GB2501866A

GB2501866A - A meter bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2501866A
Application number: GB201204185A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Hollyoak; Luke Price
Original assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: CONTINENTAL PRODUCT ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-09
Filing date: 2012-03-09
Publication date: 2013-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-09
Also published as: GB201204185D0; GB2501866B

Abstract

An adaptor bracket to support a smart gas meter 40 in a semi-concealed meter box, the adaptor bracket comprising: an elongate base portion having upper and lower planar surfaces; a support member extending from each of the opposed shorter edges to enable the base portion to be raised from the floor of a box; the elongate base portion defining an aperture 41; the base portion of a meter extending, in use, through the aperture, the meter resting on a planar surface of the base portion.

Description

A Meter Bracket

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bracket for usc in supporting a gas meter. The bracket finds particular applicability in conjunction with meters which are housed in semi-concealed meter boxes.

Background to the Invention

In a previous patent, GB2478009, the applicant set down the reasons for the installation of so-called smart meters, which measure the volume of gas used and also the problems encountered in installation of the smart meters. In summary, the smart meters provide increased frmnctionality allowing cncrgy and cost savings to the uscr and arc required to be installed by the 31st December 2020.

The problem addressed by that patent was therefore to provide a means of enabling smart mcters to bc quicidy and safcy installcd, whcrc thc meter is to be housed in a meter box known in the trade as a semi-submerged or semi-concealed box. Such boxes are provided having different dimensions and internal configurations, depending on the manufacturer of the box. Replacement of the box itself is not desirable due to the work involved: particularly in ensuring that the correct depth of hole is made. Moreoyer, boxes are often located in or close to driveways and so replacement must be done with a mind to the danger to and from traffic.

In addition to the above, the installation is further complicated by the provider's preference for installing a particular type of smart meter. Although relatively simple and inexpensive, the prefeited meter, a BK64/1J6 also has a larger height than most smart meters and so any means of aiding installation cannot itself have too great a height or the meter will not fit within the box.

An additional consideration is that any installation of an adaptor bracket must not compromise the ability of the box to prevent water ingress to the inside of the box when closed. Water can cause the meter to malfunction with prolonged contact to certain elements of the meter; and can result in the entire meter needing to be replaced with the additional cost associated therewith.

The present invention seeks to address the above problems and provide a means of enabling a semi-concealed box to be easily adapted to receive and house a smart meter.

The invention is applicable to the main types of box already installed, which the technician is likely to encounter and which reduces stock maintenance issues which may 2o arise and also removes the need for the technician to transport different types of adaptation means.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an adaptor bracket to support a smart gas meter in a semi-concealed meter box, the adaptor bracket comprising: an elongate base portion having upper and lower planar surfaces; a support member extending from each of the opposed shorter edges to enable the base portion to be raised from the floor of a box; the elongate base portion defining an aperture; the base portion of a meter extending, in use, through the aperture, the meter resting on a planar surface of the base portion.

The adaptor bracket enables an operator to quickly and simply replace the already installed meter.

Preferably, the edge of the aperture is covered with a sealing material, such as a rubber strip to provide a watertight seal between a meter and the support. The sealing material further preferably extends on to one or both planar surfaces such that a lip of a meter rests thereon and enhances the seal.

Advantageously, support means comprises an elongate strip subtending perpendicularly from the length of the shorter edge of the base portion, and further advantageously, one of said strips is less than half the length of the shorter edge and yet further advantageously less than a quarter of the length to allow the bracket to be used in an inverted orientation without interfering with elements of the gas meter. Each strip is preferably integral with the base portion and is formed by bending the material, from which the base portion is formed, along a line.

Conveniently, the distal end of each strip is bent at right angles to form a foot on which the adaptor bracket rests in its normal orientation. Apertures to receive a screw or similar fitment are further conveniently provided in the foot to enable the adaptor bracket to be secured to the base of a semi-concealed box. Yet further conveniently, sealing washers are included around the foot apertures to seal between the box and the foot and prevent water rngress.

Preferably, one or more Rigs extends perpendicularly from a long edge of the base portion, in the same direction as the legs, which lugs acts as support for connectors when the adaptor bracket is used in the inverted orientation.

