Valve service box and method of making

• US 5,327,925 A
• Filed: 12/14/1993
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas L. Ortel
• Original Assignee: Thomas L. Ortel
• Inventors: Ortel, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/166,727
• Time in Patent Office: 210 Days
• Field of Search: 137/371, 137/368, 137/364, 137/365-367, 137/369, 137/370, 137/15
• US Class Current: 137/15.08
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/10 Protective plates or covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0441 Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7002 Detachable base plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/701 Combined with actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7021 Covers

Abstract

A kit for forming a valve service box (10). The kit includes a plastic service valve housing (24) and a cover box assembly (22). The cover box assembly includes a plastic cover housing (32). Each of the housings (24 and 32) is provided with a cylindrical smooth wall bore (24.21 or 32.21) which may closely receive one end of a length of polyvinyl chloride pipe (26) of an appropriate uniform diameter. The housings (24 and 32) can be bonded by a conventional solvent welding process to the piece of plastic pipe (26) to form the valve service box, the plastic pipe (26) having been cut in the field to be of a correct length.

Claims

1. A method of making a valve service box for a service pipe shut-off valve assembly disposed below the surface of the ground, the valve assembly being secured at either end to inlet and outlet service pipes;

said method comprising the follow steps;

providing a plastic service valve housing having a bell portion provided with opposed recesses, the recesses extending upwardly from the rim at the bottom of the bell portion, the plastic service valve housing also having an upper cylindrical smooth wall bore;

providing a length of plastic pipe of uniform diameter which may be securely bonded to the upper cylindrical smooth wall bore of the plastic service valve housing by a conventional solvent welding process in a fluid tight manner;

providing a cover box assembly including a plastic cover housing having a lower cylindrical smooth wall bore adapted to receive an end of the plastic pipe which may be secured thereto by a conventional solvent welding process in a fluid tight manner;

cutting the length of plastic pipe so that it will be of the desired length between the surface of the ground and the service valve housing when properly positioned about the shut-off valve below the surface of the ground;

bonding one end of the length of pipe within the upper cylindrical smooth wall bore of the service valve assembly; and

bonding the lower cylindrical smooth wall bore of the plastic cover housing to the upper end of the plastic pipe to form a valve service box.

2. A kit for forming a valve service box, the kit having component parts capable of being assembled in the field with a length of plastic pipe of a suitable uniform diameter to form a valve service box for a service pipe shut-off valve assembly having a shut off valve disposed within a valve casing having opposed ends, the ends of the casing being secured to suitable service pipes disposed below ground surface;

the kit comprising;

a plastic service valve housing for receiving a service pipe shut-off valve assembly secured to a pair of service pipes, said service valve housing having a bell portion which is provided with a rim at its lower end and opposed recesses extending upwardly from the rim of the bell, the service valve housing also having an upper cylindrical smooth wall bore adapted to closely receive the lower end of a length of plastic pipe of a suitable diameter for coupling thereto by a conventional solvent welding process; and

a cover box assembly comprising a plastic cover housing, a cover, fastener means for securing the cover to the plastic cover housing, and wherein the plastic cover housing further includes a lower cylindrical smooth wall bore of the same diameter as the upper cylindrical smooth wall bore of the plastic service valve housing, the lower cylindrical smooth wall bore being adapted to closely receive the upper end of the length of the plastic pipe for coupling thereto by a conventional solvent welding process.

3. A cover box assembly for a valve service box forming kit which also includes a plastic service valve housing, the cover box assembly and the plastic service valve housing capable of being assembled in the field with a length of plastic piping of a suitable uniform diameter to form a valve service box for a service pipe shut-off valve disposed below the surface of the ground;

the cover box assembly comprising;

a plastic cover housing having a lower cylindrical smooth wall bore adapted to closely receive the upper end of a length of plastic piping for coupling thereto by a conventional solvent welding process, a radially inwardly extending abutment disposed immediately above the lower cylindrical smooth wall bore, an upper cylindrical portion adapted to receive a cover, a transition portion extending between the lower cylindrical portion and the upper cylindrical portion, and fastener receiving means;

a cover provided with an aperture; and

fastener means which pass through the aperture in the cover and which has an end received within the fastener receiving means in the plastic cover housing to secure the cover to the cover housing.

