WO2012143669A1

WO2012143669A1 - Manifold meter with outlet removal

Info

Publication number: WO2012143669A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/000347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald John Evans
Original assignee: Evans Gerald J
Priority date: 2011-04-19
Filing date: 2012-04-16
Publication date: 2012-10-26

Abstract

A water meter with a special filtering arrangement, that collects all the particulate matter over a specified size entering the meter, and when required can be emptied and serviced onsite in a few minutes.

Description

Manifold Meter with Outlet Removal

Ref: 1/2012

Because this application has two versions of manifold meter design, the present and this new meter design, numbering of similar named

components will be numbered differently although they have the same title. For instance there are two types of cradle A13 one in the present meter design and a different cradle 6 in the new meter design. There will also be references back to the manifold in the new meter design by using the 'A' numbers.

There is a problem with all present domestic mechanical water meters, whether plastic or metal, because when they are installed in the

distribution system, particles that are unavoidably in the water flow get into the measuring chamber Al of the meter A2. In Fig 1 is a typical manifold A3 set up with a valve A4 and a meter A2 fitted into the meter connection A5. Water enters the valve inlet A6 and then passes through the flow way A7 into the meter inlet A8 and into the meter sump A9.

Having filled the sump A9 the water passes through a coarse and ineffective strainer A10 Figs 1 & 6 that is supposed to protect the measuring chamber from damage, but doesn't, and the water flows upwards over the top of the measuring chamber Al and into the

measuring chamber via a hole (not shown) taking particles with it The particles then jam up the oscillating piston (not shown) in the measuring chamber Al causing it to either run slow or stop altogether. This means that customers do not pay the full amount for the water they use. The water then continues to the customer via the meter outlet All The fault is well known in the water industry and many reports have been written about it.

When the meter breaks down there is no way of repairing it and tens of thousands of meters break down each year.

The object of explaining how present meters work is to illustrate that no maintenance can be done on them whereas with my latest design it is possible to maintain it regularly on site in a matter of minutes. In my new design there is a filtration system that prevents any of the particulate matter getting to the measuring chamber.

Usually the inlet A8 of the meter A2 has a fixed set of webs A12 that are either moulded or cast into the meter body A16 of the meter A2. In Fig 3 of some present designs there are no webs attached to the body, where the web A12 was positioned there is a plain hole A15 as shown in Fig 3, 4 & 5. The webs A12 are moulded to the underside of cradle A13

supporting the measuring chamber Al as a single unit as shown in Fig 2. They are not detachable from the cradle A13, nor can they turn in any direction when the meter is assembled, the webs are fixed in position. The combined cradle/web A18 unit is better seen removed from the body in Fig 2 where the cradle A13 webs A12 are one unit with the strainer A10, shown as a dotted line is near to the edge A14 of the cradle A13. The cradle/web unit A18 it has been shaded in Figs 2 & 3, this demonstrates that due to its diameter size Έ to B' the combined cradle and webs cannot enter or be withdrawn any other way than via the top entrance A19 of the meter body A16 and would be impossible to assemble or dismantle via the plain hole A15 ^lA to A' in the bottom of the meter body. A plan view of the cradle/strainer is shown in Fig 6. In Fig 5 it shows a view of the underside of the A18 cradle/web design showing the webs A12 act as support to the cradle and extending across the diameter of the cradle. In Fig 3 it illustrates the position the combined cradle/web unit 18 fits in the meter with the measuring chamber Al in position that confirms it could not be withdrawn via the plain hole A15 in the threaded section A17 of the meter body A16. Fig 4 is a bottom view of the meter body, when the webs A12 attached to cradle A13 are on in position in the meter A2. In all other types of meter the webs A12 and the inlet A8 are either cast or moulded as one section of the meter body A16. The New Meter Design

The primary concept of this new meter is that the central outlet tube 7 preferably, but not necessarily connected with the webs 8 and circular barrier 10 as one unit, can be removed from a secured position, preferably the underside of the measuring chamber cradle or filter, within the meter via the bottom end of the meter to enable the cleaning out and general maintenance of the sump area of the meter.

