Gas meter valve and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a gas meter valve for use with a gas meter and a method for its use. The gas meter valve comprises a valve inlet, a valve outlet, and a valve body coupled to the valve inlet and the valve outlet. The valve body includes a chamber for communicating gas from the valve inlet to the valve outlet and a valve assembly disposed in the chamber and adapted to prevent the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a first position and permit the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a second position. The gas meter valve further includes an actuating mechanism coupled to the valve assembly for positioning the valve assembly in the first position and the second position, and a port in communication with the chamber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gas meter valve for use with a gas meter, the gas meter valve comprising: 
 a valve inlet;    a valve outlet;    a valve body coupled to the valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve body including: 
 a chamber for communicating gas from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and  
 a valve assembly disposed at least partially in the chamber and adapted to: 
 prevent the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a first position, and  
 permit the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a second position;  
 
   an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the valve assembly and adapted to position the valve assembly in the first position and the second position; and    a port coupled to the valve body, wherein an interior of the port is in communication with the chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the port is in communication with the valve outlet when the valve assembly is in the first position.  
     
     
         3 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the port is in communication with the valve inlet when the valve assembly is in the first position.  
     
     
         4 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the valve inlet is coupleable to a meter outlet and adapted to communicate gas from the meter outlet, and    the valve outlet is coupleable to piping for supplying gas to a customer and adapted to communicate gas to the piping.    
     
     
         5 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plug, operable for positioning with the port.    
     
     
         6 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a keyed receptacle operable to receive a tool for manipulating a position of the actuating mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a manually operable flange mounted on an exterior of the valve body.  
     
     
         8 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve inlet, valve outlet and valve body are arranged so as to replace an existing piping portion.  
     
     
         9 . The gas meter valve of  claim 1 , wherein a connection of the valve inlet to the valve body is substantially perpendicular to a connection of the valve outlet to the valve body.  
     
     
         10 . In a gas supply system comprising a gas meter, a method for providing access to an interior of a gas supply system, the method comprising: 
 providing a gas meter valve comprising: 
 a valve inlet;  
 a valve outlet;  
 a valve body coupled to the valve inlet and the valve outlet, the valve body including: 
 a chamber for communicating gas from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and  
 a valve assembly disposed at least partially in the chamber and adapted to: 
 prevent the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a first position, and  
 permit the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a second position;  
 
 
 an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the valve assembly and adapted to position the valve assembly in the first position and the second position; and  
 a port coupled to the valve body, wherein an interior of the port is in communication with the chamber;  
   positioning the valve in the first position; and    connecting an external device to the port, wherein the external device is capable of accessing an interior of the gas supply system via the port.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 pressurizing at least a portion of the interior of the gas supply system utilizing the external device.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 measuring a drop of pressure to test for leaks in the at least a portion of the interior of the gas supply system.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the external device is a standup pressure testing device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pressurization is facilitated via utilization of a hand pump.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein pressurizing at least a portion of the interior of the gas supply system includes utilizing pressurized gas to provide gas to a customer.  
     
     
         16 . A gas supply system comprising: 
 a gas meter having a meter inlet for receiving a gas supply and a meter outlet for providing the gas supply; and    a gas meter valve coupled to the gas meter, the gas meter valve including: 
 a valve inlet;  
 a valve outlet;  
 a valve body coupled to the valve inlet and the valve outlet, the valve body including: 
 a chamber for communicating gas from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and  
 a valve assembly disposed at least partially in the chamber and adapted to: 
 prevent the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a first position, and  
 permit the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a second position;  
 
 
 an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the valve assembly and adapted to position the valve assembly in the first position and the second position; and  
 a port coupled to the valve body, wherein an interior of the port is in communication with the chamber.  
   
     
     
         17 . The gas meter supply system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a second gas meter valve coupled to the gas meter, the second gas meter valve including: 
 a valve inlet;  
 a valve outlet;  
 a valve body coupled to the valve inlet and the valve outlet, the valve body including: 
 a chamber for communicating gas from the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and  
 a valve assembly disposed at least partially in the chamber and adapted to: 
 prevent the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a first position, and  
 permit the communication of gas through the chamber when the valve assembly is in a second position; and  
 
 
 an actuating mechanism operably coupled to the valve assembly and adapted to position the valve assembly in the first position and the second position.  
   
     
     
         18 . The gas meter supply system of  claim 17 , wherein the gas meter valve is coupled to the meter outlet and the second gas meter valve is coupled to the meter inlet.  
     
     
         19 . The gas meter supply system of  claim 17 , wherein the gas meter valve is coupled to the meter inlet and the second gas meter valve is coupled to the meter outlet.  
     
     
         20 . The gas meter supply system of  claim 17 , wherein the second gas meter valve further includes: 
 a port coupled to the valve body, wherein the interior of the port is in communication with the chamber.