Modified water meter arrangements

Modified water meter arrangements, and more particularly a modification kit for conducting various activities (e.g., repair, testing, monitoring, and the like) with respect to water meters typically employed by utility companies in monitoring usage of water by customers, are disclosed. By using the disclosed modification kit, utility company personnel can easily and more quickly conduct pressure checks, flow checks, bacteria checks, and meter checks, as well as lateral repairs. In carrying out some of these functions, the modification kit can be used with a conventional water meter while, in carrying out other functions, the modification kit is used in conjunction with an improved water meter in accordance with the invention.

1. A water meter comprising an input side, an output side, a chamber located between said input side and said output side, and an access port located above said chamber;

the improvement comprising an additional port formed in said output side of said meter, said additional port comprising means for receiving an adapter for connecting an additional water line to said meter; and

selective blocking means insertable into said chamber for selectively blocking flow of liquid from said input side to said output side and for selectively allowing flow of liquid from said input side to said output side.

2. The water meter of claim 1, wherein said adapter comprises a generally cylindrical element, said means for receiving said adapter comprising threads formed on an interior cylindrical surface of said additional port, said adapter having a first end comprising an exterior threaded portion for compatibly engaging the threads formed on the interior cylindrical surface of said additional port.
3. The water meter of claim 2, wherein said adapter has a second end, said second end of said adapter having means for connecting said additional water line to said adapter.
4. The water meter of claim 3, wherein said means for connecting said additional water line to said adapter comprises external threads formed on said second end of said adapter, said meter further comprising a cap having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, said substantially cylindrical inner surface of said cap having threads corresponding to the external threads formed on said second end of said adapter, whereby said cap can be screwed onto said second end of said adapter so as to seal the adapter and the interior of said water meter to which said adapter is connected.
5. The water meter of claim 1, wherein said selective blocking means comprises a cup which is substantially cylindrical in shape, a cylindrical surface of said cup being discontinuous so as to form an aperture in a portion of said cylindrical surface, said cup being rotatable within the interior of said chamber so as to selectively align and not align said aperture with one of said input side and said output side of said water meter, thereby selectively blocking and allowing water to flow from said input side into said chamber and from said chamber into said output side.
6. A water meter having an input side, an output side, a chamber located between said input side and said output side, and an access port located above said chamber;

said water meter further comprising selective blocking means inserted into said chamber for selectively blocking flow of liquid from one of said input side and said output side into said chamber and for selectively permitting flow of liquid from one of said input side and said output side into said chamber.

7. The water meter of claim 6, wherein said selective blocking means comprises a cup having a substantially cylindrical surface, said substantially cylindrical surface of said cup being discontinuous so as to form an aperture therein, said cup being rotatable within said chamber when inserted therein.
8. The water meter of claim 7, said cup being rotatable into a first position wherein said aperture is aligned with said input side, thereby permitting flow of liquid between said input side and said chamber and blocking flow of liquid between said chamber and said output side;

said cup being rotatable into a second position wherein said aperture is aligned with said output side, whereby flow of liquid between said input side and said chamber is blocked, and flow of liquid between said chamber and said output side is permitted; and

said cup being rotatable into a third position wherein said aperture is not aligned with any one of said input and output sides, whereby flow of liquid between said input side and said chamber and flow of liquid between said output side and said chamber are blocked.

9. The water meter of claim 6, further comprising adapter means disposed on top of said blocking means for securing said blocking means in said chamber.
10. The water meter of claim 9, wherein said adapter means has an end portion which is connectable to a water line so as to permit flow of water between said water line and said chamber via said adapter;

said water line has a first end and a second end, said first end is connected to said end portion of said adapter, and said second end is open, so that water is drained out of the chamber.

11. A method of testing a water meter normally in position between a main water supply and a facility, comprising the steps of:

(a) removing the water meter to be tested from its normal position between the main water supply line and the facility;

(b) connecting a side of the water meter to be tested via a water line to a faucet at the facility;

(c) providing a testing water meter having an input side, an output side, a chamber therebetween, and a port between the chamber and the output side;

(d) connecting another side of the water meter to be tested via a water line to the port of the testing water meter;

(e) connecting the input side of the testing water meter to the main water supply line and the output side of the testing water meter to a main cutoff valve at the facility;

(f) closing the main cutoff valve; and

(g) opening the faucet at the facility so that water runs through the testing meter and the meter to be tested to the open faucet.

