proud of the box and so the effective height of the box is increased. Moreover, the gap between the sleeve and the box needs to be sealed to minimise water and fauna ingress therethrough. Installation is therefore time consuming and unsightly.

Ideally a solution to the problem enables a box of any common manufacture to be effectively adapted to receive and to house the smart meter, for a twenty year period. It is an object of the current invention to provide a bracket which addresses the above problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided an adaptor for use in a semi submerged meter box, to support a smart meter, the adaptor comprising: an elongate base portion having opposing long edges to support a meter support, * * feet and legs extending from the opposed shorter edges of the base portion to raise * : *.: 20 the base portion from the floor of a box, the feet or legs including apertures enabling a fitment means such as a screw to pass therethrough and secure the *..: adaptortoabox; : a meter support extending perpendicularly from a long edge of the base portion, : said meter support having apertures or cut-outs to receive the inlet and outlet of a *:*. 25 meter.

The above configuration enables the majority of meter boxes to be adapted to receive a smart meter.

Optionally, the meter support and the feet and legs extend in opposite directions to each other.

Optionally, the adaptor which includes a second meter support extending from the second elongate edge of the base portion and in the same direction as the first meter support.

Alternatively, the adaptor includes a second meter support extending from the opposite edge of the base support and in the opposed direction. This variant enables the adaptor to be used in a class of meter boxes which otherwise require a specialised adaptor to be used.

Preferably, the or each meter support is integral with the base portion. This allows for ease of manufacture of the adaptor and produces a stronger and more durable article.

Advantageously the corners of the adaptor are rounded and further advantageously are covered with a resilient material such as rubber or plastic to minimise the risk of an operator cutting themselves accidently.

Advantageously, the or each aperture through which a fitment means is passed **e.

includes a sealant material around its edges to minimise the risk of water ingress into the box. ** * * * * * *.

* Brief Description of the Drawings

* ** The invention is now described with respect to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example, two embodiments of an adaptor. In the drawings: * 25 Figures 1 a and lb are respectively a front and a plan view of a first embodiment of an adaptor; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of Figures 1 a, 1 b; and Figures 3a and 3b are respectively a front and a plan view of a second embodiment of an adaptor.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The adaptor as shown herein is for use in conjunction with a semi-submerged gas-meter box to support smart meters. Said smart meters need to be installed for every user by the end of 2020. Given the number of users therefore, and the relatively short time period, the rate of installation of the new meters needs to be quite high. However the situation is complicated by the fact that the meters are of a different size to those currently in use and therefore support within the meter box needs to be upgraded. Moreover, each gas supply company employs a different size and internal configuration of meter box and so it is difficult to be able to easily install large numbers without needing to carry the necessary adaptors to cope with each design individually.

The bracket as disclosed herein is able to so cope and permits therefore any adaption of a semi-submerged meter box to the new meters without undue effort.

Referring initially to Figures 1 a, lb and 2, these show a first embodiment of an adaptor, generally referenced 10. The bracket 10 is formed of a durable and strong material such as steel. Preferably, the shape is such that the features of the S. adaptor 10 (with the exception of apertures for fixing means) can be produced by *S..

* 20 bending a cut and shaped piece of sheet steel. This has the advantage firstly of ease of manufacture as the bending step can be easily carried out, and can be done * : to a consistent standard. Where an embodiment requires two or more separate pieces to be brought together, this step can be time consuming, and depending on * ** the nature and quality of the join between those separate pieces, produces an * * S adaptor of variable quality.

The adaptor 10 has a base portion 11 which is elongate in shape and has at either short end, angled legs 12a, 13a and feet 12b, 13b. Each of the feet 12b, 13b has holes 14 therethrough to enable fitment means, such as screws to be passed through the adaptor 10 to secure the adaptor 10 to the box. Extending from one edge of the base portion 11 is a meter support 15, to which, in use, the meter is fixed. The meter support shown is of standard configuration and has two cut out portions 16, 17 into which the union of a meter is fitted and held in place.

Provision, in the form of various slots and further apertures 18, 19, enables the meter to be physically fixed in place and secured to prevent tampering.

Figures 3a-c illustrate a second embodiment of an adaptor, generally referenced 30. This embodiment has features in common with the first embodiment. An elongate base portion 31 has two legs 32a, 33a and feet 32b, 33b depending from the shorter ends. A first bracket 35 extends perpendicularly from said base portion 31 and includes cut-outs 36, 37 to receive a union of a gas meter. l0

In addition to the first bracket 35, the adaptor 30 includes a further bracket 40 extending from the opposite edge of the base portion 31 to that from which the first bracket 35 extends. The further bracket 40, has the same shape as the first bracket 35.

In use therefore, the adaptor 30 can be utilised in similar manner as described above for the adaptor 10. The legs 32b, 33b rest on and are secured to the base of the box. The smart meter then is secured to the first bracket 35. For some boxes *.

which are used commercially however, there is insufficient space on which the *.....

* 20 legs can rest. The further bracket 40 therefore enables the adaptor to be used the **. other way up with the surface 41 resting on and being secured to a corresponding surface in the box. The meter is then secured to the further bracket by means of * *, the cut-outs 42, 43. * S * *** * ** *

* *: 25 To facilitate this, the base portion 31 includes apertures 44 to enable fixing means such as screws to pass therethrough and into the surface on the box.

It should be appreciated that in a further embodiment, not illustrated, the further bracket 40 can be formed on the same side of the base portion 31 as the first bracket 35. This embodiment requires however that one of the brackets be welded or otherwise fixed into and held in position which may produce an article which is less strong and durable than is the case where all the features are integral with each other.

Due to the small amount of space available for the operator to work in and the possible requirement for speed on installing the smart meter there is a risk that an operator can cut himself on one of the edges or corners of an adaptor. If desired therefore a resilient material such as a rubber or a plastics material can be fixed about an edge or a corner to protect the operator. Said protective covering or coating can be included on manufacture or supplied separately.

Due to the fixing means employed, care needs to be taken to prevent water ingress through any aperture or weakening made in the box by the fixing means. The adaptor can therefore be provided with sealant material around the edge of an aperture through which a fixing means is to pass to ensure a good seal between an adaptor and a box.

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 *S..

invention. *.* * * ** * * * * * S. *.* * * a. * . S *** * ** S * , S * a.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adaptor for use in a semi submerged meter box, to support a smart meter, the adaptor comprising: an elongate base portion having opposing long edges to support a meter support, feet and legs extending from the opposed shorter edges of the base portion to raise the base portion from the floor of a box, the feet or legs including apertures enabling a fitment means such as a screw to pass therethrough and secure the adaptor to a box; a meter support extending perpendicularly from a long edge of the base portion, said meter support having apertures or Cut-outs to receive the inlet and outlet of a meter.
2. An adaptor according to Claim 1, wherein the meter support and the feet and legs extend in opposite directions to each other.
3. An adaptor according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the adaptor includes a second meter support extending from the second elongate edge of the base portion and in the same direction as the first meter support.

I....:
4. An adaptor according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the adaptor includes S. a second meter support extending from the opposite edge of the base support and in the opposed direction. * * . S * S.

*
5. An adaptor according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each meter support is integral with the base portion.
6. An adaptor according to any preceding claim, wherein the corners of the adaptor are rounded.
7. An adaptor according to Claim 6, wherein the corners are covered with a resilient material such as rubber or plastic.
8. An adaptor according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each aperture through which a fitment means is passed includes a sealant material around its edges to minimise the risk of water ingress into the box.
9. An adaptor substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. S * S * IS * S * * S. * S. * a * * ** *s * * . * S *.