NON-SOLICITED SMALL RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL ENTITLED, "DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE ROBO ACTIVATED WATER METER"

This water meter will dispense to the user preset volumes of water, determined at the time he purchases the activator. In this way, the user makes prepayment for his water usage. Project consists of testing to optimize the assembly of the Robo prototype water meter. An inexpensive piston and cylinder assembly constructed of high impact plastic will be designed and tested for strength, wear, and durability. Originally this asembly was constructed from aluminum; but if a plastic assembly proves functional, the cost of the meter can be reduced. Discussion with A.I.D. and other groups will indicate what volumes of water should be delivered per meter. Gear assemblies calibrated to dispense predetermined water volumes will then be developed and tested under various operating water pressures to check the meter"s accuracy. A more efficient pelton wheel will be designed to increase the accuracy of the water meter. At present, the pelton wheel inaccurately records low flows. The meter and each of its components will be subjected to 500,000 operation cycles to test the complete unit and modification will be made as necessary. A detailed report will be presented, containing the findings of this investigation, recommendations for materials, and shop drawings for local LDC manufacture. Five operative prototypes will be furnished. Relating this research to proposed A.I.D. work, the final prototypes will be demonstrated to the World Bank, World Health Organization, CARE, UNICEF, and other international assistance organizations. Information on this water meter will be sent to development officers in A.I.D. missions, alerting them of the existence of this device, and engineering staffs will be requested to use the water meter in A.I.D. field projects.