Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METER CASING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[00011 The present invention relates to pressure vessels for use with fluid
flow meters.
More particularly, the present invention relates to hybrid fluid flow meter
pressure vessel
assemblies that include an interior housing fabricated from plastic, and an
exterior ring
structure fabricated from metal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[00021 The pressure vessel of a fluid flow meter, such as a water meter, is
typically
fabricated from metal, such as bronze. Metal pressure vessels provide
desirable benefits
relating to, for example: resistance to fluid pressure fluctuations and/or
pulsations; resistance
to stresses due to in-ground shifting of pipes to which the pressure vessel is
connected; and
resistance to thread stripping. Metal pressure vessels also advantageously
provide a
continuous electrical connection for electrical grounding purposes. Many
building electrical
services are generally grounded through the main cold water line, which is
often connected to
the metal pressure vessel of a fluid flow meter. Metal pressure vessels,
however, have certain
disadvantages associated with them relating to, for example: increased weight;
high material
costs (e.g., copper in the case of bronze or red brasses); increased costs
relating to fabrication,
such as metal machining; and leaching of metals (e.g., lead in the case of
bronze) into the fluid
(e.g., potable water) that contacts the interior of the metal pressure vessel.
[00031 Pressure vessels for fluid flow meters fabricated from plastic
materials are known.
See, for example, United States Patent Nos. 4,391,139 and 4,478,440. While
addressing some
of the disadvantages associated with metal pressure vessels (e.g., reduced
weight and
minimizing metal leaching into the contacted fluid), plastic pressure vessels
typically fail to
provide some of the advantages associated with metal pressure vessels. For
example, plastic
pressure vessels are typically prone to thread stripping, and are prone to
failure (e.g., cracking)
when exposed to stresses due to in-ground shifting of pipes to which the
pressure vessel is
connected. In addition, plastic pressure vessels typically do not provide
sufficient electrical
conductivity for grounding purposes.
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[00041 It would be desirable to develop new pressure vessels, for use with
fluid flow meters,
that address the disadvantages associated with metal pressure vessels. It
would be further
desirable that such newly developed pressure vessels also provide the
advantages associated
with metal pressure vessels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00051 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fluid
flow meter
pressure vessel assembly comprising:
(a) an interior housing having sidewalls and an internal chamber, said
sidewalls of said interior housing having a first aperture and a second
aperture that are each in
fluid communication with said internal chamber, said interior housing being
fabricated from
plastic; and
(b) an exterior ring saddle structure encompassing at least a portion of an
exterior of said sidewalls of said interior housing, said exterior ring
structure comprising a first
conduit and a second conduit, said first conduit being in fluid communication
with said first
aperture of said interior housing, said second conduit being in fluid
communication with said
second aperture of said interior housing, said first conduit and said second
conduit each
independently extending outwardly from said exterior ring structure, said
exterior ring
structure being fabricated from metal,
wherein said interior housing and said exterior ring structure are attached to
each other.
[00061 In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a
fluid flow meter
that includes the fluid flow meter pressure vessel assembly as described
above.
[00071 The features that characterize the present invention are pointed out
with particularity
in the claims, which are annexed to and form a part of this disclosure. These
and other
features of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects
obtained by its use
will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and
accompanying
drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated and
described.
100081 As used herein and in the claims, terms of orientation and position,
such as "upper",
"lower", "inner", "outer", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top",
"bottom", and similar
terms, are used to describe the invention as oriented in the drawings. Unless
otherwise
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indicated, the use of such terms is not intended to represent a limitation
upon the scope of the
invention, in that the invention may adopt alternative positions and
orientations.