The basic working principle of this new meter design is no different to any other manifold meter. Water comes in at the bottom inlet 13 and flows into the meter and fills the bottom half of the meter below the filter mesh 18 and then flows through the filter meshl8 and up past the outside of the measuring chamber 27 as shown by the arrows and over the top of the measuring chamber 27 and enters the top aperture (not shown) of the measuring chamber 27. The pressure of the water turns an oscillating piston (not shown) that turns a spindle 83 containing a magnet 84, which is best seen in Fig 37. There is a corresponding magnet 85 Fig 36 inside the base 86 of the counter 74 and as the oscillating piston in the

measuring chamber turns it spins the spindle 83 containing the magnet 84 around. When this magnet turns the magnetised spindle 85 inside the counter 74 turns and this turns a set of gears (not shown) in the counter and this turns the numbers on the register (not shown). Having recorded the water passing through the measuring chamber 27 the water comes out via a hole (not shown) in the base of the measuring chamber 27 and into a void area 28 of the cradle 6 and out of the cradle 6 via the outlet 30 in the cradle 6. The water exits the meter via outlet 38 and onto the customer.

All manifold meters work this way; the difference with this design is that none of the particles present in water supplies are able to get through to the measuring chamber. It is protected by a unique filtration system that can be maintained onsite in a matter of minutes.

A lot of debris collects in the sump A9 Fig 1 of all current meter designs A2 Fig 1 designs and as water enters the sump it agitates small particles that could be passed through the coarse strainer into the measuring chamber Al Fig 1. With this new design a finer mesh will be used and more particles will be caught in the sump 4 thereby preventing damage to

100 the meters. The method of removal of the outlet for speedy maintenance could easily be adapted for use in a filter system as shown in Evans GB 2283925A that could be positioned between any meter and the meter connection A5 in the manifold. An example is seen in Fig 45 and illustrates that any of the aforementioned designs could be used in a

105 'bottom loaded' meter 96 that can be tested before or after the sump

casing 97 is fitted to the bottom of the meter by suitable means such as a thread or friction welding. In this case the filter 98 is the cradle of the present invention and it separates the sump 99 from the measuring chamber 100. Another version of my filtration system into which the

110 aforementioned designs would fit into is shown in Fig 46 which is a

filtration system encased in a filter body 101 that connects to the manifold female threaded connection A5 using a male thread 102. At the other end of the filtration system 101 is a female thread 103 that accepts the A17 threaded section of a meter. In this design the filter is the cradle 104.

115

Removable Outlet. Design 1

Figs 7 & 8 show a meter body 1 with a plain hole 2 (similar to A15 of the old design) running vertically through the threaded section 3 of the meter body 1 to the sump 4. This plain hole 2 contains a removable outlet 5

120 shown in Figs 7, 9, 10 & 11. The central tube 7 of the removable outlet 5 connects the outlet hole 30 in the cradle 6 to the meter manifold outlet connection Alia in Fig 1 at the flow outlet 38.

The removable outlet 5 can be produced in various ways and one configuration is shown in Fig 10 with a central tube 7 with one or more

125 webs 8 around the outer surface 37 of the central tube 7. Connected to the top edge 9 of the webs 8 is a circular barrier 10 and when in position in the meter it prevents the particles 12 that have collected behind the barrier from re-entering the water flow. Fig 10 illustrates a side elevation of the removable outlet 5 removed from the meter body 1 and should preferably be made as one injected moulded unit. Fig 9 shows a plan view of the removable outlet 5 and Fig 11 shows a bottom view.

