JP7096747B2 - Water meter case - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water meter case in which the water meter body can be replaced while attached to a water pipe.

Conventionally, as this type of water meter case, the water meter body is detachably housed in the inner case rotatably fitted in the outer case, and when the inner case is located in the first rotation position, the water meter body is used. It is known that flow measurement becomes possible, and when the inner case is located in the second rotation position, all of the tap water passes through the bypass between the outer case and the inner case, and the water meter body can be removed. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-151674 (paragraph [0079])

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional water meter case, there has been a problem that tap water stays in the bypass for a long period of time while measuring the flow rate of tap water.

The invention of claim 1 made to solve the above problems includes an inner case in which the water meter main body is detachably housed and an outer case in which the inner case is rotatably housed, and the outer case is provided. When the water pipes are connected to the connecting pipes on the upstream side and the downstream side protruding from the case, and the inner case is located at the first rotation position, all the tap water from the connecting pipes on the upstream side is inside. It passes through the case and flows to the connecting pipe on the downstream side to enable flow measurement by the water meter main body. When the inner case is located at the second rotation position, water from the connecting pipe on the upstream side is provided. A water meter case in which all of the water passes through a bypass provided between the outer case and the inner case and flows to the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side, and the inner case is located at the first rotation position. When the bypass is provided, the first and second connecting paths for connecting the bypass only to the inside of one of the upstream or downstream connecting pipes are provided, and the openings of the first and second connecting paths in the connecting pipes are provided. Is a water meter case arranged at a position where different water pressures are received from the connecting pipe portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first and second communication paths penetrate the connection pipe portion and the outer case, and the inner case of the outer cases is located at the first rotation position. The water meter case according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the first and second connecting paths are arranged at intervals from the main opening communicating with the inner case.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a pair of ribs straddling between the outer surface of the outer case and the outer surface of the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side is formed, one of the pair of ribs is penetrated by the first connecting path, and the other. The water meter case according to claim 2, wherein the second connecting path penetrates the water meter case.

The water meter according to claim 4, wherein a protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion in the vicinity of the opening of only one of the first or second connecting paths. It is a case.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a groove is formed in the opening edge on the water pipe side of the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion, and the protrusion in the vicinity of the opening of the connecting path is formed by the plate inserted into the groove. The water meter case according to claim 4.

The invention of claim 6 is the invention of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second connecting paths are arranged at two positions separated by about 180 degrees around the central axis of the connecting pipe portion. The water meter case described in the section.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting pipe portion to which the bypass is connected by the first and second connecting paths is the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side. It is a water meter case described in.

In the water meter case of claim 1, the upstream and downstream connecting pipes protruding from the outer case are connected to the water pipes, respectively, and when the inner case is located at the second rotation position, the connecting pipes on the upstream side are connected. All of the tap water passes through the bypass provided between the outer case and the inner case, and the water meter body can be replaced. On the other hand, when the inner case is located at the first rotation position, all the tap water from the connecting pipe portion on the upstream side passes through the inner case, and the flow rate can be measured by the water meter main body. With the flow rate measurement possible, the bypass is communicated by the first and second communication paths only in one of the connecting pipes on the upstream side or the downstream side. Moreover, since the openings of the first and second connecting passages are arranged at positions where different water pressures are received from the inside of the connecting pipe portion, tap water can be supplied from the inside of the connecting pipe portion to one connecting path, a bypass, and the other connecting path. , Flows into the connecting pipe. This prevents the retention of tap water in the bypass.

The first and second communication paths may be formed by laterally expanding the main opening communicating with the inner case when the inner case of the outer case is located at the first rotation position, or claim. As in the water meter case of 2, the first and second communication paths may be formed so that the openings of the first and second communication paths are arranged at intervals from the main opening of the outer case. .. According to the configuration of claim 2, the water pressure received from the inside of the connecting pipe portion by the first and second connecting paths can be easily changed.

In the water meter case of claim 3, the first and second communication paths are made by penetrating the first and second connecting paths through a pair of ribs straddling the outer surface of the outer case and the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side. Roads can be easily formed.

As in the water meter case of claim 4, the first and second connecting paths are provided by providing a protrusion on the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion in the vicinity of the opening of only one of the first or second connecting paths. The difference in water pressure received from inside the connecting pipe can be increased, and tap water can easily flow through the bypass. Further, according to the configuration of claim 5, a tool is pressed from the opening on the water pipe side of the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion to the opening edge to form a groove, and a plate is inserted into the groove to form a protrusion in the vicinity of the opening of the connecting path. The portion can be easily formed.

In the water meter case of claim 6, since the first and second connecting paths are arranged at two positions separated by about 180 degrees around the central axis of the connecting pipe portion, tap water flows smoothly through the bypass.

