Abstract: A gas regulating and control system is provided that is configured to be received at a gas regulator installed at a remote location for remotely controlling the gas flow, the system including a gas control module including a plurality of sensors associated with the gas regulator, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a corresponding plurality of parameters associated with the gas regulator. The gas control module is configured to automatically turn off the gas to the gas regulator when one or more of the corresponding plurality sensed parameters is determined to be outside an acceptable range for the sensed parameter.

Abstract: A flow meter system for detecting the flow of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet. A top plate is coupled to the inlet and the outlet and a sensor is configured to detect the fluid flowing therebetween. A main module is coupled between the inlet and the outlet and has a main rotor configured to be rotated by the fluid flowing through the main module. An output shaft is coupled to the main rotor such that rotation of the main rotor causes rotation of the output shaft. A first spacer is removably coupled between the main module and the outlet. The first spacer is rotorless. The top plate defines an opening that receives the output shaft. The first spacer ensures alignment between the output shaft and the opening defined in the top plate. The sensor senses rotation of the output shaft to detect the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A flow meter system for detecting the flow of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet. A top plate is coupled to the inlet and the outlet and a sensor is configured to detect the fluid flowing therebetween. A main module is coupled between the inlet and the outlet and has a main rotor configured to be rotated by the fluid flowing through the main module. An output shaft is coupled to the main rotor such that rotation of the main rotor causes rotation of the output shaft. A first spacer is removably coupled between the main module and the outlet. The first spacer is rotorless. The top plate defines an opening that receives the output shaft. The first spacer ensures alignment between the output shaft and the opening defined in the top plate. The sensor senses rotation of the output shaft to detect the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A gas regulating and control system is provided that is configured to be received at a gas regulator installed at a remote location for remotely controlling the gas flow, the system including a gas control module including a plurality of sensors associated with the gas regulator, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a corresponding plurality of parameters associated with the gas regulator. The gas control module is configured to automatically turn off the gas to the gas regulator when one or more of the corresponding plurality sensed parameters is determined to be outside an acceptable range for the sensed parameter.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling gas flow via a gas shut-off valve assembly. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is configured to drive its shut-off valve from an open position to a closed position, in response to detecting a valve closure condition. The assembly in one or more embodiments operates as an intelligent node in an AMR network, and it interprets a received closure command as a closure condition. Additionally, or alternatively, the assembly detects abnormal operating conditions as the closure condition. Advantageously, the assembly performs initial closure verification, based on detecting movement of the valve into the closed position, and performs subsequent closure verification, based on monitoring downstream gas pressure. In the same or other embodiments, the assembly provides enhanced stand-alone reliability and safety by incorporating one or more valve clearing/cleaning routines into its operations.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a fluid flow meter, more particularly a gas meter, includes a sensor well made of a non-magnetic material and a sensor which is removable from the well without depressurizing the fluid line in which the flow meter is located. The sensor well is mounted within a bore formed in a meter body boss and, in a preferred embodiment, extends through the internal rotor housing and includes an inner face contoured to conform to the inner wall of the housing. In certain embodiments of the invention, the sensor is shaped to cover the sensor well mounting bolts so that the well cannot be removed without first removing the sensor. In other embodiments, the sensor well mounting bolts are retained in the sensor well by dowel pins, stakes or retaining rings such that the bolts must be gradually and sequentially loosened to remove the sensor well, in order to prevent improper removal of the sensor well from the meter body boss.

Abstract: A turbine gas flow meter (10) includes a meter body (12) including an inlet portion (24) having an inlet body (32) mounted therein, with an exit end (30) of the body inlet portion being defined at an internal plenum (22) of the meter body, and a removable turbine meter measuring module (44) including a rotor assembly (48) which is inserted into the plenum with an inlet end (127) of the rotor assembly and the exit end of the inlet portion defining an interface therebetween. A closed space (114) is formed about the rotor assembly within the plenum between an inner wall (106) of the body and outer walls (116, 118) of the rotor assembly. An axial gap (128) between a surface (130) of the rotor assembly inlet end and a surface (132) of the body inlet portion exit end, and/or radial notches in either of the surfaces (130, 132), provide fluid pressure communication from the interface to the closed space.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for measuring gas flow with greater reliability than earlier single-rotor and double-rotor turbine meters and dual turbine meter systems are disclosed. The apparatus comprises two independent rotors, in close proximity of each other, housed in the same meter body, but isolated from the effects of each other. No pressure and temperature correction are needed for accuracy performance comparison between the two rotors. Because of the two rotor averaging technique, the reliability of the volume totalization is greatly improved over earlier double-rotor and single-rotor designs.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for measuring gas flow with greater reliability than earlier single-rotor and double-rotor turbine meters and dual turbine meter systems are disclosed. The apparatus comprises two independent rotors, in close proximity of each other, housed in the same meter body, but isolated from the effects of each other. No pressure and temperature correction are needed for accuracy performance comparison between the two rotors. Because of the two rotor averaging technique, the reliability of the volume totalization is greatly improved over earlier double-rotor and single-rotor designs.