Mueller International, LLC

Timothy Bain Ervin

Harold Thomas Mosley

Clay Evan Bowman

David Latimore Hughes, Jr

Apparatuses for utilizing transient pressures inherent in water mains to generate electrical power and methods of using the same. A solid-state energy harvester device comprises a cylindrical body configured to be installed inline with a fluid-carrying pipe system and defining a fluid path, a flexible sleeve disposed inside the cylindrical body and encompassing the fluid path, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements integrated into the flexible sleeve. The cylindrical body, flexible sleeve, and plurality of piezoelectric elements are configured such that transient pressures in the fluid flowing through the fluid path cause the flexible sleeve to flex and bend, exciting the plurality of piezoelectric elements to produce an electric current.

Solid-state energy harvester

Example aspects of a remote-operated flushing system and a method of operating a flushing system are disclosed. The remote-operated flushing system can comprise a fluid routing assembly comprising a valve, the valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; and a control device configured to actuate the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; a remote operation device wirelessly connected to the control device and configured to remotely operate the control device to control the actuation of the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration.

Remote-operated flushing system

A fluid flushing system includes a sampling port comprising a sampling conduit configured to dispense a sample of a fluid in the fluid routing assembly; a valve configurable in an open valve configuration, wherein the fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid flushing system, and a closed valve configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid flushing system; and a backflow preventer disposed between the sampling port and the valve, the backflow preventer configured to allow the fluid to flow in a first direction through the fluid flushing system towards the valve and to prevent the fluid from flowing in an opposite second direction through the fluid flushing system towards the sampling port.

Fluid flushing system

A curb stop assembly includes a curb stop valve defining a valve inlet, a valve outlet, and a fluid passageway therebetween; a curb stop sleeve coupled to and extending outward from curb stop valve; and a curb stop rod received in the curb stop sleeve and configured to actuate the curb stop valve between a closed valve configuration and an open valve configuration; wherein, in the closed valve configuration, fluid is prevented from flowing through the fluid passageway, and in the open valve configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid passageway.

Curb stop assembly

A method for using a fluid testing system in fluid communication with a fluid piping system includes providing a pit housing, the pit housing defining an interior pit cavity, a curb stop valve of a curb stop assembly mounted within the interior pit cavity; opening the curb stop valve to permit fluid to flow through the curb stop valve and into a sampling pipe, the sampling pipe at least partially mounted within the interior pit cavity; and dispensing a fluid sample of the fluid from the sampling pipe through a sampling assembly, the sampling assembly mounted within a sampling station housing.

Pit assembly

Example aspects of a remote-operated flushing system and a method of operating a flushing system are disclosed. The remote-operated flushing system can comprise a fluid routing assembly comprising a valve, the valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; a control device configured to actuate the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; a remote operation device wirelessly connected to the control device and configured to remotely operate the control device to control the actuation of the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; and a sensor configured to detect a fluid property of the fluid within the fluid routing assembly, wherein the control device is configured to wirelessly send a signal representative of the fluid property detected by the sensor.

Example aspects of a pit assembly, a fluid testing system, and a method for using a fluid testing system are disclosed. The pit assembly can comprise a pit housing; a curb stop assembly comprising a curb stop valve, the curb stop valve mounted within the pit housing; and a pressure transducer mounted within the pit housing.

Example aspects of a valve key, a meter valve, and a method for securing a valve key of a meter valve are disclosed. The valve key for a meter valve can comprise a key body defining an upper key body end and a lower key body end, a key head extending from the upper key body end, and a key stem extending from the lower key body end, wherein the key stem, key head, and key body define a monolithic structure, the key stem defining an extension portion and a securing portion, the securing portion defining a securing portion engagement surface.

Growing community of inventors

Apison, TN, United States of America

Timothy Bain Ervin