Abstract: A gate valve includes a valve body and a valve cover. The valve body includes a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, a flow passage from the first opening to the second opening, and a gate channel from the flow passage to the third opening. The gate channel has a central longitudinal axis and a ridge defining a perimeter of the third opening. The valve cover can fit over the third opening and, under force on the valve cover, exert a clamping force on the ridge. The clamping force has a first force component perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis and a second force component parallel with the central longitudinal axis. The first force component of the clamping force is toward the gate channel. The ridge includes a first surface configured to mate with a first surface of the valve cover.

Abstract: A liquid monitoring system includes a remote measurement device located at a location of the fire hydrant that is in contact with water provided by a water main. The remote measurement device has sensors that measure characteristics of the water, energy characteristics and/or acoustic vibrations in the water and a communication interface that transmits measured information to a communication network device that may be located elsewhere on the fire hydrant. The communication network device communicates measurements, including event-related data, with a communication network to a central monitoring system.

Abstract: A butterfly valve includes a body, a gear assembly, a shaft, a Scotch yoke actuator on the shaft, and a gear box cover. The body has a fluid conduit and a gear platform supported on and over the fluid conduit. The shaft passes through the gear platform. The gear assembly is supported on the gear platform and includes a valve stem with a first threaded portion and includes a pin nut with a second threaded portion engaging the first threaded portion. The Scotch yoke actuator engages the pin nut. The gear box cover defines an internal cavity sized to house the gear assembly.

Abstract: Apparatuses for a hydrant, as well as associated methods for installing the same, may be directed to a threaded stem for actuating a hydrant outlet valve at a first end of the stem. An attachment nut may define a bore for supporting the stem in the hydrant. The attachment nut defines a cavity configured to receive water from a barrel of the hydrant. The attachment nut also defines a water access passage extending through an outer wall of the attachment nut to the cavity. The apparatus also includes a sensor in fluid communication with the cavity to obtain sensor data for the water in the barrel.

Abstract: A hydrant apparatus may be employed to monitor a water distribution system, and may include a sensor, a processor, and a local clock source. The apparatus may wake from a low power mode to a sensing mode, receive the sensor data, associate the sensor data with a first local clock time, and return the apparatus to the low power mode from the sensing mode. The apparatus may subsequently wake to an operational mode, determine a second local clock time subsequent to the first local clock time, associate an external clock time with the second local clock time, determine an offset for the received sensor data based on the first local clock time and the association between the second local clock time and the external clock time, and transmit the sensor data and the offset to an external monitoring system.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to methods and systems for reinforcing a plastic pipe bell. The disclosure may include arranging a sleeve fabricated from a heat shrinkable plastic around the plastic pipe bell, and shrinking the sleeve around the plastic pipe bell thereby forming a first interference fit between the sleeve and the plastic pipe bell. The disclosure may further include inserting a spigot into the plastic pipe bell and shrinking the sleeve around the spigot thereby and forming a second interference fit directly between the sleeve and the spigot.

Abstract: A hydrant valve assembly including a valve body including an exit end, a lip extending radially outward from the exit end, a valve seat and a first valve member selectively movable between a first orientation whereby the first valve member is not engaged with the valve seat and a second orientation whereby the first valve member is engaged with the valve seat. An annular retaining plate is supported on the exit end of the valve body and includes a first rod extending downwardly into the valve body, the first rod being arranged to selectively maintain the first valve member in the first orientation. A flange is detachably engaged with and concentrically arranged around the lip, and a barrel is supported on the retaining plate. A plurality of connectors extends through the barrel, the retaining plate and the flange for rigidly coupling the barrel to the retaining plate and flange.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to methods for manufacturing an improved plastic pipe. One method includes the steps of: providing a plastic pipe; heating a plastic pipe; inserting a mandrel into the heated plastic pipe to form a bell socket end, wherein the mandrel includes a Rieber gasket and a dummy gasket spanning the outer surface of the mandrel; cooling the plastic pipe; and removing the mandrel from the plastic pipe, wherein the Rieber gasket and dummy gasket remain within a gasket cavity formed in the newly-formed bell socket end of the plastic pipe. The method results in the bell socket end of the pipe having an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the opposing, spigot end of the pipe, wherein the bell socket end further includes a gasket cavity with a greater diameter than the remainder of the bell socket end.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides a restrained pipe joint including a first pipe including a bell with a spigot entryway and a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket, each restraining segment including a toothed inner face and a smooth, sliding front radial face arranged to slide against the front radial wall of the annular groove and facilitate wedging of the segment between the plastic pipes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic pipe including covering the teeth of a plurality of restraining segments circumferentially arranged and embedded within an annular gasket with a covering and placing the annular gasket on a mandrel with the covering arranged between the restraining segments and mandrel. The annular gasket and mandrel and are inserted into an end of a heated plastic pipe for forming a socket in the end of the plastic pipe, the socket including an annular cavity formed by the annular gasket. Upon removal of the mandrel from the socket, the covering functions to prevent acutely pointed teeth of the restraining segments from impinging upon the mandrel thereby allowing removal of the mandrel from the socket without removal of the annular gasket from the annular cavity.