| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for exchanging a gas meter without interrupting customer service. The apparatus preferably comprises a rigid frame for temporarily securing a meter to be exchanged independently of its mounting nuts, and an isolating enclosure adapted to be selectively removeably coupled about a portion of the meter loop terminal to provide a fluid flow bypass around the meter. A rigid conduit is adapted to be positioned within the enclosure means until the meter is removed, at which point it will be inserted in the meter loop to bypass the meter to facilitate enclosure removal. Purging apparatus is included to remove air from the enclosing volume and the replacement meter. The method comprises the steps of temporarily securing the meter to be removed relative to its mounting, providing a fluid flow pathway for bypassing the meter by sealably enclosing a volume about the meter loop terminals in fluid flow communication therewith, purging air from the volume prior to disconnecting the meter, disconnecting the meter and bypassing it with a conduit to allow removal of the enclosing volume and the meter to be replaced, substituting a new meter, reestablishing a fluid flow pathway by reinstalling the enclosing volume, purging unwanted air, removing the bypass conduit from the meter loop terminals, attaching the replacement meter to the meter loop, and finally removing the bypass pathway enclosure.
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