[0009] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those
expressing
structural dimensions, quantities of ingredients, etc., as used in the
specification and claims are
understood as modified in all instances by the term "about".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Figure 1 is a representative exploded perspective view of a fluid flow
meter pressure
vessel according to the present invention;
[0011] Figure 2 is a representative partially exploded perspective view of a
fluid flow meter
pressure vessel according to the present invention that further includes a cap
and an internal
meter housing;
[0012] Figure 3 is a representative exploded perspective view of a saddle
component of the
exterior ring structure of the fluid flow meter pressure vessel according to
the present
invention;
[0013] Figure 4 is a representative partially exploded perspective view of a
fluid flow meter
that includes the fluid flow meter pressure vessel according to the present
invention;
[0014] Figure 5 is a representative non-exploded perspective view of the fluid
flow meter of
Figure 4;
[0015] Figure 6 is a representative perspective view of a two-piece exterior
ring structure of
a fluid flow meter pressure vessel according to the present invention;
[0016] Figure 7 is a representative perspective view of a fluid flow meter
according to the
present invention that includes the two-piece exterior ring structure of
Figure 6;
[0017] Figure 8 is a representative perspective view of a substantially
unitary exterior ring
structure of a fluid flow meter pressure vessel according to the present
invention; and
[0018] Figure 9 is a representative perspective view of a fluid flow meter
according to the
present invention that includes the substantially unitary exterior ring
structure of Figure 8.
[0019] In Figures 1 - 9, like reference numerals designate the same components
and
structural features, unless otherwise indicated.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, a pressure vessel (or meter
casing) 1
according to the present invention is depicted. Pressure vessel 1 includes an
interior housing
11 that has sidewalls 14 and an internal chamber 17. Sidewalls 14 include a
first aperture 20
and a second aperture 23, that are each in fluid communication with internal
chamber 17.
Interior housing 11 is fabricated from plastic, such as thermoplastic
materials and/or thermoset
plastic materials, as will be discussed in further detail herein.
[0021] Interior housing 11 may have any suitable shape. Typically, interior
housing 11 has
a substantially cylindrical shape, having a horizontal sectional shape
selected from circular
shapes, oval shapes, irregular shapes, and/or polygonal shapes (e.g.,
triangular, square,
rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, etc.). As depicted
in the drawings,
interior housing 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape, having a horizontal
sectional shape
that is substantially circular. The first aperture 20 and second aperture 23
of interior housing
11 may be positioned at any point in sidewalls 14, relative to each other.
Typically, and as
depicted in the drawings, the first aperture 20 and the second aperture 23 of
interior housing
11 are positioned so as to be substantially opposed from each other.
[0022] Pressure vessel 1 further includes an exterior ring structure 26.
Exterior ring
structure 26 encompasses at least a portion of the exterior (e.g., exterior
sidewall surfaces 29)
of sidewalls 14 of interior housing 11. The exterior ring structure 26 may be
a substantially
unitary exterior ring structure, for example, as depicted with regard to
substantially unitary
exterior ring structure 32 of Figure 8. The exterior ring structure may,
alternatively, be a
multicomponent exterior ring structure that includes at least two components,
for example, as
depicted with regard to multicomponent exterior ring structure 26 of Figure 1,
and
multicomponent exterior ring structure 35 of Figure 6.
[0023] Exterior ring structure 26 includes a first conduit 38 and a second
conduit 41, that
each extend outwardly from exterior ring structure 26. First conduit 38 is in
fluid
communication with first aperture 20 of interior housing 11. Second conduit 41
is in fluid
communication with second aperture 23 of interior housing 11. Accordingly,
first conduit 38
and second conduit 41 are each in fluid communication with internal chamber 17
of interior
housing 11.
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[0024] The exterior ring structure 26 is fabricated from one or more metals,
including,
alloys of two or more metals. For example, the exterior ring structure may be
fabricated from
iron, steel, brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, titanium, and combinations
thereof. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the exterior ring structure 26 is
fabricated from brass.
[0025] The interior housing 11 and the exterior ring structure 26 are attached
to each other.
The interior housing and the exterior ring structure 26 may be attached to
each other by
attachment arrangements selected from, for example, fasteners (including
bolts, screws, nut
and bolt combinations), and/or adhesives.
[0026] The exterior ring structure 26 in an embodiment, provides electrical
conductivity
between the first conduit 38 and the second conduit 41 thereof. More
particularly, the exterior
ring structure provides at least sufficient electrical conductivity between
the first and second
conduits (38, 41) thereof, for electrical grounding purposes. That is, the
exterior ring structure
allows the pressure vessel of the present invention to be used for purposes of
grounding the
electrical service of a structure (e.g., a residential house) in which the
pressure vessel is used.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the exterior ring structure
26 is a
multicomponent exterior ring structure (or an exterior ring structure
assembly) that includes at
least two components. With further reference to Figure 1, exterior ring
structure 26 includes a
first saddle component 44 and a second saddle component 47. First saddle
component 44
includes first conduit 38, and second saddle component 47 includes second
conduit 41. First
saddle component 44 and second saddle component 47 are attached to each other.
