WO2012126455A1

WO2012126455A1 - Air-extraction device for gas meters

Info

Publication number: WO2012126455A1
Application number: PCT/DE2012/000227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Josef HAUKE
Original assignee: Hauke Richard Josef
Priority date: 2011-03-18
Filing date: 2012-03-05
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Also published as: DE102011014488B3

Abstract

The present invention concerns the field relating to the installation and maintenance of gas meters which are present as a domestic installation in the vicinity of the end user. It relates to an air-extraction part for such gas meters, containing a main body, a first coupling part, which is attached to the main body and is intended for connecting the air-extraction part to a gas-meter attachment piece (18), and a second coupling part, which is attached to the main body and is intended for connecting the air-extraction part to the gas meter (22), there being provided an inflow device (24), which passes through the main body and through which gas can flow into the meter, and an outflow device (26, 27), which passes through the main body and through which gas can flow out of the meter. In order to create an air-extraction part which provides for quicker, and more reliable, air extraction from a gas meter, it is proposed that the inflow device and the outflow device (24, 26, 27) have a cross section of such a magnitude that, in the case of normal low mains pressure, the gas flow, during extraction, is large enough for the counter of the meter, during attachment of the air-extraction part (10) into the gas mains and in front of the gas meter, to move in a manner which is clearly visible to the human eye.

Description

Venting device for gas meters

STATE OF THE ART

The present invention is in the field of installation and maintenance of gas meters that are close to the end user as a domestic installation. It relates to a venting part for such gas meters according to the preamble of claim 1.

Gas meters are permanently installed in Germany in several million homes. Their task is to measure the gas consumption of a consumer as accurately as possible. The measured values of a gas meter form the essential, calculatory basis for gas billing at the consumer. Since a gas meter, like any other mechanical component, is also subject to a certain amount of wear, gas meters must be regularly maintained and replaced at longer intervals so that a relatively high level of measuring accuracy can be achieved over the years. Any maintenance work on the gas network close to the end user must be kept as short as possible in terms of time, because the gas meter is installed directly in the gas supply line and a gas supply interruption should understandably be as short as possible. Therefore, in such maintenance often the existing gas meter is removed and another gas meter used in its place in the gas network.

The newly installed gas meter is filled with air. The gas meter in operation is filled exclusively with gas (natural gas). If a gas meter change is now made, it is urgently necessary to vent the newly installed gas meter and fill with fuel gas before it is finally installed and the gas line is closed again. Otherwise, if there is a large amount of air in the gas meter and in the supply lines to the downstream gas Otherwise, when these consumers are put into operation, consumption equipment threatens uncontrolled combustion behavior due to the trapped oxygen in the air and, under certain circumstances, a flashback of the combustion flame into the gas pipe as well as its explosion. To prevent this from happening, most downstream gas consumers have sensors which detect too high an oxygen content in the fuel gas and output a signal which is used to decouple the gas consumer device from the gas network via an appropriate control system. Such a consumption device is then in an operating state "fault".

Disadvantageously, it takes a relatively long time to restore the device from the "malfunction" operating state to the ready state, because it requires direct access to the device, which is often not feasible if the occupant of the flat in which the device is seated For example, if the customer is not at home at the time the maintenance is performed, the gas customer will not be able to use his device immediately when he gets home, but rather has to first bother with an inoperable device, read the operating instructions As a result, it is very important for gas suppliers to change the gas meter so that none of the downstream gas consumer devices enter the "malfunction" operating state. For this reason, generic devices are extremely important.

In the German Utility Model DE 295 02 370.8 a generic venting part is described. The vent part is referred to in this publication as the "adapter" and is installed between the gas meter connector and the newly installed gas meter, then venting the newly installed gas meter, then removing the vent and replacing the newly installed gas meter with the gas meter connector as originally intended . connected. When gas flows again, there is little or no air in the gas meter, and the strictly avoidable situation mentioned above, where air is routed to the downstream appliances, can normally be excluded.

The venting part of the prior art thus consists essentially of a main body with two coupling parts, one for connecting the venting part with the Gaszähleran- closing piece and a second coupling part for connecting the venting part with the gas meter. The venting part of the prior art further includes a plurality of bores which pass through the main body, and through which the gas can flow into the gas meter. The gas or gas / air mixture flowing out of the gas metering device is passed through an outflow device, which also passes through the main body of the venting part and has no connection to the inflow bores, and out into the open air via a hose line which can be attached separately to the venting part. The outflow channel consists in the prior art of a centrally located to the longitudinal axis (flow direction) blind hole bore, on which a transverse bore abuts, which is drilled radially from outside to inside and there meets the cavity of the blind bore.

