US 12,276,530 B2
Portable verification system and method for use in lower pressure commercial and residential gas flow meters
Dennis McClintock, Tulsa, OK (US)
Assigned to Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC, Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed by Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC, Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed on May 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/740,185.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/328,066, filed on Apr. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324204 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G01D 4/02 (2006.01); G01D 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01D 18/00 (2013.01) [G01D 4/02 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable verification system adapted for connection to a natural gas piping system of a building, the natural gas piping system including a gas flow meter, wherein in a connected state natural gas flows through the gas flow meter and the portable verification system, and then into the building, the portable verification system comprising:
a wheeled cart and, mounted on the wheeled cart:
a piping circuit including an inlet end having a flexible hose, an outlet end having a flexible hose, and, between the inlet and outlet ends, two flow control valves and one tee;
an ultrasonic gas flow meter located between the inlet end of the piping circuit and a first end of the tee;
an air blower located at a second end of the tee; and
a battery and a generator, the battery in circuit relation to the generator, the ultrasonic gas flow meter, and the air blower;
wherein, one of the two flow control valves is located between the first and second ends of the tee and therefore between the ultrasonic gas flow meter and the air blower, another one of the two flow control valves is located toward a third end of the tee and therefore toward the outlet end of the piping circuit and downstream of the air blower and the ultrasonic gas flow meter; and
wherein in the connected state the one flow control valve is closed, thereby completely closing flow between the air blower and the ultrasonic gas flow meter, and the another flow control valve is opened, thereby permitting flow between the ultrasonic gas flow meter and the outlet end;
each flexible hose including a flange at one end and a lap joint flange at another end, the flange connected to a corresponding one of the inlet and outlet ends of the piping circuit.