US20070256505A1 - Meter connection spreading tool - Google Patents
Meter connection spreading tool Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070256505A1 US20070256505A1 US11/507,594 US50759406A US2007256505A1 US 20070256505 A1 US20070256505 A1 US 20070256505A1 US 50759406 A US50759406 A US 50759406A US 2007256505 A1 US2007256505 A1 US 2007256505A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- meter
- tines
- fork
- arms
- pair
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L23/00—Flanged joints
- F16L23/003—Auxiliary devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B27/00—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for
- B25B27/02—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same
- B25B27/10—Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same inserting fittings into hoses
Definitions
- the present invention relates to pry bar and spreader devices, and particularly to a meter connection spreading tool capable of being applied to a conduit, pipe, or similar meter inline connection in order to replace sealing gaskets, align pipe or conduit fittings, replace water meters, and the like.
- inline connections i.e., couplings
- water meter and related inline couplings are generally located in a pit or other tight spot that makes it difficult to service.
- the inline water meter connection is usually a very firm one, often requiring a significant amount of force to spread, which may result in injuries to service personnel.
- a labor saving spreading tool should also be compact in design because many meter connections are located at positions, which are difficult to access, thus making maneuverability by the technician(s) difficult.
- the meter connection spreading tool is used to separate a water meter from a conduit entering or exiting the meter.
- the tool has an elongated handle terminating in a bifurcated fork.
- the tines of the fork are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the meter.
- a pair of parallel lugs extend normal to the tines adjacent their free end.
- a rigid U-shaped jaw has a pair of arms rigidly attached thereto and extending normal to the legs of the jaw adjacent the bight, the jaw being adapted to bear against a coupler attached to the end of the conduit.
- the free ends of the arms are pivotally attached to the lugs, so that the forked handle defines a lever and the lugs and free ends of the arms provide a fulcrum on which the lever pivots.
- the tool In use, the tool is inserted between the meter and the conduit with the jaw bearing against the coupler and the fork disposed over the meter inlet or outlet pipe, the tines bearing against the meter body.
- the handle is rotated, the fork pivoting about the ends of the arms, which serve as a fulcrum for the lever, until the tines move the meter a sufficient distance to separate the nipple at the end of the meter inlet or outlet from the coupler.
- the tool can be operated with a single hand, so that the other hand may be used to insert a washer or gasket between the meter nipple and the coupler at the end of the conduit.
- the meter connection spreading tool may be provided in various sizes for use with 5 ⁇ 8′′, 3 ⁇ 4′′, 1′′, or other water meter sizes.
- FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a meter connection spreading tool according to the present invention, showing insertion of the tool between the meter and conduit coupler before spreading.
- FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of the meter connection spreading tool in a connection spreading position according to the present invention, showing the handle rotated to spread the meter from the conduit coupler.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the meter connection spreading tool according to the present invention.
- the present invention is a meter connection spreading tool, designated generally as 105 in the drawings, that can be inserted between a conduit coupler 140 and a water meter M in order to separate the coupler 140 from the meter M.
- the tool 105 may be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate the variety of conduit sizes that may be encountered. For example, a tool 105 adapted for 5 ⁇ 8′′, 3 ⁇ 4′′ or 1′′ water meters may be provided.
- the tool 105 has an elongated handle 110 terminating in a fork 115 .
- the tines of the fork 115 are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the water meter M, the tines of the fork 115 being separated enough to fit over the inlet I or outlet pipe of the meter M.
- the fork 115 may be formed by a U-shaped rod attached to the end of a linear rod 110 by welds 122 .
- a pair of lugs 120 extend normal to the tines of the fork 115 adjacent the ends of the tines.
- the lugs 120 may be attached to the fork by welds 122 .
- the tool 105 includes a rigid, U-shaped jaw 135 having a pair of links or arms 125 rigidly attached to the legs of the jaw 135 , preferably adjacent the bight.
- the arms 125 may be attached to the jaw 135 by welds 122 .
- the free ends of the arms 125 are pivotally inserted through holes defined in the lugs 120 and secured by flanges 130 that may be formed by flattening or peening the ends of the arms 125 .
- the arms 125 may pivot within any angular range about the lugs 120 that permits arms 125 to extend normal to the fork 115 with the open ends of the jaw 135 and the fork 115 facing the same direction.
- the arms 125 may pivot within a range of about 30°-180° for maximum maneuverability.
- the handle 110 , fork 115 , lugs 120 , arms 125 , and jaw 135 are preferably made from steel.
- the tool 105 is inserted between the meter M and the coupler 140 , which may be a compression fitting, adapter, or the like fixed to the end of conduit 145 and which has a coupling nut that can be threaded onto nipple N at the end of meter inlet pipe I.
- Conduit 145 is usually rigidly supported by straps or the like so that conduit 145 is relatively immovable.
- Jaw 135 is positioned to support a shoulder, nut or flange on coupler 140 , while the tines of fork 115 are placed over meter inlet I adjacent the body of the meter M.
- the handle 110 and fork 115 form a lever that can be rotated or pivoted about a fulcrum formed by lugs 120 and the ends of arms 125 .