When the meter is screwed into the manifold connection A5 Fig 1 and water is flowing from the manifold it enters the meter via the bottom inlet 13 as shown by the arrows 14. It continues upward following the line of the internal arrows 15 until it enters the sump 4 of the meter 1 having gone through the bore 16 Fig 10 of the barrier 10. Having entered the sump 4 the water hits the angled underside 17 of the cradle 6 that deflects the water away from the filter mesh 18 and sends it across the underside 19 of the filter mesh 18. This method of flow cleans the filter mesh every time the customer turns on the tap in the house. The water then hits the inside wall 20 of the meter body 1 and falls into the bottom 21 of the sump 4 taking any particles in the water with it. As more water enters the meter the sump 4 fills with water, it hits the outside face 22 Figs 7, 9 & 11 of the circular barrier 10 and tries to rise upwards towards the filter mesh taking the particles with it. As they go up they contact the flow of the incoming water from bore 16 of the barrier 10 and are pushed to one side again. The flow of the water creates a vortex in the sump as shown by the arrows 23, 24 and 25. This motion ensures no particles get near to the filter mesh 18 and are deposited against the outside face 22 of the barrier 10. The sump fills and water and passes through the filter mesh 18 and from then on the meter operates in a similar manner to any other manifold meter. The water flows through apertures 26 in the cradle Fig 7, 12 & 13. These apertures can be in any suitable part of the cradle 6. The water continues upwards between the inside wall 20 of the meter body and the measuring chamber 27 and then over the top of the measuring chamber 27 and enters a hole (not shown) in the top. It then continues through the measuring chamber into the void 28 in the upper section 29 of cradle 6 and out via the outlet hole 30 in the cradle 6 Fig 7 & 13. The top edge 31 Fig 10 of the central tube 7 fits inside a recess 32 on the underside of the cradle 6. To provide a seal Ό' ring 33 is placed under a shoulder 34 Fig 7 & 12 (best viewed in Fig 15) in the recess 32 of the cradle 6 and the top edge 31 of the removable outlet 5 is pushed against the Ό' ring 33. It would also be possible to have a groove 35 Fig 7, 12 and 15 in the sidewall of the recess 32 with the Ό' ring 36 seal or

165 other suitable seal against the outside surface 37 of the central tube 7.

The water passes through the central tube 7 of the removable outlet 5 and on to the customer via the meter outlet 38. It would also be obvious that if the central ring 63 of the filter frame 61 Fig 14 were permanently fixed by adhesive or other means to the cradle 6 and a recess was moulded and

170 extended to be part of the central ring 63 of the filter frame 61 the central tube 7 could be fitted into it instead of the recess 32 in the cradle 6.

When the meter requires servicing the central tube 7 and webs 8 and circular barrier 10 are removed from the meter via the plain hole 2 in the

175 direction of the arrows 39 using a removal tool 40 shown in Figs 16, 17 & 18. It has slots 41 that pass into the bottom inlet 13 around the webs 8 and then hooks over the top inside edge 11 of the web 8 so that the underside of the hook section 55 of the tool connects with the top inside edge 11 as shown in Figs 16, 17, 18 & 19. The top edge 51 of the hook

180 section of the tool 40 is shown in position hooked over the web 8 in Fig 16.

When the tool is in position the outlet 5 is removed by pulling out the removable outlet 5 from the cradle recess 32 releasing it from the cradle 6 or it can be unscrewed using the thread 42 Fig 10 & 21 on the central

185 tube 7 from the matching thread 43 in the cradle recess 32 as shown in Fig 7 & 12. Any suitable method of secure fixing could be used. The thread method of fixing the central tube 7 can be used on any of the removable outlets mentioned in this application.

To prevent particles getting between the outside face 22 of the circular

190 barrier 10 and the smooth bore 44 Fig 8 of the plain hole 2 during removal there is an Ό' ring 45 or other suitable seal Fig 7 that seals between the two faces. As the removable outlet 5 is removed the circular barrier 10 slides through the centre of the Ό' ring 45 keeping the particulate matter above the top edge 46 of the Ό' ring 45 until the removable outlet 5 has 195 been removed clear from the plain hole 2. The removable outlet must fit so that the outlet in central tube 7 is inline with the outlet hole 30 in the cradle.

