GB2192220A

GB2192220A - Underground chamber for water meters

Info

Publication number: GB2192220A
Application number: GB08622135A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert F Wigley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-05
Filing date: 1986-09-15
Publication date: 1988-01-06
Also published as: GB2192219A; GB8616433D0; GB8622135D0

Abstract

An underground meter unit assembly with a surface access cover through which a meter and non-return valves can be removed or replaced by hand from a surface position. A unit assembly of three parts which slide over each other Fig. 1, wherein each part can be maintained in a preferred position by means of varying lengths of shouldered studs 1A with ground pressures transferred to foundation base. Alternatively the stubs can be omitted and each part responding to pressure. A meter base 1-5 has a pipe socket on the underside into which is inserted a length of standard size solid wall or perforated drain pipe which acts as a stabilising support to the three units when placed on a solid underground foundation. Warm air from the foundation base area is conveyed through the pipe to the meter chamber during frost conditions. The pipe can be of any length where cold conditions prevail and warmer areas are available at lower levels. Supply pipe connections are made externally to the pipe support. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2192220A 1 SPECIFICATION inserted in the socket of the meter base and

the opposite end resting on a solid under This invention relates to underground ground base provides the means of stabilising chambers for water meters and supporting the second and first part of 70 the meter chamber unit assembly and provide Water meters are well known devices for the means of conveying warm air from the measuring quantities of water. They are invari- lower levels of the ground to the meter cham ably installed inside premises or in under- ber. Pipe connections can be made externally ground chambers of sufficient depth to pro- to the meter base connectors.

vide protection against frost. In such circum- 75 A specific embodiment of the invention will stances accessibility to the meter for record- now be described by way of example with ing quantity, retraction, replacement and repair references to the accompanying drawings in of meters and associated equipment is difficult which:

to achieve and can be costly. Figure 1. illustrates a vertical cross section The installation of water meters and the 80 of a single meter cylindrical unit with a rectan protection of public and consumer water sup- gular access cover and frame (diagonal cross plies from contamination whether below or section) together with examples of solid or above ground has become a matter of public tubular distance pieces or stubs (Diagram A) concern and it has been found necessary to Figure 2. shows a plan view of the top part evolve methods of installation that will satisfy 85 of a cylindrical flange unit reduced to a rectan the mandatory requirements that will be in- gular upstand on which the frame of the ac volved namely-accessibility to stop-valves, cess cover can be adjusted to surface ground ease of extraction and replacement of meters level.

and devices for the prevention of contamina- Figure 3. shows a plan view of Figure 2 and tion, testing the efficacy of non-return valves 90 illustrates the support pillars integrated in the and other test procedures, and protection cylindrical walls of the unit.

against frost damage. Figure 4. is a plan view of the surface ac According to the present invention there is cess cover with a central recess for a name provided an underground meter chamber unit plate.

assembly that when installed below ground 95 Figure 5. illustrates a plan view of the un surface incorporating a stop valve, meter and derside of the base chamber with bracket sup 2-non return valves, the meter and non return ports from the pillar supports to a central valves can be removed and replaced by hand socket for an air circulating tube together with through an access cover at ground level. apertures for inlet and outlet pipe connectors The m eter chamber unit is in three parts 100 and meter supports.

comprising in the first part a metal or plastic Figure 6. shows a plan view of the internal access cover and frame with a flanged section meter base, protective grille with air circulating for sliding over an upstand of a supporting apertures together with pipe connectors, unit, the second part has a preformed rectan- meter supports and pillar apertures.

gular top and a cylindrical chamber with an 105 Figure 7. illustrates the base of the meter external flanged base supporting four external chamber on which is secured a meter unit hollow pillars in the periphery walls with assembly of stop valve, meter and 2 non means of adjusting the access cover and return valves which can be removed by hand frame to surface conditions. The flanged base through the access cover defined by broken slides over the periphery walls of a third part 110 lines which has rigid cylindrical walls, a base to Referring to the drawing Figure 1, a rectan support a stop valve-meter-2 non return gular metal or plastic surface access cover valve and 2- pipe connectors. The base has a and frame 10 as shown in Figure 4 has a central aperture with a grille for circulating flanged section 12 sliding over a rectangular warm air from lower ground levels and aper- 115 upstand 14 of a cylindrical meter chamber 16 tures in which pipe connector; are secured for as shown in Figure 2. The flanged part of the inlet and outlet water pipes. Integrated on the access frame 13 can be supported at each underside of the base and surrounding the corner by preferably plastic shouldered dis central aperture and grille is a socket with four tance pieces or stubs 18 or 18a as illustrated equiditant brackets supporting four external 120 in Diagram A in which the larger diameter 19 hollow pillars integrated in the periphery walls can be reduced in length and the smaller dia of the meter chamber. Within the hollow pil- meter section 20 inserted into hollow tubular lars are means of supporting the flange of the pillars 22 of the meter chamber 16 as shown second part to a preferred distance from the in Figures 2 3 which has a flanged base 23.

meter base. With the meter and fittings in- 125 The meter chamber 16 slides over the peri stalled on the meter base, the third part can phery walls 24 of a circular meter chamber be installed permanently underground within with a base 26 as shown in Figures 5-6.

