Abstract: A device for generating a controlled flow event to regulate a hydraulic condition of a piping system of a building is an electrically-powered fluid pump or fluid valve, having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is configured to be in fluidic communication with a tank of a toilet or is supplied water from the piping system of the building. The fluid outlet is in fluidic communication with either: i) a bowl of the toilet; ii) an overflow tube of the toilet tank; or iii) the tank of the toilet; iv) or a drain. An electronic controller controls the operation of the device and is configured to repeatedly turn on and off the electrically-powered fluid pump for a predetermined elapsed time when the hydraulic condition is identified. The hydraulic condition may be a potential freezing condition or an overly high pressure of the piping system of the building.

Abstract: A turbine wheel used in a turbine flow meter includes a hub configured to be freely rotatably fixed in position inside a fluid pipe section. A first cylindrical rim is centered about the hub and the longitudinal axis and spaced a distance apart from the hub. A first vane set extends outwardly from the hub to the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the hub and a tip of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the first cylindrical rim. The first vane set may consist of one or two individual vanes. An external vane set may extend outwardly from the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane is attached to the first cylindrical rim and a tip of each vane is not attached to any cylindrical rim.

Abstract: A turbine wheel used in a turbine flow meter includes a hub configured to be freely rotatably fixed in position inside a fluid pipe section. A first cylindrical rim is centered about the hub and the longitudinal axis and spaced a distance apart from the hub. A first vane set extends outwardly from the hub to the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the hub and a tip of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the first cylindrical rim. The first vane set may consist of one or two individual vanes. An external vane set may extend outwardly from the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane is attached to the first cylindrical rim and a tip of each vane is not attached to any cylindrical rim.

Abstract: A fluid metering system includes a first and a second fluidic pipe section disposed in parallel between a fluidic pipe inlet and outlet. The first fluidic pipe section includes a first flow control device and a first flow metering device each connected in fluidic series. The second fluidic pipe section includes a second flow metering device connected in fluidic series. The fluidic pipe inlet and the fluidic pipe outlet have the same cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity. The first fluidic pipe section has an equal or smaller cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity in comparison to the fluidic pipe inlet and outlet. The second fluidic pipe section has a smaller cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity in comparison to the cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity of the first fluidic pipe section. Alternatively, the second fluidic pipe section may include a second flow control device connected in fluidic series.

Abstract: A turbine wheel used in a turbine flow meter includes a hub configured to be freely rotatably fixed in position inside a fluid pipe section. A first cylindrical rim is centered about the hub and the longitudinal axis and spaced a distance apart from the hub. A first vane set extends outwardly from the hub to the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the hub and a tip of each vane of the first vane set is attached to the first cylindrical rim. The first vane set may consist of one or two individual vanes. An external vane set may extend outwardly from the first cylindrical rim, wherein a root of each vane is attached to the first cylindrical rim and a tip of each vane is not attached to any cylindrical rim.

Abstract: A fluid metering system includes a first and a second fluidic pipe section disposed in parallel between a fluidic pipe inlet and outlet. The first fluidic pipe section includes a first flow control device and a first flow metering device each connected in fluidic series. The second fluidic pipe section includes a second flow metering device connected in fluidic series. The fluidic pipe inlet and the fluidic pipe outlet have the same cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity. The first fluidic pipe section has an equal or smaller cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity in comparison to the fluidic pipe inlet and outlet. The second fluidic pipe section has a smaller cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity in comparison to the cross-sectional area and/or flow rate capacity of the first fluidic pipe section. Alternatively, the second fluidic pipe section may include a second flow control device connected in fluidic series.

Abstract: A retrofit motorized actuator assembly is attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe having a manually actuated valve connected in series. The valve includes a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly includes a motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator about a drive shaft axis. A mounting assembly is configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe and also fixedly position the motorized actuator wherein the drive shaft axis of the motorized actuator is aligned with the valve axis. A quick connect clamp is configured to fixedly attach together both the drive shaft extension and the cantilevered valve handle. The quick connect clamp is configured to be attachable and removable with just the use of a user's hands without the need for auxiliary tools.

Abstract: A device for generating a controlled flow event to regulate a hydraulic condition of a piping system of a building is an electrically-powered fluid pump or fluid valve, having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is configured to be in fluidic communication with a tank of a toilet or is supplied water from the piping system of the building. The fluid outlet is in fluidic communication with either: i) a bowl of the toilet; ii) an overflow tube of the toilet tank; or iii) the tank of the toilet; iv) or a drain. An electronic controller controls the operation of the device and is configured to repeatedly turn on and off the electrically-powered fluid pump for a predetermined elapsed time when the hydraulic condition is identified. The hydraulic condition may be a potential freezing condition or an overly high pressure of the piping system of the building.

Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

Abstract: A retrofit motorized actuator assembly is attachable to a portion of a fluid pipe having a manually actuated valve connected in series. The valve includes a cantilevered valve handle manually rotatable about a valve axis. The retrofit motorized actuator assembly includes a motorized actuator including a drive shaft extension rotatably controllable by the motorized actuator about a drive shaft axis. A mounting assembly is configured to fixedly attach to the portion of the fluid pipe and also fixedly position the motorized actuator wherein the drive shaft axis of the motorized actuator is aligned with the valve axis. A quick connect clamp is configured to fixedly attach together both the drive shaft extension and the cantilevered valve handle. The quick connect clamp is configured to be attachable and removable with just the use of a user's hands without the need for auxiliary tools.

Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.