Design 2

200 Figs 20-22 illustrate another way the removable outlet can be

constructed. Fig 20 shows the bottom view of what it would look like in the meter body is virtually the same as it did in Fig 9. In Fig 21 it shows the central tube 7 separated from the body whilst the webs 8 and the circular barrier 10 are moulded together having had the central tube 7

205 withdrawn are still inside the plain hole 2 Fig 22. Having withdrawn the central tube 7 the removal tool 40 or any other suitable device could be used by hooking around the webs 8 and pulling the circular barrier 10 out of the plain hole.

210 Design 3

In the next design Fig 26 the webs 8 could be fitted on to the central tube 7 and the circular barrier 10 could be a separate component and the tool 40 could hook around spigots 90 Fig 25 or other suitable means on the inside bore 16 of the loose circular barrier 10 and be extracted that way.

215

Design 4

Another method would require the webs 8, in the case of a moulded plastic body, moulded into the plain hole 2, which would also act as the bottom inlet 13. In the case of a metal body machined out to accept a 220 central tube 7. This means that the circular barrier 10 is inside the sump of the body of the meter and could not be removed from the meter via the plain hole 2 but it might be moved upwards sufficiently from various types of fixings such as a ridge 88 shown in Fig 23 or pegs 89 as shown in Figs 23, 24 & 27a within the sump 4 around the top of the plain hole 2 to allow 225 the debris to be washed from the meter. Having withdrawn the central tube 7 with the webs 8 the spigots 90 as shown in Fig 25 could be fitted and used to push up the circular barrier 10 upwards from the pegs 89 Fig 27a or ridge 88 to allow cleaning.

230 Design 5

Another version of the removable outlet 5 is shown in Figs 28 - 31. The webs 8, central tube 7 and the circular barrier 10 are preferably, but not essentially, made as one injection moulding. The physical differences between this circular barrier 47 is it has a slightly narrower bore 16 than 235 the previous circular barrier 10 and has a groove 49 Fig 18 around the bottom of the outside edge 50 in which the Ό' ring 48 sits. This grooved circular barrier 47 and Ό' ring operate differently to the previous design 10.

In Fig 29, 30 & 31 it shows a small bottom end section of the meter body

240 1 just above the threaded section 3. When the grooved circular barrier 47 is in its working position the 0' ring 42 sits in the groove 49 at the top edge 52 of the plain hole 2 with the circular barrier 47 above it as shown in Fig 29. When in position the circular barrier retains the particles in the same way as previously described with the circular barrier 10. However

245 when removing the circular barrier 47 it operates differently to the barrier 10. The Ό' ring 48 allows the external face 53 of the grooved circular barrier 47 to slide through the centre of the Ό' ring 48 whilst retaining the particulate matter above the Ό' ring 48 in the sump 4 of the meter. This can be seen in Figs 28, 30 & 31 where the top 54 of the circular barrier 47

250 has moved away from the position 'A', to position 'B' closer to the top

edge 52 of the plain hole 2. The Ό' ring 48 can move downwards from its original position but ensures that none of the particles can get between the outside face of the circular grooved barrier 47 and the smooth bore 44 of the plain hole 2 by keeping particles above the top edge 46 of the 'Ο'

255 ring 48. In Fig 31 it shows the webs 8, centra) tube 7 and the grooved circular barrier 47 almost out of the plain hole 2 with the Ό' ring 48 out of the groove 49 but still keeping the particles 12 from getting between the external face 53 of the grooved circular barrier 47 and the smooth face 44 of the plain hole 2. Having extracted the removable outlet 5 the sump 260 can be cleared of particulate matter. Fig 31 illustrates the grooved

circular barrier 47 almost level with the top of the plain hole 52 with the particulate matter 12 kept above the upper edge 46 of the Ό' ring 48.