limits of a specified dimension from the sur- External on the periphery walls 24 are 4 semi face by means of a length of a standard size circular hollow pillars 27 similar in size and solid vall or perforated drain pipe that when 130 configuration as the pillars 22 integrated in 2 GB2192220A 2 chamber 16. Between the base flange 23 and through an access cover at ground level. The the top surface of pillars 27 shouldered studs meter chamber unit is in three parts compris of varying length 18 or 18a can be inserted ing in the first part a metal or plastic cover into hollow pillars 27 supporting chamber 16. and frame with a flanged section for sliding Integrated on the underside of meter base 26 70 over an upstand of a supporting unit, the sec as shown in Figure 5 is a female tubular ond part has a preformed rectangular top and socket 28 into which can be fitted a standard a cylindrical bottom chamber with an external size drain pipe with perforated or solid walls flanged base supporting four external hollow of any desired length and which would termi- pillars integrated in the periphery walls with nate on an underground base with a solid 75 means of adjusting the access cover and foundation. The socket 28 has four brackets frame to varying angles of surface conditions.

supporting the periphery walls and pillars The flanged base slides over the periphery 27, above the socket 28 and centre of the walls of a third part which has rigid cylindrical base 26 as shown in Figure 6, a protective walls, a base to support a stopvalve-meter-2 grille 32 prevents objects being lost in the 80 non-return valves and 2 pipe connectors.

tube below. The apertures within the grille 32 The base has a central aperture with a grille allow warm air from the lower levels of the for circulating warm air from the lower ground ground to circulate within the meter chambers levels and apertures in which are secured pipe 16 and 24. Square apertures 34 and 36 in connectors for inlet and outlet water pipes.

the base 26 are for bulkhead pipe connectors 85 Integrated on the underside of the base and and to which are attached stop valves, meters surrounding the central aperture and grille is a and non-return valves within the chamber and female socket with four equidistant brackets inlet and outlet supply pipes on the underside supporting four external hollow pillars inte of the base 26 and external to the pipe grated within the periphery walls of the meter socket 28. Apertures 38 on the base are for 90 chamber. Within the hollow pillars are means fasteners for meter bracket supports. A unit of supporting the flange of the second part to assembly of stop valve, meter and 2 non- a preferred dimension from the meter base.

return valves is illustrated within the meter With the meter and fittings installed on the chamber 24 in Figure 7, a broken line indi- meter base the third part can be installed per- cates the outline of the surface access cover. 95 manently underground within limits of a speci In order to support and stabilise the 3 parts fied dimension from the surface by means of of the meter and assembly it is necessary to a section of a standard size solid wall or per include a section of a standard size drain pipe forated drain pipe that when inserted into the with solid or perforated walls selected and socket of the meter base and the opposite supplied by the installer or his agents and cut 100 end resting on a solid underground base will to a length that when inserted in the socket provide the means of stabilising and support 28 on the underside of meter base 26 the ing the second and first part of the chamber opposite end will rest on a solid underground unit assembly and provide the means of con base of the installers choice. When installed in veying warm air from the lower levels of the this position the drain pipe will convey warm 105 ground to the meter chamber. Pipe connec air from whatever depth the installer considers tions can be made externally to the meter will give the most frost protection to the base connectors.

water fittings in the chamber and according to 2. An underground meter unit assembly as

Claims

the known weather conditions in his area irre- claimed in Claim 1 wherein

a unit assembly spective of the depth at which the under- 110 comprises three individual parts of varying - ground water supply is laid. configuration that when assembled can be ad Having established a solid foundation for the justed individually to prescribed dimensions meter unit assembly it is left to the installers 3. An underground meter unit assembly as choice whether ground surface pressures claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first part is a should be transferred to the solid foundation 115 plastic or metal surface access cover and by means of the distance pieces or stubs frame with a section to slide over the second which allow the access cover and frame to be part into which are inserted variable lengths of angled to surface conditions or alternatively rigid supports or distance stubs that maintain where the access cover is permanently in- the access ccver at varying angles of surface stalled in concrete or immovable surface con- 120 conditions.

ditions the studs can be omitted between the 4. An underground meter unit assembly as access cover and first chamber or between claimed in Claim 1 wherein the second part of the first and second chamber. the assembly has means of sliding over the third part and being maintained to a pre CLAIMS 125 scribed dimension by means of identical sup 1. An underground meter chamber unit as- ports or distance stubs as installed between sembly that when installed below ground sur- the first and second part.

face incorporating a stop valve meter and 5. An underground meter unit assembly as non-return valves the meter and non-return claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the valves can be removed or replaced by hand 130 third part has periphery walls with external tu- GB2192220A 3 bular pillars in which are inserted rigid sdpports to maintain the first and second parts in prescribed positions, a base with apertures for pipe conn ectors and meter supports and a central aperture with a grille for circulating warm air and a female socket on the underside of the base into which a support pipe is inserted.

6. An underground meter unit assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein a support pipe is a precise length of a standard size solid wall or perforated drain pipe that when inserted into the female socket of the meter base and the opposite end rests upon a solid base and firm foundation selected by the installer or his agents and with all the distance stubs in position the unit assembly will withstand surface pressures.

7.'An underground meter chamber unit as- sembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the support pipe can terminate at a selected depth that will convey warm air to the meter chamber and provide frost protection according to known weather condition in the particular area.

8. An underground meter chamber unit assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the access cover and frame have been cemented in pavement or ground surface the distance stub supports between the access frame and the second part of the unit can be omitted and varying ground pressures will not be transferred to units below.

9. An underground meter chamber unit as- sembly wherein when surface alterations are of some magnitude the access cover can be maintained at surface level by lengthening or shortening the support pipe to maintain the prescribed depth between surface cover and meter.

An underground meter c hamber unit assembly wherein the underground supply pipes to and from the unit can be made to pipe connectors external to the meter chamber and inlet and outlet pipes can be replaced without disturbing the meter unit.

11. An underground meter chamber unit assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompany- ing drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1988. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.