Apertures to receive a screw are conveniently provided through the or each lug to enable the adaptor bracket to be secured to a rear wall of a box.

Advantageously, thc or each lug has a resilient member on its outer surface to act as a buffer for the bracket against the wall of a box. Further advantageously, each resilient member is a sealing washer, surrounding an aperture of a lug to provide a resilient seal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of an adaptor bracket. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a bracket; Figure 2 is a side view of the bracket of figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bracket of figure 1; Figure 4 is an image of a meter installed in a semi-concealed box manufactured by Continental Product Engineering; Figure 5 is an image of a meter installed in a semi-concealed box manufactured by Hepworth; and Figure 6 is an image of a meter installed in a semi-concealed box manufactured by Mitral in which the bracket is used in the inverted orientation.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In view of the requirement by 31st December 2020 for gas meters in the United Kingdom to be of a type known as a smart meter, which should provide the user with more efficient and economical gas usage, there is a need to enable currently installed gas meters, which can have a lifetime of twenty years or more, to be replaced. One type of installation where this can cause difficulties is where, for convenience of access, the meter is installed within a semi-concealed box (often referred to as a semi-submerged box). The first difficulty is that the dimensions of smart meters arc normally different from those of the original meter and so the fittings need to be adapted. Although the box could be replaced, this is a time consuming exercise and would increase the cost of installation. The situation is made more difficult by the number of different makes of box which are common in the industry with each make having a different internal design. Tn addition, any adaptation must not impair the integrity of the box towards water ingress, as water can damage the internal frrnctioning of the meter.

The present invention provides an adaptor bracket which is used to support a smart meter within an already installed box, and which enables the smart meter to be connected up using the connections in place for the old meter. The adaptor bracket is so configured to be usable with the main semi-concealed boxes in use, obviating the need for the installer to carry stocks of several different types of adaptor for anyjob. This eases the problem of stock control and lowers the weight transported by an installer.

Referring initially to figures Ito 3, these illustrate the main features of the adaptor bracket. For the majority of boxes it is expected that the adaptor bracket is to be used in the orientation shown in figure 1, i.e. the legs of the bracket extend downwardly in use.

1-lowever, the bracket can also be used in the inverted orientation when required (see figure 6).

In figure 1, an adaptor bracket generally referenced 10 is shown. The bracket 10 has a base portion 11 which supports the meter. The meter 40, which the bracket 10 is primarily to be used in conjunction with, has a lip (see 41 of figure 4) extending around its circumference, approximately halfway up the meter. The base portion 11 is designed to engage and support the meter 40 along this lip 41. The base portion 11 is approximately rectangular of dimensions 270mm x 180mm, having the comers rounded to minimise the risk of injury to the user.

Extending from each of the short edges 12, 13 is a leg 14, 15. The legs 14, 15 are typically formed by having an original sheet of material bent along the edges 12, 13.

Such a manufacturing process is especially suitable where the adaptor is made from steel or other metal. Where the adaptor is made from a plastics material, then the legs can be formed during the moulding process.

The legs 14, 15 in the exemplified adaptor 10 are approximately 30mm in height.

Extending perpendicularly from each leg 14, 15 is a foot 16, 17 on which the adaptor 10 rests when in the upright orientation. The feet 16, 17 are of length approximately 10mm to 15mm. Each foot 16, 17 has apertures 18 formed therein. The apertures 18 enable screws, or other fixing means to be used to secure the adaptor 10 to the base of the box.

In order to ensure that the weakness or holes thereby produced in the box do not enable water to penetrate into the box, rubber washers 19 are located around each aperture 18.

Cut, or otherwise formed within the base portion 11, is a large aperture 20 through which the smart meter is passed during installation. The smart meter for which the adaptor 10 is particularly, although not exclusivcly designed, has a lip 41 approximately halfway up its body. The lip 41 rests on the edge of the aperture 20 which lip 41 supports the weight of the smart meter 40. The portion of the meter 40 which extends below the bracket 10 is located within a well or sump of the box, in order to provide a good seal between the meter 40 and the bracket 10 and prevent any water in the sump from damaging the meter, a seal 21 is provide along the rim of the aperture 20, extending up to a centimetre onto the planar surfaces 22, 23 of the base portion 11. The weight of the meter 40 then ensures that a good seal is formed. Typically the sealing member 21 is formed of a rubber material, known in the art.