This venting part of the prior art has significant disadvantages, because the outflow of gas takes a long time and it is often unclear to the maintenance staff whether the venting process has taken place long enough or not. Even a Schnüffeiprobe that turns out to be positive, if one sniffs at the pipe end directed to the outside and smells gas there, does not rule out that in addition to the natural gas remains of air in the natural gas are included. The venting process is technically a complex process, because the interior of the gas meter is very jagged, and it takes "a while," until in the state of the art really all "air pockets" that have settled inside the gas meter can be flushed away from the gas meter by fuel gas

On the other hand, the object of the present invention is to provide a ventilation part that allows faster and safer ventilation of a gas meter. In addition, the handling of the venting part should also be simplified.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

To achieve this object, the characterizing features of claim 1. In the dependent claims are advantageous developments and improvements of the respective subject of the invention.

According to the main aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a venting part for gas meters in a gas supply network including a main body, a first coupling part connected to the main body for connecting the vent part to the gas line, and a second coupling part connected to the main body for connecting the vent part the gas meter, which is characterized by a passing through the main body inflow device through which gas can flow into the counter, and passing through the main body exhaust device through which gas can flow out of the counter, the inlet and the outflow device according to the invention such a have a large cross-section so that the gas flow during venting is so large that the counter's counter when connecting the venting part in the gas network and before the gas meter at normal network low pressure for the maintenance personnel of the meter s visibly moved. Advantageously, the discharge device, which passes through the venting part according to the invention, seen from its flow-effective cross-section ago, significantly larger than those in the prior art. This has the effect that the gas stream present during the venting process is significantly greater than in the prior art. Because in the prior art, there is a bottleneck in the outflow, there referred to as "nozzle" {1 """). This "nozzle" is used to check the correct metering behavior of the meter along with a check of the priming pressure and flow pressure during the venting process.This flow pressure is observed and controlled in the prior art and is used by the maintenance personnel to control that a venting operation is actually performed Vent flow is present.

The present invention takes a completely different approach here:

The direct control of the flow pressure or form is dispensed with. Instead, the outflow channel for the gas is made as large as possible, preferably as large as the sum of the inflow cross sections of the plurality of inflow bores, so that the resulting outflow cross section is the same size as the inflow cross section. This has the immediate result that the vent gas flow is much greater than in the prior art. The bleed stream is even so large that at normal network low pressure, the meter revolves visibly in the counter for the maintenance personnel. It is precisely this turning of the gas meter itself that is now being used as a control by the maintenance staff to ensure that a venting process actually takes place. This has two advantages at the same time:

1. The increased gas flow during venting causes a faster venting, 2. it is no longer needed pressure gauge to control the venting process, which is a much lower Frame size of the venting and beyond significantly lower cost of the venting entails.

Advantageously, the venting part is formed by a cylindrically shaped main body, wherein a plurality of bores are provided parallel to the cylinder axis as inflow bores. The position of the inflow holes is provided to match the position of the inflow opening in the gas meter in a plurality of radially outwardly directed ring segments, wherein a core region in the interior of the cylinder is not penetrated by inflow holes.

Advantageously, the effective flow area for the discharge device is substantially the same as the flow area for the inlet device, which is formed by the plurality of inflow holes.

Advantageously, the outflow device without a significant cross-sectional constriction (as required in the prior art) is formed. Preferably, the exhaust device passes through a drilled channel which extends obliquely through the main body. This oblique bore extends starting at the edge of the core segment on the bottom surface of the venting at an oblique angle to the cylinder axis in the direction of the lateral surface of the cylinder and pierces the jacket below a point at which hangs the union nut, for attachment or coupling of the main body to the gas meter connector is provided. It goes without saying that the area in the interior of the cylinder in which the outflow bore extends obliquely (upward) and outwards, no inlet holes are provided so that the incoming gas is not mixed with the outflowing gas in the venting.

Advantageously, the outflow device is provided as a single oblique bore. Furthermore, one with the Provided inside diameter of this oblique bore corresponding pipe piece that can push from the outside into the oblique bore and clamp there, and at the downstream end of a hose can be attached, which have a length of several meters and can serve the gas flowing during the venting process Remove air mixture from the building to the outside.

A further advantageous feature is that the venting part according to the invention has a standing about the bottom surface of the cylindrical main body stationary centering approach, for example, with a height of 4 mm, which serves for centering a gas meter provided between vent and vent part. This centering approach is designed such that the seal with proper centering the centering approach engages substantially form-fitting manner, whereby the seal in the assembly of the venting centered and can be fixed without slipping. In this case, the extension piece is shaped in particular so that the seal surrounds it with an annular inner section provided on it.