In the water meter case of claim 7, since the connecting pipe portion to which the bypass is connected by the first and second connecting paths is the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side, stable tap water flow rate measurement becomes possible.

Perspective view of the water meter case according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Side sectional view of water meter case Flat sectional view of water meter case An exploded perspective view of the water meter case Side view of water meter case Cross-sectional view of the water meter case when the inner case is in the second rotation position Side sectional view of the water meter case when the inner case is in the second rotation position (A) Rear view of the water meter case, (B) Enlarged plan view around the protrusion of the water meter case A plan sectional view when the water meter case according to another embodiment is arranged at the first rotation position, and (B) a plan sectional view when the water meter case is arranged at the second rotation position. (A) Enlarged plan view of the water meter case according to another embodiment, (B) Enlarged plan view of the water meter case according to another embodiment. Enlarged plan sectional view of a water meter case according to another embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the water meter 100 in which the water meter main body 40 is housed in the water meter case 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water meter case 10 includes an outer case 20 and an inner case 30 housed inside the outer case 20. The outer case 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inner case 30 is housed from one end side in the axial direction of the outer case 20. Hereinafter, the structure of the water meter case 10 will be described with the axial direction of the cylinder of the outer case 20 being the vertical direction, one end side of the outer case 20 being the upper side, and the other end side being the lower side. The arrows in each figure indicate the direction of the water flow.

The upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23 project in the opposite horizontal directions from the intermediate position in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer case 20. The upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the tip thereof is slightly increased in a stepped shape. On the other hand, the downstream connection pipe portion 23 has a cylindrical shape and has a flange portion 23F at the tip thereof, and a plurality of bolt through holes (not shown) are formed through the flange portion 23F. Then, water pipes (not shown) are connected to the tips of the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23, respectively. A flange portion may also be provided at the tip of the upstream connection pipe portion 22 (for example, the flange portion 22F shown in FIG. 11).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of lateral ribs 26B and 26B project from two locations on the left and right in the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of lateral ribs 26B and 26B communicate between the flange portion 23F and the outer case 20, and are connected from the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23 from the flange portion 23F side toward the outer case 20 side. The amount of overhang is gradually increasing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner case 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an open upper surface, and flange portions 31F and 31F project outward from both upper and lower ends thereof. An O-ring groove is formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the flange portions 31F and 31F, and the O-ring 38 is mounted therein.

A substantially columnar water meter body 40 (see FIG. 4) is detachably housed in the inner case 30. The water meter main body 40 has an internal flow path 41 communicating with the relay pipe portions 32, 32 of the inner case 30, and measures the flow rate of tap water passing through the internal flow path 41.

The inner case 30 is fitted to the outer case 20 from the opening side at one end, and is abutted from the upper side to the annular overhanging portion 29 protruding inward from the opening edge of the other end opening of the outer case 20 and the outer case 20. It is prevented from coming off by the inner case retainer 19 fixed to the upper end portion of the. Further, the above-mentioned O-ring 38 is crushed between the outer peripheral surfaces of the flange portions 31F and 31F of the inner case 30 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 20. A space serving as a bypass 50 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner case 30 between the flange portions 31F and 31F and the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 20.

The above-mentioned relay pipe portions 32, 32 project in the opposite horizontal directions from the intermediate positions in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surface of the inner case 30. The tip surfaces of the relay pipe portions 32, 32 are curved so as to correspond to the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 20. Further, a concave portion (for example, a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the relay pipe portion 32) is formed on the tip surface of the relay pipe portion 32, and the seal member 35 is mounted therein. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the inner case 30 is arranged at the first rotation position of the outer case 20, the relay pipe portion 32, is formed through the main openings 22A and 23A formed in the outer case 20 and opened inward. 32 is communicated with the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23. As a result, all the tap water from the water pipe connected to the upstream connecting pipe portion 22 passes through the inner case 30 and flows to the water pipe connected to the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, and the water meter main body 40 It is possible to measure the flow rate by.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the inner case 30 is rotated approximately 60 degrees clockwise from the first rotation position with respect to the outer case 20 and arranged at the second rotation position, the relay tube is arranged. The portions 32 and 32 are displaced from the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23 and are closed by the inner peripheral surface of the outer case 20. As a result, all the tap water from the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 passes through the bypass 50 and flows to the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23, and the water meter main body 40 can be replaced. A stopper (not shown) for positioning the outer case 20 at the first rotation position and the second rotation position is provided between the outer case 20 and the inner case 30.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, in the water meter case 10 of the present embodiment, in a state where the inner case 30 is located at the first rotation position, the downstream connection pipe portion 23 and the bypass 50 are in contact with each other. The first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are provided. The first connecting path 61 extends linearly along the tip surface 26S of one of the lateral ribs 26B, and extends linearly along the inner surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 and the inner surface of the outer case 20 (specifically, the inner surface of the outer case 20). It is open to the downstream part). Further, the second connecting path 62 extends along the tip surface 26S of the other lateral rib 26B and the outer peripheral surface of the outer case 20, and extends along the inner surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 and the inner surface of the outer case 20 (details). Is open to the upstream portion of the inner surface of the outer case 20). The portion of the second connecting path 62 arranged on the opening side of the inner surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 is linear.

Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, in the vicinity of the downstream side of the opening in the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 of the first connecting path 61, a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 is formed. 27 is formed (see FIG. 1), and the plate is inserted into the groove 27 to form a protrusion 71 protruding from the inner surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 (see FIGS. 3 and 8 (A)). ). The plate may be inserted from the tip opening of the downstream connection pipe portion 23 and fixed to the groove 27 by press fitting or welding. The groove 27 may be formed by a tool inserted from the tip opening of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23.

This concludes the description of the configuration of the water meter case 10 of the present embodiment. Next, the operation and effect of the water meter case 10 will be described. In the water meter case 10 of the present embodiment, the upstream water pipe is connected to the upstream connecting pipe portion 22, while the downstream water pipe is connected to the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 (FIGS. 2 and 3). reference). Then, normally, the inner case 30 is used in a state where it is located at the first rotation position, and all the tap water from the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 passes through the inner case 30 to the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23. Flows. Then, the flow rate of tap water is measured by the water meter main body 40 in the inner case 30. Further, the water meter main body 40 is regularly maintained, and at that time, the inner case 30 is arranged at the second rotation position (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Then, all the tap water from the upstream connecting pipe portion 22 passes through the bypass 50 between the outer case 20 and the inner case 30 and flows to the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. This makes it possible to replace the water meter body 40 without stopping the tap water flowing through the water pipe. Then, after replacing with a new water meter main body 40, the inner case 30 may be returned to the first rotation position. Then, the flow rate of tap water is measured again by the water meter main body 40.

By the way, in the water meter case 10 of the present embodiment, in the state where the flow rate of tap water is being measured, the bypass 50 communicates only with the downstream connection pipe portion 23 by the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62. Will be done. Here, the openings of the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are arranged at positions where different water pressures are received from the inside of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B, since the protrusion 71 protrudes from the vicinity of the downstream side of the opening of the first connecting path 61 in the downstream connection pipe portion 23, water is supplied to the protrusion 71. Due to the collision of water, the opening of the first connecting path 61 in the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 receives higher water pressure than the opening of the second connecting path 62. Then, tap water flows from the inside of the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23 into the first connecting path 61, the bypass 50, the second connecting path 62, and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23.

As described above, in the water meter case 10 of the present embodiment, tap water flows through the bypass 50 while the flow rate of tap water is being measured, which has been a problem in the past, but the retention of tap water in the bypass 50 is caused. It can be prevented. Moreover, since the connecting pipe portion to which the bypass 50 is connected by the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 is not the upstream connecting pipe portion 22 but the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, the first and second connecting pipes are connected. Even if turbulence, drift, etc. occur due to the roads 61 and 62, stable tap water flow rate can be measured by the water meter main body 40 without being affected by them. Further, since the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are arranged at two positions separated by approximately 180 degrees around the central axis of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, tap water smoothly flows through the bypass 50. Further, by providing the protrusion 71 on the inner surface of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 only in the vicinity of the opening of the first connecting passage 61, the first and second connecting passages 61 and 62 are connected to the downstream connecting pipe portion. The difference in water pressure received from inside the 23 can be increased, and tap water can easily flow through the bypass 50.

Further, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 penetrate the pair of lateral ribs 26B and 26B straddling the outer surfaces of the outer case 20 and the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. In the present embodiment, since the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are provided with linear portions, water can easily flow through the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62. Further, since the groove 27 is formed on the inner surface of the downstream connection pipe portion 23 and the plate is inserted into the groove 27 to form the protrusion 71, the protrusion 71 can also be easily formed.

[Other embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, both the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 may be formed linearly. These first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 can be formed by inserting, for example, a drill from the tip opening of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. In this case, for example, the inner case 30 is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the first rotation position (see FIG. 9A) with respect to the outer case 20 and the second rotation position (see FIG. 9B). Is placed in.

(2) In the above embodiment, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 communicate only with the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, but may communicate only with the upstream connecting pipe portion 22. In this case, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 may be provided in the rib straddling between the upstream connecting pipe portion 22 and the outer surface of the outer case 20.

(3) In the above embodiment, instead of providing the protrusion 71, the opening of the first connecting path 61 in the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 is made larger than the opening of the second connecting path 62, so that the first Water may be easily flowed into the connecting path 61 of the above.