- the tines of fork 115 bear against the body of meter M and push the meter M away from conduit 145 sufficiently to allow placement of a gasket or washer 215 between the nipple N and the outermost flange or shoulder 210 of coupler 140 .
- the tool 105 may be used with a single hand, so that the user may use his or her other hand to insert the washer 215 .
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/797,689, filed May 5, 2006.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to pry bar and spreader devices, and particularly to a meter connection spreading tool capable of being applied to a conduit, pipe, or similar meter inline connection in order to replace sealing gaskets, align pipe or conduit fittings, replace water meters, and the like.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- There are many instances where it is necessary to spread inline connections, i.e., couplings, in order to perform maintenance the coupling. For example, water meter and related inline couplings are generally located in a pit or other tight spot that makes it difficult to service.
- A similar problem exists for the installation of a new meter in a cramped environment where the couplings are already in place. In both situations, it would be desirable for maintenance personnel to be able to spread a meter setting, i.e., separate a meter nipple from a conduit coupling, with one hand while having the other hand free to make adjustments in the coupling, such as installing a new gasket, washer, and the like.
- Until now, it has been typical for the aforementioned procedures to be carried out by more than one person. One pair of hands might be needed to spread the connection while another pair of hands makes the required adjustments. Water departments have found the use of two persons to effect adjustment in an inline connection to be a time consuming, inefficient burden that raises maintenance costs.
- The inline water meter connection is usually a very firm one, often requiring a significant amount of force to spread, which may result in injuries to service personnel. A labor saving spreading tool should also be compact in design because many meter connections are located at positions, which are difficult to access, thus making maneuverability by the technician(s) difficult.
- Japanese Patent No. 3-229,096, published Oct. 11, 1991, appears to disclose a threaded member for installing a stop cock or the like, but does not appear to disclose or suggest the specific features of the present invention.
- Thus, a meter connection spreading tool solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
- The meter connection spreading tool is used to separate a water meter from a conduit entering or exiting the meter. The tool has an elongated handle terminating in a bifurcated fork. The tines of the fork are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the meter. A pair of parallel lugs extend normal to the tines adjacent their free end. A rigid U-shaped jaw has a pair of arms rigidly attached thereto and extending normal to the legs of the jaw adjacent the bight, the jaw being adapted to bear against a coupler attached to the end of the conduit. The free ends of the arms are pivotally attached to the lugs, so that the forked handle defines a lever and the lugs and free ends of the arms provide a fulcrum on which the lever pivots.
- In use, the tool is inserted between the meter and the conduit with the jaw bearing against the coupler and the fork disposed over the meter inlet or outlet pipe, the tines bearing against the meter body. The handle is rotated, the fork pivoting about the ends of the arms, which serve as a fulcrum for the lever, until the tines move the meter a sufficient distance to separate the nipple at the end of the meter inlet or outlet from the coupler. The tool can be operated with a single hand, so that the other hand may be used to insert a washer or gasket between the meter nipple and the coupler at the end of the conduit. After placement of the gasket, reverse rotation of the handle causes the nipple to approximate or to re-enter the coupler at the end of the conduit, which may then be reattached to the inlet or outlet pipe. The meter connection spreading tool may be provided in various sizes for use with ⅝″, ¾″, 1″, or other water meter sizes.
- These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a meter connection spreading tool according to the present invention, showing insertion of the tool between the meter and conduit coupler before spreading. -
FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of the meter connection spreading tool in a connection spreading position according to the present invention, showing the handle rotated to spread the meter from the conduit coupler. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the meter connection spreading tool according to the present invention. - Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention is a meter connection spreading tool, designated generally as 105 in the drawings, that can be inserted between aconduit coupler 140 and a water meter M in order to separate thecoupler 140 from the meter M. Thetool 105 may be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate the variety of conduit sizes that may be encountered. For example, atool 105 adapted for ⅝″, ¾″ or 1″ water meters may be provided. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , thetool 105 has anelongated handle 110 terminating in afork 115. The tines of thefork 115 are elongated and adapted for bearing against the body of the water meter M, the tines of thefork 115 being separated enough to fit over the inlet I or outlet pipe of the meter M. Thefork 115 may be formed by a U-shaped rod attached to the end of alinear rod 110 bywelds 122. A pair oflugs 120 extend normal to the tines of thefork 115 adjacent the ends of the tines. Thelugs 120 may be attached to the fork bywelds 122. - The