This centering approach is preferably also provided on the bottom surface of the opposite top surface of the cylindrical main body to fix the also provided at this point seal for Gaszähleranschlussstück also centered.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic view from top to bottom, the gas meter connecting piece, the venting part according to the invention and the gas meter.

FIG. 2 shows a side view obliquely from above of an exemplary embodiment of a venting part according to the invention, wherein some of the inflow holes are not shown to keep the drawing clear.

FIG. 3 shows in a plan view from above the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3, but with all available inflow bores.

Figure 4 shows the erfindungsgeraäße vent part under way ^¬ omission of the details of Figure 2 and 3 with a erfindungsge- measured Zentrierungsansatz provided for centering a seal which can be laid around this approach around.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

In the figures, the same reference numerals designate the same or functionally identical components.

FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic view from top to bottom, a gas meter connecting piece 18, the venting part 10 according to the invention and a gas meter 22. The venting part 10 according to the invention is a body made of a solid plastic body by a turning process, which in principle has a cylindrical shape has at its top surface a first threaded lug 12 for coupling to a Gaszäh- leranschluss piece 18, and at its opposite end portion of the bottom surface has a second threaded lug 14 for coupling to the union nut 20 of a gas meter 22. The plastic should be suitable for the machining by turning, milling, sawing, drilling, etc. In question, for example, propylene, polyethylene, PVC, polyamide, etc. A tube 16 is shown in Figure 1 to Part shown. Its function will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. Further details of the venting part 10 according to this preferred exemplary embodiment are described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 2 shows a side view obliquely from above an embodiment of a venting member 10 according to the invention, wherein some of the inflow bores 24 are not shown to keep the drawing clear.

The main body of the venting part is provided with a plurality of bores 24, which are arranged parallel to each other concent ^¬ drilled around the cylinder axis 25. The diameter of each hole is for example 8 mm. As is also apparent from the drawing according to FIG. 3, these bores 24 are arranged concentrically around the cylinder axis 25. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these bores 24 are all arranged in the radial direction at the same distance from the cylinder axis, such that a core region of the main body is not penetrated by these bores 24, the core region making up approximately half of the cross-sectional area of the cylinder. The bores 24 are thus located on a cylinder segment lying radially outward, wherein a contiguous angular range of approximately 90 degrees is not penetrated by bores.

This free area, which is provided in each case on the right in the cylindrical main body in FIGS. 2 and 3, serves to receive an inclined bore 26 which does not touch any of the bores 24. The oblique bore 26 extends at an angle of about 50 degrees to the cylinder axis and impinges on the core portion of the cylinder not penetrated by bores 24 and communicates there with a second bore 27 drilled from below into the bottom surface of the main body with reference to FIG. with a diameter that is as large as possible but still a sufficiently strong material wall can stand to the individual holes 24th

Function of the holes:

The bores 24 are so-called inflow bores through which the gas, after assembly of the venting part between the gas meter connection piece and the gas meter, can flow from the gas line through the venting part and into the gas meter.

The oblique bore 26 then serves together with said second bore 27 in a corresponding manner as outflow for the gas or air-gas mixture, which flows out of the counter (in Figure 1 and 2, ie from bottom to top). Advantageously, the diameters of the inflow bores 24 and the cross section of the outflow bore 26, 27 are dimensioned so that they have the same diameter with respect to their flow efficiency. The sum of the inflow bores 24 and the outflow bore 26, 27 should thus have essentially the same flow resistance. This feature is not present in the above-described prior art and ensures that, if the flow cross sections are chosen quantitatively as large as possible, the vent gas flow is so large that it prevails at normal network low pressure, as in the vicinity of the house connections in the gas supply network , The gas meter gauge for the human eye turns immediately visible when the gas meter is vented.

Figure 3 shows in a plan view from above the execution example of Figure 3, however, with all existing inflow bores.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a tube 28 can be inserted into the oblique bore 26 such that it is dimensioned from its outside diameter to be substantially gas-tight Klemmsit z generated within the oblique bore 26. The maintenance personnel can then connect a hose to this tube, which leads out into the open from the gas meter, so that the natural gas released during the venting process does not remain in the building. Thus, the risk of explosion is avoided.