Design 6

265 Another version of the removable inlet 5 is shown in Figs 32, 33 & 34 and has a central tube 7 and webs 8 and cone shaped deflector 56 also moulded as a single unit Fig 33. The circular barrier 10 would be a separate component Fig 34 but long enough to encapsulate the webs 8 and cone shaped deflector 56 when installed in the plain hole 2. As the

270 water goes in the bottom inlet 13 it passes the webs 8 then hits the

deflectors 56 which deflects it out of the aperture 57 in the side of the circular barrier 10. When it is necessary to service the meter the central tube 7 with the webs 8 Fig 33 and deflector 56 are removed as a single unit. Then the circular barrier 10 is pulled out with a suitable tool. The

275 sealing arrangement to prevent the grit getting between the circular

barrier and the smooth wall 44 of the bore 2 would be the same as described in Fig 7 using the Ό' ring 45 seal in a groove of the plain hole 2. This is also shown in Figs 32.

280 In Fig 32 it shows another way of securing the outer ring 64 of the filter frame and mesh 18 in position. The components in all manifold meters are secured into position using a threaded locking ring 58 Fig32 that is screwed into the top of the meter body 1 and the components are squeezed together compressing the circular spacer 59 between the outer

285 edge 60 of the measuring chamber 27 and the top face of the filter frame 61. Another version of this is shown in Fig 35 where the top edge 87 of the spacer frame 91 is placed under the outer edge 60 of the measuring chamber 27 and the bottom edge of the spacer frame 91 is placed on top of the outside ring 64 of the filter frame 61.

Plastic meter. Design 7

The plastic meter design body could be made in one or more parts and in these sections could be moulded other components such as the filter mesh 18 or the meter cradle 6 or both thereby reducing the number

components and injection moulding tools required. In Figs 37 it illustrates how the cradle 6 is moulded into the central section 66 and the filter mesh 18 complete with filter frame 61 is fitted to it. The central ring 63 of the filter frame 61 is fitted to the outside 62 Figs 15 & 37 of the central outlet 67 of the cradle 6. The outside ring 64 of the filter frame is also fitted to the inside wall 65 of the central section 66 of the section of the meter body 1. The bottom section 68 Fig 38 of the meter body 1 is then fitted to the central section 66 by friction welding or other suitable means to the bottom edge 69 of the central section 66 to the upper edge 70 of the base section. The top section 72 Fig 36 containing the pressure plate 71 and the counter 74 can be fitted to the top edge 73 of the central section 66 by friction welding or other suitable means it to the edge 82 Fig 36 in the top section. Having fitted the parts together the removable outlet 5 can be fitted into the plain hole 2 and attached using whatever suitable means explained previously in this patent application. Any suitable means can be used to connect the aforementioned components together.

Washing out tool

The washing out tool is used to clean out the particles from the sump when the removable outlet has been removed.

Having detached the removable outlet 5 the meter now has to be cleaned without allowing the particles to get back into the measuring chamber. A simple washing out device 75 is shown in Fig 39. It is a tube with one or more holes 76 that is blanked off at one end that has an Ό' ring 77 at the top 78 that slides or screws into the cradle recess 32 that seals off the 320 central outlet 67 so that no particles can wash back into the measuring chamber 27. If the recess 32 is threaded then the top 78 of the washing out device is threaded to match the thread in the recess. At the end of the washing out device 75 and the manifold hose adaptor 81 there is a connection 79 for a hosepipe 80 Fig 41. Having fitted one end the

325 hosepipe to the end of the washing out device 75, the other end of the hosepipe is fitted to connection 79 on the adaptor 81, the thread 95 on the adaptor 81 is then screwed into the manifold connection A5 in the manifold A3 Fig 1. The end 77 of the washing out device 75 is then inserted into the cradle recess 32 blanking off the outlet hole 30 in the

330 cradle 6. This stops any water washing particles back into the measuring chamber 27. By turning on the valve A4 the water flows through the pipe and into the washing out device 75 and out through the holes 76 and cleaning out the sump 4 of the meter via the plain hole 2.

