Meter prover

Claim 2

A bidirectional meter prover adapted to be connected to a conduit having a meter arranged therein having an elongated calibration barrel provided with a piston means longitudinally movable in said barrel in either direction, said calibration barrel having means on the exterior thereof adjacent each end for detecting the movement of said piston means, which comprises: tubular valve means separately fluidly connected to first and second ends of said calibration barrel; said valve means having a separate coaxial inlet means and a separate lateral outlet means; longitudinally movable open-ended tubular spool means in said valve means for directing fluid to a selected end of said calibration barrel; and means for operating said spool means by rapidly moving it longitudinally.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the calibration barrel, the valve means, and the connections therebetween are covered by insulation means.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the insulation means is polyurethane foam.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the insulation means is frost.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the piston means is provided with seal and wear rings comprised of tetrafluoroethylene polymer.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the piston means is constructed of aluminum having a steel band around its center.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with the claim 1 in which the calibration barrel is confined in a longitudinal, horizontal cradle-supporting means for supporting said barrel free of stress.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the spool means is provided with cryogenic temperature resistant sealing means on each end of said spool means for sealing with the inner wall of said valve means, said spool means providing passage of fluid therethrough and therearound depending on its position in said valve means to an from said calibration barrel and from said inlet means to said outlet means.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the spool means is provided with outwardly biased sealing means.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which the spool means is provided with cup-type sealing means.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the piston means is provided with outwardly biased cryogenic temperature resistant seal and wear rings.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which: a. the tubular spool means is provided with sealing means on each end thereof; b. the calibration barrel, the valve means, and the connections therebetween are covered by insulation means; c. the piston means is provided with seal cryogenic temperature-resistant and wear rings; d. the piston means is constructed of aluminum having a steel band around its center; e. the calibration barrel is confined in a longitudinal, horizontal cradle supporting means; and f. the interior surfaces of the calibration barrel and the valve means are honed.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which: a. the insulation means is frost; and b. the seal and wear rings are comprised of tetrafluoroethylene polymer.

Claim 15

Apparatus for a cryogenic meter prover system which comprises in combination a tubular housing means; coaxial inlet means connected to one end of said tubular housing; first and second lateral spaced-apart ports connected to said tubular-housing means intermediate its ends; outlet means connected to said tubular-housing means at a point substantially midway between said spaced-apart ports; a tubular spool member arranged in said tubular housing having a center fluid conducting passageway; cryogenic temperature-resistant annular-sealing means on each end of said spool member for sealing with the interior surface of said housing, the space between said sealing means defining an annular chamber exterior of said spool member; and means extending through said housing connected to said spool member for moving said spool member longitudinally in said tubular housing to thereby place said inlet means in selective communication through the interior of said spool member as a passageway with one of said ports while placing the other of said ports in communication with said outlet means via the annular chamber exterior of said spool member as a passageway whereby the differential pressure across each of said sealing means is minimized and equal to the differential pressure between said inlet means and outlet means; said tubular-housing means being connected to the calibration barrel of a bidirectional meter prover by said spaced-apart ports and to the meter thereof by said inlet means.

Claim 16

Apparatus for a cryogenic meter prover system which comprises in combination a tubular housing means; coaxial inlet means connected to one end of said tubular housing; first and second lateral spaced-apart ports connected to said tubular-housing means intermediate its ends; outlet means connected to said tubular-housing means at a point substantially midway between said spaced-apart ports; a tubular spool member arranged in said tubular housing having a center fluid conducting passageway; cryogenic temperature-resistant annular-sealing means on each end of said spool member for sealing with the interior surface of said housing, the space between said sealing means defining an annular chamber exterior of said spool member; and means extending through said housing connected to said spool member for moving said spool member longitudinally in said tubular housing to thereby place said inlet means in selective communication through the interior of said spool member as a passageway with one of said ports while placing the other of said ports in communication with said outlet means via the annular chamber exterior of said spool member as a passageway whereby the differential pressure across each of said sealing means is minimized and equal to the differential pressure between said inlet means and outlet means; said tubular-housing means being connected to the calibration barrel of a bidirectional meter prover by said spaced-apart ports and to the meter thereof by said inlet means.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the meter is a turbine meter.