Pit extension

• US 10,174,486 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Floyd, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ference, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/436,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/02 Public or like main pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/072 Arrangement of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/095 Component holders or housings, e.g. boundary boxes

Abstract

A pit extension includes an extension body, the extension body defining an extension bottom end and an extension top end, the extension body defining an extension inner surface and an extension outer surface, the extension inner surface defining an extension bore extending from the extension bottom end to the extension top end; and a plurality of legs, each leg of the plurality of legs comprising an attached portion and an extended portion, the attached portion of each leg attached proximate to the extension bottom end of the extension body, the extended portion of each leg extending downward from the extension bottom end, the extended portion of each leg configured to attach to a top end of a pit liner.

Claims

1. A pit extension comprising:

an extension body, the extension body defining an extension bottom end and an extension top end, the extension body defining an extension inner surface and an extension outer surface, the extension inner surface defining an extension bore extending from the extension bottom end to the extension top end; and

a plurality of legs, each leg of the plurality of legs comprising an attached portion and an extended portion, the attached portion of each leg attached to the extension bottom end of the extension body, the extended portion of each leg extending downward from the extension bottom end, the extended portion of each leg configured to attach to a top end of a pit liner; and

wherein a first leg of the plurality of legs is attached to the extension outer surface of the extension body, and a plurality of teeth are disposed on an inward-facing surface of the first leg.

2. The pit extension of claim 1, wherein:

the extension bore defines an extension axis; and

the extended portion of each leg extends axially away from the extension bottom end with respect to the extension axis.

3. The pit extension of claim 1, wherein each tooth of the plurality of teeth extends at least partially towards the extension body.

4. The pit extension of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are molded into the first leg of the plurality of legs.

5. The pit extension of claim 4, wherein the plurality of teeth of the first leg are attached to a bracket base.

6. The pit extension of claim 5, wherein each tooth of the plurality of teeth is die cut from the bracket base.

7. A pit assembly comprising:

a pit vault, the pit vault comprising a pit liner, the pit liner defining a liner top end and a liner bottom end, the pit liner defining a liner inner surface and a liner outer surface, the liner inner surface defining a liner bore extending from the liner top end to the liner bottom end; and

a pit extension, the pit extension comprising;

an extension body, the extension body defining an extension bottom end and an extension top end, the extension bottom end positioned in an end-to-end facing relationship with the liner top end, the extension body defining an extension inner surface and an extension outer surface, the extension inner surface defining an extension bore extending from the extension bottom end to the extension top end; and

a plurality of legs, each leg of the plurality of legs comprising an attached portion and an extended portion, the attached portion of each leg attached to the extension bottom end of the extension body, the extended portion of each leg attached to the liner top end; and

wherein a first leg of the plurality of legs is attached to the extension outer surface; and

a plurality of teeth extend inward from an inward-facing surface of the first leg.

8. The pit assembly of claim 7, wherein the extended portion of each leg comprises a plurality of teeth engaging the pit liner.

9. The pit assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of teeth engages the liner outer surface.

10. The pit assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of legs are equally spaced around a circumference of the extension body.

11. The pit assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the liner bore defines a liner axis;

the plurality of teeth extend radially inward with respect to the liner axis; and

the plurality of teeth extends axially inward towards the extension body with respect to the liner axis.

12. The pit assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the liner outer surface of the pit liner defines a liner outer diameter;

the extension outer surface of the extension body defines an extension outer diameter; and

the liner outer diameter is substantially equal to the extension outer diameter.

13. The pit assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the liner bore defines a liner axis;

the extension bore is coaxial to the liner axis; and

the pit extension is axially and rotationally fixed to the pit vault with respect to the liner axis.

14. A pit extension comprising:

an extension body, the extension body defining an extension bottom end and an extension top end, the extension body defining an extension inner surface and an extension outer surface, the extension inner surface defining an extension bore extending from the extension bottom end to the extension top end; and

a plurality of legs, each leg of the plurality of legs comprising an attached portion and an extended portion, the attached portion of each leg attached to the extension bottom end of the extension body, the extended portion of each leg extending downward from the extension bottom end, the extended portion of each leg configured to attach to a top end of a pit liner; and

wherein a plurality of teeth are molded into a first leg of the plurality of legs, the plurality of teeth are attached to a bracket base, and each tooth of the plurality of teeth is die cut from the bracket base.

15. The pit extension of claim 14, wherein:

the extension bore defines an extension axis; and

the extended portion of each leg extends axially away from the extension bottom end with respect to the extension axis.

16. The pit extension of claim 14, wherein each tooth of the plurality of teeth extends at least partially towards the extension body.