335 Fixed Outlet Design 8

This design Fig 42 has a fixed immovable central tube 7 connected to the cradle 6 extending from the bottom edge 92 of the threaded section 3 of the meter body 1 and it cannot be withdrawn at all. The webs 8 are preferably attached to the circular barrier 10 that is removable Figs 43 &

340 44 from the plain hole 2 but when in a working position is held in position by the Ό' ring 45 in the groove 35 just below the top edge 52 of the plain hole 2. The advantage with this design is there is a greater area of filter mesh 18 exposed for the water to pass through therefore reduces any chance of headloss even further. This design of cradle may be useful with

345 the plastic meter body because the central tube 7 could be moulded with the central section 66 of the meter Fig 37 and reduce the number of moulding tools required and reducing production costs.

Washing Tool for design 8

350 This washing tool 93 Fig 44 is simply a tube narrow enough to go between the outside face 37 of the central tube 7 and the smooth bore 44 of the plain hole 2. The top end 94 of the washing tool 93 is preferably curved so that when the water is turned on it washes all the particles downwards between the outside face 37 of the central tube 7 and the smooth bore 44 355 of the plain hole 2 and out of the sump 4 of the meter body 1. After the sump is clean the circular barrier 10 with the webs attached can be returned to the plain hole 2 of the meter body 1.

360

Claims

A manifold water meter, having:

a casing (1) having an inflow (13) joined thereto and extending therefrom;

a cradle (6) within the casing (1), the cradle (6) separating the interior of the casing (1) into a sump (4) on the side of the cradle (6) closest to the inflow (13) and an upper region on the opposite side of the cradle

(6) to the inflow (13), the upper region containing a measuring chamber, the cradle (6) having a filter therein permitting liquid to pass from the sump {A) to the measuring chamber (27);

an outflow pipe (7) connected to the cradle (6) at an outlet hole (30), allowing liquid flow from the measuring chamber (27) through the outflow pipe (7), the outflow pipe extending from the cradle (6) through the sump (4) into the inflow (13);

a movable insert (10, 41) surrounding the outflow pipe

(7) , the movable insert being sealed to the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13), there being a liquid flow path to the sump (4) which passes through the insert (10, 47) and between the insert (10, 47) and the cradle (6), the insert being moveable to allow the seal to the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13) to be broken.

The manifold water meter according to claim 1, wherein

the insert (10, 47) is removable.

The manifold water meter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

the outflow pipe (7) is removable.

4. The manifold water meter according to claim 3 as dependent on claim 2, wherein O 2012/143669 the outflow pipe (7) and the insert (10, 47) form one removable piece.

5. The manifold water meter according to claim 3, wherein

the inflow (13) secures the insert (10, 47) within the casing (1) .

6. The manifold water meter according to claim 5, wherein

the inflow (13) has a fixing to support the insert (10, 47) when the seal at the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13) is broken.

7. The manifold water meter according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein

the outflow pipe (7) is held to the cradle (6) by a screw thread or by a push seal.

8. The manifold water meter according to any one of the

preceding claims having a deflector (17, 56) arranged to direct a flow from the inflow (13) along a surface of the filter (18) on the sump side of the filter.

9. The manifold water meter according to any one of the

preceding claims, wherein

the insert (10, 47) has a protrusion attached to a surface facing the outflow pipe (7) providing a surface for a tool adapted to move the insert (10, 47).

The manifold water meter according to any one of claims 3 to claim 9, wherein

the outflow pipe (7) has a protrusion providing a surface for a tool adapted to remove the outflow pipe (7) from the manifold water meter, the protrusion being attached to the inside or the outside of the outflow pipe (7) .

11. A kit of parts, having:

a manifold water meter, having:

a casing (1) having an inflow (13) joined thereto and extending therefrom;

a cradle (6) within the casing (1), the cradle (6) separating the interior of the casing (1) into a sump (4) on the side of the cradle (6) closest to the inflow (13) and an upper region on the opposite side of the cradle (6) to the inflow (13), the upper region containing a measuring chamber, the cradle (6) having a filter therein permitting liquid to pass from the sump (4) to the measuring chamber (27) and an outlet hole (30) for liquid to pass through from the measuring chamber (27);

an outflow pipe (7) connected to the cradle (6) at the outlet hole (30), allowing liquid flow from the measuring chamber (27) through the outflow pipe (7), the outflow pipe extending from the cradle (6) through the sump (4) into the inflow (13) ;

a fitting, having:

an insert (10, 47), insertable into the casing (1) and being sealable to the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13), thereby to define a liquid flow path to the sump (4) which passes through the insert (10, 47) and between the insert (10, 47) and the cradle (6), the insert (10, 47) being arranged to surround the outflow pipe (7) when the insert (10, 47) is sealed to the join between the cradle (1) and the inflow (13) .

