Hinge Nut for Meter Coupling Valve
Embodiments of the present invention provide a hinge nut apparatus for a meter coupling. In an embodiment of the invention, the hinge nut includes at least two portions attached to each other by a hinge pin adjacent a distal end of each portion and the two portions are configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position. The closed position forms an outer surface and an opening forming an inner surface. The inner surface includes a first interior diameter adjacent a distal end of the opening and a second interior diameter adjacent the first interior diameter. The second interior diameter is greater than the first interior diameter and forms a lip and at least a portion of the second interior diameter includes threading.
1 . A hinge nut apparatus for a meter coupling, the hinge nut comprising:
at least two portions attached to each other by a hinge pin adjacent a distal end of each portion, the two portions configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the closed position forming:
an outer surface;
an opening forming an inner surface, the inner surface comprising:
a first interior diameter adjacent a distal end of the opening,
a second interior diameter adjacent the first interior diameter,
the second interior diameter being greater than the first interior diameter forming a lip, and
at least a portion of the second interior diameter comprising threading.
2 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the closed position of the hinge nut is secured by a fastener towards a distal end opposite the hinge pin.
3 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fastener engages a nut and the nut is press fit into a hole located between the inner surface and outer surface of the hinge nut.
4 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fastener engages a nut and the nut is molded into a hole located between the inner surface and outer surface of the hinge nut.
5 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is polygonal in cross-section.
6 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is hexagonal in cross-section.
7 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface is cylindrical in cross-section.
8 . An apparatus comprising:
a meter coupling attached to an end of a meter with a hinge nut, the end of the meter comprising threading on its outer surface, the meter coupling comprising:
an inlet at a distal end of the meter coupling;
an outlet at a distal end opposite the inlet;
wherein one of the distal ends forming a lip and other of the distal ends comprising threading on an outer surface; and
a housing between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the housing comprises a valve; and,
the hinge nut attached to the one of the distal ends forming the lip, the hinge nut comprising:
at least two portions attached to each other by a hinge pin adjacent a distal end of each portion, the two portions configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, the closed position forming:
an outer surface;
an opening forming an inner surface, the inner surface comprising:
a first interior diameter adjacent a distal end of the opening,
a second interior diameter adjacent the first interior diameter,
the second interior diameter being greater than the first interior diameter forming a lip, the lip of the hinge nut configured to retain the lip of the meter coupling, and
at least a portion of the second interior diameter comprising threading, the threading of the hinge nut configured to engage with the threading of the meter.
9 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the closed position of the hinge nut is secured by a fastener towards a distal end opposite the hinge pin.
10 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fastener engages a nut and the nut is press fit into a hole located between the inner surface and outer surface of the hinge nut.
11 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fastener engages a nut and the nut is molded into a hole located between the inner surface and outer surface of the hinge nut.
12 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the outer surface is polygonal in cross-section.
13 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the outer surface is hexagonal in cross-section.
14 . The hinge nut apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the inner surface is cylindrical in cross-section.