Dimensions:

According to a preferred embodiment, the height of the cylinder of the main body is about 8 cm. The provided for coupling to the gas meter connector thread has a height of another 2 to 3 cm, the threaded neck for coupling to the gas meter also has a height of about 2 cm.

FIG. 4 shows the venting part 10 according to the invention, omitting the details from FIGS. 2 and 3, with a centering projection 28 provided according to the invention for centering a seal which can be placed around this approach.

With further reference to Figure 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the venting a raised above the bottom surface centering approach that occupies the central region of the bottom surface with a diameter of about 2.3 cm. This centering lug tapers in a preferred manner towards its open end and corresponds to the inner hole of a standard seal, as used in the prior art for sealing the coupling point between the gas meter and Gaszähler connector. This seal known in the prior art thus has an open core region, from r = 0 to r = approx. 1.25 cm, (r: radius measure), to which a first ring adjoins from r = 1.25 cm to approx. R = 1.55 cm (ring width thus approx. 3 mm), to which an outer segment continues in that it contains three ring-shaped recesses with a radial width of approximately 7 mm, each of which extends over an angular range of approximately 115 degrees. Between each of the three recesses webs are present, which connect to the outer ring, which has a ring of about 4 mm radius width. Thus, the prior art gasket fits perfectly with the geometry and location of the inflow bores opening into the radially outward recesses, and the open core region of the gasket can be precisely wrapped around the raised centering ^lug . Preferably, there is still play provided by about 1 mm in all directions radially outwardly between the spigot and the inner ring of the seal. This centering approach allows an accurate insertion of the seal that would otherwise easily - without centering approach - slip during assembly of the venting part off-center, so then the subsequent venting process could not be performed or only limited.

The pointing downward in Figure 4 spigot 28 is also provided on the top surface of the cylinder in a preferred manner. In Figure 4, it is shown only by dashed lines.

For dimensioning the bore diameter:

An exemplary dimensioning is a number of about 12 Einströmbohrungen 24 with a diameter of 8 mm and a discharge bore of a diameter of 26 to 27 mm.

According to a further variant of the venting part according to the invention, between the inflow holes 24 each intermediate webs can also be removed by removing them, for example by milling. As a result, the total cross section of the inflow device increases considerably. As a result, a larger inner diameter for the oblique bore can be selected. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto, but can be modified in a variety of ways.

Finally, the features of the subclaims may be combined substantially freely with each other and not by the order given in the claims, provided they are independent of each other.

Reference sign list:

10 venting part

12 thread approach

14 thread approach

16 tubes for hose connection

18 gas meter connector

20 union nut

22 gas meters

24 inlet boreholes, paraxial

25 cylinder axis

26 outflow hole, oblique hole

27 second hole, corresponding to hole 26. from below

28 tubes

30 centering approach

32 centering approach

Claims

claims

Vent member (10) for the gas meter (22) in a Gasver ^¬ supply network, comprising a main body, a device connected to the main body first coupling part for connecting the vent part with a gas counter connection piece (18), and a device connected to the main body second coupling part for connecting the vent part with the gas meter (22) having an inflow device (24) passing through the main body through which gas can flow into the counter and an exhaust device (26, 27) passing through the main body through which gas can flow out of the counter,

characterized in that

the inlet and the outflow device (24, 26, 27) have such a large cross-section that at normal network low pressure, the gas flow during venting is so large that the counter of the counter when connecting the venting part (10) in the gas network and before the Gas meter clearly visible to the human eye.

The vent member of claim 1, wherein the inflow device is formed by a plurality of bores (24) passing through the main body.

Venting part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow cross-section for the outflow device (26, 27) is substantially the same size as the flow cross-section for the inflow device.

Venting part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outflow device (26, 27) without cross- ^sectional constriction substantially by an obliquely through the main body extending through oblique bore (26) is formed.

Venting part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outflow device (26, 27) at its downstream end has an extension piece (30) for connecting a hose.

Venting part according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first centering projection (30) for centering a between gas meter and venting portion provided seal, wherein the centering lug is designed such that the seal with proper centering the centering lug (30) engages substantially form-fitting.

Venting part according to the preceding claim, wherein the centering lug (30) is shaped so that the seal can surround it with an annular inner portion.

A venting member according to any one of the preceding claims, including a second centering boss (32) for centering a second seal provided between the venting member (10) and the gas metering fitting (18), the second centering boss (32) being configured to seal when properly centered the seal the centering shoulder (32) engages around substantially positively, whereby the second seal centered in the Monta ^¬ ge of the venting part and slip-proof fixable

9. venting part according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the at least one centering shoulder {30, 32) is provided integrally with the venting part (10).