12. A method of back-flushing a water supply system at a facility, the facility having a faucet and a cutoff valve, the cutoff valve being connected via a supply line to one end of a water meter having a register contained therein, another end of the water meter being connected to the main water supply line, a chamber located between the two ends, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the water meter with an additional port through which water can flow;

(b) opening the water meter and removing the register;

(c) inserting a cup having an aperture into the water meter so that the aperture is in alignment with the main supply line end of the water meter, inserting an adapter into the chamber and closing the water meter;

(d) connecting a top portion of the adapter via a water line to the faucet at the facility; and

(e) opening the faucet and the cutoff valve at the facility so that water passes from the main water supply line through the adapter, the faucet, the cutoff valve, the supply line, the one end of the water meter, and the additional port of the water meter, thereby performing a back-flushing operation.

13. A method of checking for loss of flow in the water supply system at a facility, the facility having a cutoff valve to which a water meter is connected via a supply line, said water meter having a register contained therein, the facility having a faucet, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) opening the water meter and removing the register;

(b) providing a cup having an aperture contained therein;

(c) inserting the cup into the water meter and positioning the cup so that the aperture is in alignment with a main water supply line side of the water meter;

(d) inserting an adapter into the water meter above the cup, and closing the water meter;

(e) connecting a top portion of the adapter via a water line to the faucet at the facility; and

(f) turning off the cutoff valve at the facility and checking the flow of water from faucets within the facility, thereby checking for loss of flow in the water supply line or in the main water supply.

14. A method of performing lateral repairs in a main water supply line serving a facility, the facility having a cutoff valve to which a water meter is connected via a supply line, the water meter having a register contained therein, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) opening the water meter and removing the register;

(b) providing a cup having an aperture contained therein;

(c) inserting the cup into the water meter so that the aperture is in alignment with a main water supply line side of the water meter;

(d) inserting an adapter into the water meter on top of the cup, and closing the water meter;

(e) connecting a hose line to a portion of the adapter for drainage purposes; and

(f) completing the repairs, turning on the main water supply line, and permitting contaminated water or water containing debris to drain through the cup, the adapter and the hose line connected to the adapter.

15. A method of checking for bacteria in the main water supply line serving a facility, the facility having a cutoff valve to which a water meter is connected via a supply line, the water meter having a register contained therein, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) opening the water meter and removing the register;

(b) inserting an adapter into the water meter and closing the water meter;

(c) connecting a hose line to a top portion of the adapter for the purpose of collecting a sample for testing for bacteria; and

(d) allowing water to flow from the main water supply line into the water meter, through the adapter, and through the hose line for the purpose of collecting a sample for testing for bacteria.

16. A method of performing a pressure check relative to a main water supply line serving a facility, the facility being connected via a supply line to a water meter, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) disposing an adapter in the water meter;

(b) connecting a pressure gauge to a top portion of the adapter;

(d) using the pressure gauge to check for pressure in the main water supply.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the meter has a register contained therein, and wherein step (a) comprises opening the meter, removing the register, inserting said adapter into the meter, and closing the meter.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises providing the meter with an additional port, and connecting the pressure gauge to the additional port.
19. A method of preventing unauthorized use of water at a facility, the facility having a cutoff valve to which a water meter is connected via a customer supply line, said water meter being connected via a main water supply side thereof to a main water supply line, said water meter having a register contained therein, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) opening the water meter and removing the register;

(b) providing a cup having an aperture contained therein;

(c) inserting said cup into the water meter and positioning the cup so that the aperture is in alignment with the main water supply line side of the water meter and so that said cup blocks water flowing into the water meter from flowing into the customer supply line; and

(d) inserting an adapter into the water meter above the cup, and closing the water meter.
20. A water meter positioned between a main water supply and a facility comprising:

an input side,

two output sides,

a chamber located between the input side and the output sides,

wherein one output side is connected to a main cutoff valve of the facility and the other output side is connected to a meter to be tested so that water flows from the main water supply through both meters and into the facility.