[0028] The first saddle component 34 and second saddle component 47 of the
exterior ring
structure 26 may be attached to each other by means of aligned apertures
through which
fasteners (e.g., bolts, or nut and bolt combinations) are received. First
saddle component 44
includes a first terminal end 50 and a second terminal end 53, that each
include at least one
extension 56 having at least one aperture 59 therein. Second saddle component
47 includes a
first terminal end 62 and a second terminal end 65, that each include at least
one extension 68
having at least one aperture 71 therein.
[0029] Aperture 59 of the first terminal end 50 is aligned with at least one
aperture 71 of
the first terminal end 62, and together form first aligned apertures 74
(Figure 2) that are
dimensioned to receive a first fastener therethrough (or therein), not visible
in the drawings.
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More particularly, extension 56 of the first terminal end 50 resides between
separate upper and
lower extensions 68 of the first terminal end 62, and aligned apertures 74 are
formed by
apertures7l, 59 and 71 (from top to bottom).
[00301 Aperture 59 of the second terminal end 53 is aligned with aperture 71
of the second
terminal end 65, and together form second aligned apertures 77 (not visible in
the drawing
figures) that are dimensioned to receive a second fastener therethrough (or
therein), not visible
in the drawings. More particularly, extension 68 of the second terminal end 65
resides
between separate upper and lower extensions 56 of second terminal end 53 of
first saddle
component 44, and the aligned apertures 77 are formed by apertures 59, 71, 59
(from top to
bottom).
[00311 In other words, the extensions (or legs) of the first saddle component
and the second
saddle component engage (or cooperate) with each other as shown, to form the
exterior ring
structure.
100321 In another embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to
Figure 6,
exterior ring structure 35 includes a first saddle component 80 having a first
conduit 83
extending outwardly therefrom, and a second saddle component 86 having a
second conduit 89
extending outwardly therefrom. First saddle component 80 has a first terminal
end 92 and a
second terminal end 95, each having an extension 98 having an aperture 101.
Second saddle
component 86 has a first terminal end 104 and a second terminal end 107, each
having an
extension 110 and an aperture (not visible in the drawings). The aperture 101
of extension 98
of the first terminal end 92 of the first saddle component 80, and the
aperture (not visible) of
the extension 110 of the first terminal end 104 of the second saddle component
86, together
define an aligned aperture 113 that is dimensioned to receive a fastener 116
therethrough or
therein (Figure 7).
[00331 The aperture 101 of the extension 98 of the second terminal end 95 of
the first saddle
component 80, and the aperture (not visible) of the extension 110 of the
second terminal end
107 of the second saddle component 86, together define an aligned aperture 119
that is
dimensioned to receive a fastener therethrough or therein (not visible in the
drawings).
100341 The first saddle component and the second saddle component of the
exterior ring
structure have substantially the same configuration, in an embodiment of the
present invention.
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Having the same configuration allows the first and second saddle components to
be
interchanged with each other. For purposes of non-limiting illustration and
with reference to
Figure 1, first saddle component 44 and second saddle component 47 have
substantially the
same configuration, as shown. More particularly, first terminal end 50 of
first saddle
component 44 and second terminal end 65 of second saddle component 47 have
substantially
the same configuration, and each have a single extension (56, 68) each having
an aperture
therethrough (59, 71). Second terminal end 53 of first saddle component 44 and
first terminal
end 62 of second saddle component 47 have substantially the same
configuration, and each
have spaced apart extensions (56, 68) each having an aperture therethrough
(59, 71).
[0035] For purposes of further non-limiting illustration and with reference to
Figure 6, first
saddle component 80 and second saddle component 86 of exterior ring structure
35 have
substantially the same configuration, as shown. In particular, first terminal
end 92 of first
saddle component 80 and first terminal end 104 of second saddle component 86
have
substantially the same configuration, and each have a lateral extension (98,
110) each having
an aperture therethrough (e.g., 101). Second terminal end 95 of first saddle
component 80 and
second terminal end 107 of second saddle component 86 have substantially the
same
configuration, and each have a lateral extension (98, 110) each having an
aperture
therethrough (e.g., 101).