(4) In the above embodiment, instead of providing the protrusion 71, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), upstream of the inner peripheral surface of the downstream connection pipe portion 23 near the upstream side of the second connecting path 62. A side protrusion 72 may be provided. This configuration also makes it easier for water to flow into the first connecting path 61 as compared to the second connecting path 62.

(5) As shown in FIG. 10B, the main opening 23A of the outer case 20 may be expanded laterally to form the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62. As in the embodiment (FIG. 3), the openings of the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are not integrated with the main opening 23A but are arranged at intervals from the main opening 23A. If the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are formed, the water pressure received by the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 from the inside of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23 can be easily different.

(6) On the inner peripheral surface of the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 or the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23, the opening of the first connecting path 61 may be directed to the upstream side of the opening of the second connecting path 62. Good (see Figure 11). This configuration also makes it easier for water to flow into the first connecting path 61 as compared to the second connecting path 62. As this configuration, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are provided in the upstream connecting pipe portion 22, and the openings of the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are upstream. It is arranged on the inner surface of the side connecting pipe portion 22.

(7) In the above embodiment, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 may be provided only in one of the pair of lateral ribs 26B. In this case, for example, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are arranged vertically. Further, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 may be provided in vertical ribs protruding from two upper and lower positions in the circumferential direction of the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, respectively.

(8) In the above embodiment, the first and second connecting paths 61 and 62 are provided in the horizontal rib 26B, but apart from the horizontal rib 26B, the inside of the outer case 20 and the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23. A tubular member communicating with the inside may be provided, and the first and second communication paths 61 and 62 may be arranged so as to pass through the inside of the tubular member.

(9) In the above embodiment, the protrusion 71 is formed by attaching a plate to the downstream connecting pipe portion 23, but the protrusion 71 may be integrally molded or integrally cast to the downstream connecting pipe portion 23. good. Further, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 71 has a plate shape, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a block shape.

(10) The downstream side connecting pipe portion 23 is provided with a small diameter portion whose inner peripheral surface is narrowed and a large diameter portion whose inner peripheral surface has a larger diameter than the small diameter portion, and an opening of the first connecting path 61 is provided. It may be arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion, and the opening of the second connecting path 62 may be arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter portion. In this configuration, due to the Venturi effect, the opening of the first connecting path 61 is arranged at a position where the water pressure is higher than the opening of the second connecting path 62, and the first connecting path 62 is compared with the second connecting path 62. It is possible to facilitate the inflow of water into the connecting path 61. The above configuration may be applied to the upstream side connecting pipe portion 22 instead of the downstream side connecting pipe portion 23.

10 Water meter case 20 Outer case 30 Inner case 40 Water meter body 50 Bypass 61 First connecting path 62 Second connecting path

Claims (7)

An inner case for detachably accommodating the water meter main body and an outer case for rotatably accommodating the inner case are provided, and water pipes are connected to upstream and downstream connecting pipes protruding from the outer case. When the inner case is located in the first rotation position, all the tap water from the upstream side connection pipe portion passes through the inner case and flows to the downstream side connection pipe portion. The flow rate can be measured by the water meter main body, and when the inner case is located at the second rotation position, all the tap water from the connecting pipe portion on the upstream side is prepared between the outer case and the inner case. A water meter case that flows through the bypass to the connecting pipe on the downstream side.
A first and second communication path for connecting the bypass to only one of the upstream or downstream connection pipes when the inner case is located in the first rotation position.
A water meter case in which the openings of the first and second connecting passages in the connecting pipe portion are arranged at positions where different water pressures are received from the connecting pipe portion. The first and second connecting paths penetrate the connecting pipe portion and the outer case.
Of the outer cases, when the inner case is located at the first rotation position, the openings of the first and second communication paths are arranged at intervals from the main opening communicating with the inner case. The water meter case according to claim 1. A pair of ribs straddling the outer surface of the outer case and the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side is formed, one of the pair of ribs is penetrated by the first connecting path, and the other is the second connecting path. The water meter case according to claim 2, wherein the water meter case is penetrated. The water meter case according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion in the vicinity of the opening of only one of the first or second connecting paths. The fourth aspect of claim 4, wherein a groove is formed in the opening edge on the water pipe side of the inner surface of the connecting pipe portion, and the protrusion in the vicinity of the opening of the connecting path is formed by the plate inserted into the groove. Water meter case. The water meter case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second connecting paths are arranged at two positions separated by approximately 180 degrees around the central axis of the connecting pipe portion. .. The water meter case according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting pipe portion to which the bypass is connected by the first and second connecting paths is the connecting pipe portion on the downstream side.

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