Extending perpendicularly form the base portion 11, from one of the long edges 24 are lugs 25, which as shown, are approximately 40mm to 50mm in width and 15mm in height. The lugs 25 support resilient buffers 26 which cushion the bracket 10 against the wall of the box and prevent damage to the box and also dampen any vibrations produced when the meter is in use. The lugs 25 themselves have apertures 27 to enable the adaptor bracket 10 to be secured to the wall of the box: particularly when the adaptor bracket 10 is used in the inverted orientation. In this case the buffers 26 have apertures corresponding to those apertures 27 in the lugs to facilitate the passing therethrough of the fitment means.

A further feature to be noted is shown in figure 3. As can be seen, the leg 15 is of shorter length than that of the leg 14. This enables the adaptor to be used in the inverted orientation without the leg 15 interfering with other components of the gas supply system.

The shorter leg 15 is intended to be used towards the rear of the box.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the use of the adaptor bracket 10 in the three main semi-concealed boxes presently in usc. In figure 4 a BK G4/U6 meter 40 is shown resting on an adaptor bracket 10, with a bracket lOin the upright orientation. The lip 41 can be secn to rest on the seal member 21. The meter 40 here is housed in a semi-eonccalcd box manufactured by Continental Product Engineering Limited. In figure 5, the meter 40 is installed in a box manufactured by Hepworth Limited.

In figure 6, the meter 40 is installed in a box manufactured by Mitras Limited. The bracket 10 is in the inverted orientation, because were the bracket 10 to be in the upright orientation., and with this particular box, the meter 40 would be too high for the lid of the box to be able to close. The lip 41 of the meter 40 nevertheless still rests on the seal 21.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. An adaptor bracket to support a smart gas meter in a semkconcealed meter box, the adaptor bracket comprising: an elongate base portion having upper and Lower planar surfaces; a support member extending from each of the opposed shorter edges to enable the base portion to be raised from the floor of a box; the elongate base portion defining an aperture; e the base portion of a meter extending, in use, through the aperture, the meter resting on a planar surface of the base portion.
2. A bracket according to Claim 1, wherein the edge of the aperture is covered with a sealing material, such as a rubber strip to provide a watertight SCCL between a meter and c 15 the support.
3. A bracket according to Claim 2, wherein the sealing material extends on to one or both planar surfaces such that a Up of a meter rests thereon and enhances the seaL.
4. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises an elongate strip subtending perpendicularLy from the length of the shorter edge of the base portion.
5. A bracket according to Cairn 4, wherein one of said strips is less than half the Length of the shorter edge.
6. A bracket according to Claim 5, wherein one of said strips is less than a quarter of the length of the shorter edge.
7. A bracket according to any of Claims 4-6 wherein each strip is integral with the base portion and is formed by bending the material, from which the base portion is formed, along a Line.
8. A bracket according to any of Claims 4-7 wherein the distaL end of each strip bent at right angles to form a foot on which the adaptor bracket rests in its normal orientation.a
9. A bracket according to claim 8, wherein the foot includes apertures to receive a screw or similar fitment to enable the adaptor bracket to be secured to the base of a semi concealed box.
10. A bracket according to rjaim 9, wherein sealing washers are included around the io foot apertures to seth between the box and the foot and prevent water ingress.
ii. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more tugs extends perpendicularly from a kng edge of the base portion, in the same direction as the legs, which tugs acts as support for connectors when the adaptor bracket is used in the inverted C") ia orientation. r0')
12. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein apertures to receive a screw 0 are provided through the or each lug.N13. A bracket according to CLaim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the or each Lug has a resilient member on its outer surface to act as a buffer for the bracket against the watt of a box.14. A Bracket according to Claim 13, wherein each resilient member is a sealing washer, surrounding an aperture of a lug to provide a resiDent seal.15. An adaptor bracket substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.