[0036] In an embodiment, and for purposes of attaching the interior housing
and the exterior
ring structure together, the interior housing and the exterior ring structure
together define at
least two separate pairs of aligned bores that are each dimensioned to receive
a fastener
therethrough. With reference to, for example, Figures 4 and 5, pressure vessel
3 includes an
interior housing 121 that is substantially similar to interior housing 11 as
described previously
herein, and an exterior ring structure 26.
[0037] Sidewall 14 of interior housing 121 includes four outwardly extending
barrels 123
each having a vertical bore therethrough (not visible in the drawings). Only
three barrels 123
are visible in Figures 4 and 5. Exterior ring structure 26 has four outwardly
extending barrel
portions 126 that each include a vertical bore 129. Only two barrel portions
126 are visible in
Figures 4 and 5. The bores 129 of the barrel portions 126 of the exterior ring
structure 26, are
aligned with the bores (not visible) of the barrels 123 of interior housing
121, and together
form four pairs of aligned bores 132 (only two of which are visible in Figures
4 and 5).
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100381 Each aligned bore 132 is dimensioned to receive a fastener therethrough
(or therein).
As depicted in Figures 4 and 5, aligned bores 132 each have a bolt 135
received therein. Only
three of the four bolts 135 are visible in Figures 4 and 5.
100391 In an embodiment of the present invention, the bore 129 of each barrel
portion 126
of exterior ring structure 26 has internal threading. Each bolt 135 is
inserted into each aligned
bore 132 up through the vertical bore of each barrel 123 of internal housing
121, and then into
the bore 129 of exterior ring structure 26, aligned therewith. Threads at the
end of each bolt
135 engage threadingly with the interior threads of each bore 129 of exterior
ring structure 26.
Bolts 135 are typically fabricated from metal. Such an arrangement in which
the metal threads
of a bolt 135 engage threadingly with the internal threads of a metal bore 129
provides a more
secure attachment of the internal housing 121 and the exterior ring structure
26 together,
compared to the metal threads of a bolt engaging threadingly with the internal
threads of a
plastic bore (which is prone to stripping out).
[00401 The conduits of the pressure vessel of the present invention may be
attached to
separate conduits (not shown) by known connection arrangements, such as, quick
disconnects,
threaded connections, and solder. In a particular embodiment, a terminal
portion of the first
conduit has exterior threads, and a terminal portion of the second conduit has
exterior threads.
With reference to Figures 1-5, first conduit 38 has a terminal portion 138
having external
threads 141, and second conduit 41 has a terminal portion 144 having external
threads 147.
Alternatively, or in addition to external threads, terminal portions of the
first and second
conduits may each independently have internal threads.
[00411 The threads (e.g., external threads) of the terminal portions of the
conduits of the
external ring structure may each threadingly engage with the threads (e.g.,
internal threads) of
the coupling of a separate conduit (not shown) in accordance with art-
recognized connection
arrangements. A seal, such as, a flat gasket 150 (Figure 3) may be included
between the
conduits of the exterior ring structure and the couplings into which the
external threads thereof
are threadingly received.
[00421 To further minimize the contact of fluids, passing through the pressure
vessel, with
metal components, the pressure vessel of the present invention may further
include a first
conduit liner residing within the first conduit, and a second conduit liner
residing within the
second conduit, of the exterior ring structure. The first and second conduit
liners are
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fabricated from plastic, and are adapted and dimensioned to substantially
prevent contact of
fluid (e.g., water) passing therethrough with the interior surfaces of the
respective first and
second conduits.
[00431 Alternatively, or in addition to conduit liners, the interior surfaces
of the first and
second conduits may each be independently coated with a non-metallic coating
(not shown),
such as, an organic coating (e.g., a thermoset coating and/or a thermoplastic
coating). For
example, a thermoplastic powder coating may be applied to the interior
surfaces of the first
and/or second conduits, and then fused thereover by means of exposure to
elevated
temperature in accordance with art-recognized methods. The organic coating
substantially
prevents contact of fluid (e.g., water) passing through the first and second
conduits, with the
interior surfaces of the respective first and second conduits. The organic
coating may include
one or more of those classes and examples of thermosetting materials and/or
thermoplastic
materials, and optional reinforcing agents and/or additives as described in
further detail herein
below, with the weight basis being based on the solids weight of the coating
composition.