4. The cover box assembly for a valve service box forming kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the plastic cover housing further includes a radially outwardly extending flange disposed below the top of the upper cylindrical portion, wherein the cover further includes a downwardly extending cylindrical flange which is adapted to be disposed about the upper cylindrical portion and to abut against said radially outwardly extending flange when the cover is assembled to the plastic cover housing, wherein the fastener receiving means of the plastic cover housing extends radially inwardly extending between the top of the radially outwardly extending flange and the top of the radially inwardly extending abutment, and wherein the radially inwardly extending fastener receiving means is provided with a threaded metallic insert molded therein.

5. The cover box assembly for a valve service box forming kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the assembly further includes a ferrous metal ring disposed within the lower cylindrical portion immediately below the radially inwardly extending abutment.

6. A one piece integral plastic service valve housing for a valve service box forming kit which also includes a cover box assembly, the cover box assembly and the service valve housing capable of being assembled in the field with a suitable length of plastic pipe of an appropriate uniform diameter to form a valve service box for a service pipe shut-off valve assembly disposed below the surface of the ground, the service pipe shut-off valve assembly having a shut off valve disposed within a valve casing having opposed ends, the ends of the casing being secured to suitable service pipes disposed below ground surface;

the service valve housing including;

an upper portion having a cylindrical smooth wall bore adapted to receive therein the lower end of a length of plastic pipe of an appropriate diameter for coupling thereto by a conventional solvent welding process,

a radially inwardly extending abutment disposed immediately below the smooth cylindrical bore, and

a bell portion disposed below the upper portion, the bell portion being adapted to receive therein the service pipe shut-off valve assembly.

7. A one piece integral plastic service valve housing for a valve service box forming kit which also includes a cover box assembly, the cover box assembly and the service valve housing capable of being assembled in the field with a suitable length of plastic pipe of an appropriate uniform diameter to form a valve service box for a service pipe shut-off valve assembly disposed below the surface of the ground, the service pipe shut-off valve assembly having a shut off valve disposed within a valve casing having opposed ends, the ends of the casing being secured to suitable service pipes disposed below ground surface;

the service valve housing including;

an upper portion having a cylindrical smooth wall bore adapted to receive therein the lower end of a length of plastic pipe of an appropriate diameter for coupling thereto by a conventional solvent welding process,

a radially inwardly extending abutment disposed immediately below the smooth cylindrical bore, and

a bell portion disposed below the upper portion, the bell portion being adapted to receive therein the service pipe shut-off valve assembly, the bell portion having a lower rim, opposed recesses through which the ends of the valve casing may pass, the opposed recesses extending upwardly from the rim of the bell portion, a pair of feet extending radially outwardly from the rim of the bell portion, said feet being disposed between the opposed recesses, and a pair of reinforcing gussets, each gusset extending between the upper surface of one of the feet and an outer side wall of the bell portion, each of said pair of gussets being disposed midway between the opposed recesses.

8. A valve service box comprising:

a one piece plastic service valve housing having

a bell portion having opposed recesses for the reception of the ends of a shut-off valve assembly disposed within the bell portion,

an upper portion interconnected with the bell portion, the upper portion having a cylindrical smooth wall bore, and

a radially inwardly extending abutment disposed immediately below the cylindrical smooth wall bore;

a length of plastic pipe of uniform diameter which has been cut to be of the desired length, the lower end of the plastic pipe being bonded within the cylindrical smooth wall bore of the upper portion of the plastic service valve housing;

a cover box assembly adapted to be disposed at the surface of the ground, the cover box assembly including

a plastic cover housing having

a lower cylindrical smooth wall bore which is bonded about the upper end of the length of plastic pipe,

an upper cylindrical portion interconnected with the lower cylindrical bore, and

fastener receiving means,

a cover provided with an aperture, and

fastener means which pass through the aperture in the cover and which has an end received within the fastener receiving means in the plastic cover housing to secure the cover to the plastic cover housing.