12. A kit of parts, having:

a manifold water meter, having:

a casing (1) having an inflow (13) joined thereto and extending therefrom;

a cradle (6) within the casing (1), the cradle (6) separating the interior of the casing (1) into a sump (4) on the side of the cradle (6) closest to the inflow (13) and an upper region on the opposite side of the cradle (6) from the inflow (13), the upper region containing a measuring chamber, the cradle (6) having a filter therein permitting liquid to pass from the sump ( 4 ) to the measuring chamber

(27) and an outlet hole (30) for liquid to pass through from the measuring chamber (27); a moveable insert (10, 47) secured within the casing

(1), the insert (10, 47) being sealed to the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13), thereby defining a liquid flow path to the sump (A) which passes through the insert (10, 47) and between the insert (10, 47) and the cradle (6), the insert being moveable to allow the seal at the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13) to be broken;

a fitting, having:

an outflow pipe (7) insertable into the casing (1) and connectable to the cradle (6) of the manifold water meter at the outlet hole (30) so as to allow liquid flow from the measuring chamber (27) through the outflow pipe (7), the outflow pipe being adapted to extend from the cradle (6) through the sump (4) into the inflow (13) when inserted into the casing

(1) ;

wherein the insert (10, 47) is adapted to surround the fitting when the fitting is inserted into the casing.

13. A kit of parts, having:

a manifold water meter, having:

a casing (1) having an inflow (13) joined thereto and extending therefrom;

a cradle (6) within the casing (1), the cradle (6) separating the interior of the casing (1) into a sump (4) on the side of the cradle (6) closest to the inflow (13) and an upper region on the opposite side of the cradle (6) from the inflow (13), the upper region containing a measuring chamber mounted on the cradle (6), the cradle (6) having a filter therein permitting liquid to pass from the sump (4) to the measuring chamber (27) and an outlet hole (30) for liquid to pass through from the measuring chamber (27);

a fitting, having:

an insert (10, 47) insertable into the casing (1) and being sealable to the join between the casing (1) and the inflow (13), thereby to define a liquid flow path to the sump (4) which passes through the insert (10, 47) and between the insert (10, 47) and the cradle (6), and an outflow pipe (7) connectable to the cradle (6) of the manifold water meter at the outlet hole (30) such that the outflow pipe (7) extends from the cradle (6) through the sump (4) into the inflow (13), thereby to allow liquid flow from the measuring chamber (27) through the outflow pipe (7), the insert (10, 47) surrounding and forming one piece with the outflow pipe (7) .

The kit of parts according to claim 11 or claim 12 or claim 13, having:

a tool (40) adapted to attach and detach the fitting to the manifold water meter;

The kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein

the fitting has a protrusion providing a surface for interaction with the tool, the protrusion being on a surface of the fitting accessible from the opening of inflow (13) furthest from the casing (1) .

The kit of parts according to claim 15, wherein

the tool (40) has:

a tube section shaped to fit around the outflow pipe (7); and

a slot (41) shaped to fit the protrusion.

17. The kit of parts according to claim 16, wherein

the tool (40) has a hook (55) forming part of the slot (41) , the hook being for holding the protrusion.

18. The kit of parts according to any one of claims 11 to 17, having:

a washing tool for clearing particulates from the sump (4) of the manifold water meter.

19. The kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein

the washing tool has:

a tube (75, 93) ; and

an adaptor for connecting the washing tool to a liquid supply.

20. The kit of parts according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the tube (75, 93) of the washing tool has a portion (78) for sealing the outlet hole (30) of the cradle (6) .