[00441 With reference to Figures 1 and 3, exterior ring structure 26 includes
a first conduit
liner 153 that resides within first conduit 38 thereof, and a second conduit
liner 156 (only
partially visible) that resides within second conduit 41 thereof. Each conduit
liner 153, 156
may include an outwardly flared portion having a terminal flange. For example,
first conduit
liner 153 has an outwardly flared portion 159 having a terminal flange 162.
The terminal
flange of the conduit liner 159 may engage sealingly with a seal positioned on
sidewall 14 of
internal housing 11 and around the first or second apertures 20, 23 thereof.
With reference to
Figure 1, first aperture 20 of sidewalls 14 of interior housing 11 has a seal
165 associated
therewith that engages sealingly with first conduit liner 153. Second aperture
23 of sidewalls
14 of interior housing 11 has a seal 168 associated therewith that engages
sealingly with
second conduit liner 156.
[00451 The interior housing 11 of the pressure vessel 1 of the present
invention may include
a cap (or plate) 171 that is attached to lower (or terminal) portions of the
sidewalls of the
interior housing 11. The cap (or lower cap) 171 serves to enclose and further
define the
internal chamber 17 of the interior housing 11. With reference to Figure 2,
interior housing 11
includes a cap 171 that is attached to lower (or terminal) portion 174 of
sidewalls 14 of interior
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housing 11, by art-recognized attachment arrangements, such as, fasteners
and/or adhesives
(not shown).
100461 The pressure vessel 1 of the present invention may further include an
internal meter
housing residing within the internal chamber 17 of the interior housing 11.
The internal meter
housing includes a first opening that is in fluid communication with the first
aperture 20 of the
interior housing 11, and a second opening that is in fluid communication with
the second
aperture 23 of said interior housing. The meter housing typically includes art-
recognized fluid
flow metering mechanisms (e.g., positive displacement mechanisms, or turbine
mechanisms).
100471 With reference to Figure 2, pressure vessel assembly 1 further includes
an internal
meter housing 177 that resides within internal chamber 17 of interior housing
11. Internal
meter housing 177 has a first opening 180 and a second opening 183 (not fully
visible in the
drawings). First opening 180 is in fluid communication with first aperture 20
of sidewall 14 of
interior housing 11, and second opening 183 is in fluid communication with
second aperture
23 of sidewalls 14 of interior housing 11. A fluid, such as water, entering
through second
conduit 41, through second aperture 23, through second opening 183, through
internal meter
housing 177, engages with the metering mechanism well known in the art therein
(not shown),
and passes out through first opening 180, through first aperture 20, and out
through first
conduit 38.
100481 The present invention also relates to a fluid flow meter that includes
the fluid flow
meter pressure vessel of the present invention. The fluid flow meter also
typically further
includes a meter register housing attached to an upper surface of a top cap of
the pressure
vessel, and a lid hingedly attached to an upper portion of the meter register
housing.
[00491 With reference to Figures 4 and 5, fluid meter 7 includes pressure
vessel assembly 3,
as described previously herein, and a meter register housing 186 that is
attached to an upper
surface 189 of top cap 172. The meter register housing 186 further includes a
lid 192 that is
hingedly attached to an upper portion 195 of meter register housing 186, by
means of a hinge
198.
[00501 The meter register housing includes an art-recognized meter-registering
arrangement
(not shown) that registers metering information from the metering mechanism
(not shown)
that typically resides within the internal chamber of the interior housing of
the underlying
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pressure vessel assembly, in accordance with art-recognized arrangement. The
meter register
housing may be attached to the underlying pressure vessel assembly by art-
recognized
arrangements, such as fasteners, adhesives, and/or snap-fittings (not shown).
In an
embodiment, the meter register housing may be attached to the underlying
pressure vessel
assembly by means of a skirt that engages (e.g., threadingly or snap-
fittingly) with the
underlying pressure vessel assembly. With reference to Figures 7 and 9, fluid
meters 8 and 9
each include a skirt 201 that engages fittingly with the underlying pressure
vessel assembly
204 or 207.
[00511 The plastic components of the pressure vessel assembly, such as, the
interior housing
(e.g., 11) and caps (e.g., caps 171 and 172) (or plates) thereof, and conduit
liners (e.g., 153 and
156) are fabricated from one or more plastic materials. The plastic materials
may be selected
from thermoset plastic materials and/or thermoplastic materials, such as,
engineering plastics.