tool 105 includes a rigid, U-shapedjaw 135 having a pair of links orarms 125 rigidly attached to the legs of thejaw 135, preferably adjacent the bight. Thearms 125 may be attached to thejaw 135 bywelds 122. The free ends of thearms 125 are pivotally inserted through holes defined in thelugs 120 and secured byflanges 130 that may be formed by flattening or peening the ends of thearms 125. Thearms 125 may pivot within any angular range about thelugs 120 that permitsarms 125 to extend normal to thefork 115 with the open ends of thejaw 135 and thefork 115 facing the same direction. Thearms 125 may pivot within a range of about 30°-180° for maximum maneuverability. Thehandle 110,fork 115,lugs 120,arms 125, andjaw 135 are preferably made from steel. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thetool 105 is inserted between the meter M and thecoupler 140, which may be a compression fitting, adapter, or the like fixed to the end ofconduit 145 and which has a coupling nut that can be threaded onto nipple N at the end of meter inlet pipe I. Conduit 145 is usually rigidly supported by straps or the like so thatconduit 145 is relatively immovable. Jaw 135 is positioned to support a shoulder, nut or flange oncoupler 140, while the tines offork 115 are placed over meter inlet I adjacent the body of the meter M. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thehandle 110 andfork 115 form a lever that can be rotated or pivoted about a fulcrum formed bylugs 120 and the ends ofarms 125. The tines offork 115 bear against the body of meter M and push the meter M away fromconduit 145 sufficiently to allow placement of a gasket orwasher 215 between the nipple N and the outermost flange orshoulder 210 ofcoupler 140. Thetool 105 may be used with a single hand, so that the user may use his or her other hand to insert thewasher 215. When thehandle 110 is rotated in the reverse direction, tension on the opposite side of meter M moves the meter M back to its starting position to capture thewasher 215 between nipple N andcoupler shoulder 210. The coupling nut may then be threaded onto nipple N to firmly reattach theconduit 145 to meter M. - It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (7)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/507,594 US7299704B1 (en) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-08-22 | Meter connection spreading tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US79768906P | 2006-05-05 | 2006-05-05 | |
US11/507,594 US7299704B1 (en) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-08-22 | Meter connection spreading tool |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070256505A1 true US20070256505A1 (en) | 2007-11-08 |
US7299704B1 US7299704B1 (en) | 2007-11-27 |
Family
ID=38660016
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/507,594 Expired - Fee Related US7299704B1 (en) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-08-22 | Meter connection spreading tool |
Country Status (1)
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US (1) | US7299704B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10473543B2 (en) | 2015-08-20 | 2019-11-12 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. | System for supporting the confirmation of a fluid connection |
US11260511B2 (en) * | 2017-09-20 | 2022-03-01 | Goodrich Corporation | Diaphragm coupling tools |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3722065A (en) * | 1971-12-02 | 1973-03-27 | Cr Ind | Apparatus for positioning metering devices |
US4844431A (en) * | 1988-06-29 | 1989-07-04 | Arkansas Lousisiana Gas Company | Pneumatic gas meter test fixture |
Family Cites Families (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1855430A (en) | 1930-01-29 | 1932-04-26 | T D Wood | Expanding tool |
US1997845A (en) | 1934-04-25 | 1935-04-16 | Adams Brothers Inc Ltd | Meter coupling |
US2589572A (en) | 1948-03-08 | 1952-03-18 | Hiawatha James Hedgepeth | Meter base spreader |
US2706613A (en) | 1951-11-30 | 1955-04-19 | Benjamin F Harris | Device for spreading meter connections |
US2795437A (en) | 1955-05-17 | 1957-06-11 | Mueller Co | Removable guide and support sleeve for meter nuts |
US2958125A (en) | 1957-03-25 | 1960-11-01 | Wachs E H Co | Collar setter and puller for pipes of large diameter |
US3414961A (en) | 1966-05-12 | 1968-12-10 | Reed Mfg Co | Telescoping pipe joint tool |
US3571896A (en) | 1968-12-03 | 1971-03-23 | Tyler Pipe Ind Inc | Pipe joint make-or-break tool |
US4178668A (en) | 1978-01-06 | 1979-12-18 | Leroy George | Pipe tool |
US4236290A (en) | 1979-02-27 | 1980-12-02 | Mcpherson Billie J | Fan puller |
USD288673S (en) | 1984-05-29 | 1987-03-10 | Precision Meters, Inc. | Water meter |
US4598452A (en) | 1984-07-26 | 1986-07-08 | Super Tool Co., Ltd. | Tool for connecting a pair of pipes through a coupling pipe |
US4748730A (en) | 1987-03-09 | 1988-06-07 | George William L | Tool for making up a bell and spigot pipe joint |
US5052721A (en) | 1989-03-31 | 1991-10-01 | Gorman Jr Philip P | Water meter service coupling |
JPH03229096A (en) | 1990-02-02 | 1991-10-11 | Norihiro Mitsuyoshi | Packing repair tool for nonsuspended water type union |
US6029331A (en) | 1998-02-02 | 2000-02-29 | Simmons; Edward N. | Brake shoe spreader/holder |
US6701595B2 (en) | 2001-06-28 | 2004-03-09 | Dennis S. Janovici | Clamp connection and release device |
USD472835S1 (en) | 2002-06-10 | 2003-04-08 | Arthur A. Hendey | Water meter |
-
2006
- 2006-08-22 US US11/507,594 patent/US7299704B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3722065A (en) * | 1971-12-02 | 1973-03-27 | Cr Ind | Apparatus for positioning metering devices |
US4844431A (en) * | 1988-06-29 | 1989-07-04 | Arkansas Lousisiana Gas Company | Pneumatic gas meter test fixture |
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US7299704B1 (en) | 2007-11-27 |
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