Gas meters having high pressure shut-off valves and related gas flow control systems
Gas meters including a first portion and a second portion are provided. The first portion is separate and distinct from the second portion and a physical barrier is positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion includes at least a motor associated with a shut-off valve for the gas meter and the second portion includes at least an area for a gas stream to flow through. Related gas regulating devices are also provided herein.
1. A gas meter comprising:
a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the housing being separate and distinct from the second portion of the housing and a first physical barrier positioned between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing, wherein the first portion of the housing comprises at least a motor associated with a shut-off valve for the gas meter;
a valve housing positioned in the second portion of the housing, the shut-off valve being positioned in the valve housing in the second portion of the housing;
a second physical barrier between the valve housing and the valve,
wherein the first portion of the housing of the gas meter further comprises a gear box coupled to the motor;
wherein the second portion comprises at least an area for a gas stream to flow through; and
wherein the first and second portions of the housing of the gas meter are configured to fit together as a case and cover for the gas meter and provide a single contiguous unit; and
a shaft that extends between the first and second portions of the housing of the gas meter, the shut-off valve being coupled to the motor through the shaft,
wherein the first physical barrier comprises a barrier o-ring positioned around the shaft between the first and second portions of the housing and wherein the second physical barrier comprises an inner o-ring positioned around the shaft between the valve and the valve housing.
2. The gas meter of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises all spark generating equipment of the gas meter.
3. The gas meter of claim 1 , wherein the gas meter is one of a residential gas meter and a commercial gas meter.
4. The gas meter of claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve is configured to shut-off pressures greater than 25 PSI.
5. The gas meter of claim 1 , wherein the shut-off valve operates responsive to one or more of a direct command to shut-off, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a vibration sensor.
6. A gas regulating system comprising:
a gas meter housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the housing being separate and distinct from the second portion of the housing and a first physical barrier positioned between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing;
a valve housing positioned in the second portion of the gas meter housing;
a shut-off valve positioned in the valve housing;
a second physical barrier between the valve housing and the shut-off valve;
a motor in the first portion of the gas meter housing and coupled to the shut-off valve and configured to activate the shut-off valve responsive to a parameter indicating to shut-off gas flowing through a gas meter; and
a shaft that extends between the first and second portions of the housing of the gas meter, the shut-off valve being coupled to the motor through the shaft,
wherein the motor is physically separated from gas flowing through the gas meter;
wherein the first and second physical barriers provide the physical separation between the motor and the gas flowing through the gas meter;
wherein the first portion of the gas meter housing further comprises a gear box coupled to the motor;
wherein the first and second portions of the housing of the gas meter are configured to fit together as a case and cover for the gas meter and provide a single contiguous unit; and
wherein the first physical barrier comprises a barrier o-ring positioned around the shaft between the first and second portions of the housing and wherein the second physical barrier comprises an inner o-ring positioned around the shaft between the valve and the valve housing.
7. The gas regulating system of claim 6 , wherein the first portion comprises all spark generating equipment of the gas meter.
8. The gas regulating system of claim 6 , wherein the gas meter is one of a residential gas meter and a commercial gas meter.
9. The gas regulating system of claim 6 , wherein the shut-off valve is configured to shut-off pressures greater than 25 PSI.
10. The gas regulating system of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of sensors each configured to sense at least one of temperature, pressure and vibration and wherein the shut-off valve operates responsive to one or more of a direct command to shut-off, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a vibration sensor.