[00521 As used herein and in the claims, the term "thermoset plastic material"
and similar
terms, such as, "thermosetting or thermosetable plastic materials" means
plastic materials
having, or that form, a three-dimensional crosslinked network resulting from
the formation of
covalent bonds between chemically reactive groups, e.g., active hydrogen
groups and free
isocyanate groups, or between unsaturated groups.
[00531 Thermoset plastic materials from which the plastic components of the
pressure
vessel assembly (e.g., interior housing, caps, and conduit liners) may be
fabricated, include
those known to the skilled artisan, e.g., crosslinked polyurethanes,
crosslinked polyepoxides,
crosslinked polyesters, and crosslinked polyunsaturated polymers. The use of
thermosetting
plastic materials typically involves the art-recognized process of reaction
injection molding.
Reaction injection molding typically involves, as is known to the skilled
artisan, injecting
separately, and preferably simultaneously, into a mold, for example: (i) an
active hydrogen
functional component (e.g., a polyol and/or polyamine); and (ii) an isocyanate
functional
component (e.g., a diisocyanate, such as, toluene diisocyanate, and/or dimers
and trimers of a
diisocyanate such as toluene diisocyanate). The filled mold may optionally be
heated to ensure
and/or hasten complete reaction of the injected components.
100541 As used herein and in the claims, the term "thermoplastic material" and
similar
terms, means a plastic material that has a softening or melting point, and is
substantially free
of a three-dimensional crosslinked network resulting from the formation of
covalent bonds
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between chemically reactive groups, e.g., active hydrogen groups and free
isocyanate groups.
Examples of thermoplastic materials from which the plastic components of the
pressure vessel
assembly (e.g., interior housing, cap, and conduit liners) may be fabricated
include, but are not
limited to, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, thermoplastic
polyimide,
thermoplastic polyamide, thermoplastic polyamideimide, thermoplastic
polyester,
thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplastic polysulfone, thermoplastic
polyketone,
thermoplastic polyolefins, thermoplastic(meth)acrylates, thermoplastic
acrylonitrile-butadiene-
styrene, thermoplastic styrene-acrylonitrile, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-
stryrene-acrylate, and
combinations thereof (e.g., blends and/or alloys of at least two thereof).
100551 The plastic material from which the plastic components of the pressure
vessel
assembly (e.g., interior housing, cap, and conduit liners) may be fabricated,
may optionally
include a reinforcing material selected, for example, from glass fibers, glass
beads, carbon
fibers, metal flakes, metal fibers, polyamide fibers (e.g., KEVLAR polyamide
fibers),
cellulosic fibers, nanoparticulate clays, talc, and mixtures thereof. If
present, the reinforcing
material is typically present in a reinforcing amount, e.g., in an amount of
from 5 percent by
weight to 60 or 70 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the
component. The
reinforcing fibers, and the glass fibers, in particular, may have sizings on
their surfaces to
improve miscibility and/or adhesion to the plastic materials into which they
are incorporated,
as is known to the skilled artisan.
100561 In addition, or alternatively, to reinforcing material(s), the plastic
materials of the
plastic components of the pressure vessel assembly (e.g., interior housing,
cap, and conduit
liners) may optionally include one or more additives. Additives that may be
present in the
plastic materials of the interior housing include, but are not limited to,
antioxidants, colorants,
e.g., pigments and/or dyes, mold release agents, fillers, e.g., calcium
carbonate, ultraviolet
light absorbers, fire retardants, and mixtures thereof. Additives may be
present in the plastic
material in functionally sufficient amounts, e.g., in amounts independently
from 0.1 percent by
weight to 10 percent by weight, based on total weight.
[00571 The pressure vessel assembly and fluid flow meter of the present
invention may be
used to measure the fluid flow of any suitable fluid, such as, gasses and/or
liquids. Typically,
the pressure vessel assembly and fluid flow meter of the present invention are
used to measure
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the fluid flow of liquids, such as, but not limited, to water. In an
embodiment, the fluid flow
meter of the present invention is a water meter.
[00581 The present invention has been described with reference to specific
details of
particular embodiments thereof. It is not intended that such details be
regarded as limitations
upon the scope of the invention except insofar as and to the extent that they
are included in the
accompanying claims.
