Neptune Technology Group Inc.

John Raymond Scarborough, Iii

J Davis Garth

Mahesh K Matam

Ross Jones

David Paul Hamilton

Brent Walden

Jeffrey M Fowler

A top-loaded rotary valve with elliptical sealing is provided. The valve includes a valve cartridge with a lower cylinder portion having a first flow opening, an upper cylinder portion having a second flow opening, a rotor, and a gasket positioned between respective ends of the lower cylinder portion and the upper cylinder portion. The rotor includes a stem and a disc configured to rotate within the cartridge. The lower cylinder portion and the upper cylinder portion are mated to the gasket along a plane that defines an ellipse along the respective cylinder ends. The disc has perimeter that is similar to the ellipse, and the rotor rotates between a closed position in which the elliptical perimeter of the disc is coincident with the gasket to prevent flow between the flow openings and an open position that permits flow between the flow openings.

Top-loaded rotary valve with elliptical sealing

Systems and methods described herein provide a water meter assembly that includes a main case, which may be permanently situated in-line with a monitored piping system, and an interchangeable measuring element installed within the main case. The measuring element may include solid state ultrasonic components to measure fluid flow through the measuring element. Installation and/or replacement of the measuring element is enabled without removal of the main case and without additional calibration. One measuring element may be swapped out with another measuring element (e.g., a replacement or upgrade) without disconnecting from pipe sections to which the main case is attached. The measuring element cover includes an underside cavity and a bleed hole located at a high point of the underside cavity. The underside cavity releases entrapped air from the measuring channel through the bleed hole, after starting a fluid supply through the meter assembly.

Unitized measuring element for water meter assembly

Systems and methods described herein provide a water meter assembly with a transition interface that includes a non-linear taper to minimize head loss. According to one implementation, the transition interface may include a non-linear outlet taper. In another implementation, the transition interface may include a non-linear inlet taper and a non-liner outlet taper. In still other implementations, the water meter assembly may include a transition interface with different outlet and inlet tapers.

Water meter assembly with taper for minimizing head loss

A measuring element for a water meter assembly is provided. The measuring element may be interchangeably installed within a main case that is permanently situated in-line with a monitored piping system. The measuring element includes a measuring channel, an electronics module, and an acoustic reflector plate. The measuring element has a top wall with multiple ports and a bottom wall with a recess. The electronics module is mounted above the top wall. The electronics module includes one or more pairs of ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic signals through the multiple ports into the measuring channel, and a processor to calculate a flow value based on the transmitted ultrasonic signals from the one or more pairs of ultrasonic transducers. The acoustic reflector plate is mounted in the recess and includes at least one concave reflector that reflects the transmitted ultrasonic signals between the one or more pairs of ultrasonic transducers.

Interchangeable ultrasonic measuring element with reflector plate situated in an in-line piping system of a water meter

Systems and methods described herein provide a water meter assembly that includes a main case, which may be permanently situated in-line with a monitored piping system, and an interchangeable measuring element installed within the main case. The measuring element may include solid state ultrasonic components to measure fluid flow through the measuring element. The systems and methods allow for installation and/or replacement of the measuring element (e.g., a field installation) without removal of the main case and without additional calibration. According to an implementation, all measuring components may be included within the measuring element to allow for interchangeability. One measuring element may be swapped out with another measuring element (e.g., a replacement or upgrade) without disconnecting from pipe sections to which the main case is attached.

A metering apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluid through a conduit. The meter comprises a measuring chamber, in which is disposed a nutating ball and disc. A unitary biaxial member, comprising a drive shaft and a spindle having a longitudinal axis offset from that of the drive shaft, couples the ball and disc to a rotating magnet. The unitary biaxial member both controls the offset of the ball and disc from horizontal, such that it nutates in response to water flow through the meter, and translates this nutation to rotation of the magnet, allowing for measurement of water volume flowing through the measuring chamber.

Unitary drive system for water meter

A method of creating a fluid meter housing is disclosed wherein molten material is injected into a cavity formed between a core and a mold. After cooling, the material assumes the shape of the housing and contains the core. Upon heating, the core melts and may be removed from the interior of the housing.

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Auburn, AL, United States of America

John Raymond Scarborough, Iii