Abstract: A flush to grade utilities vault is disclosed. The vault comprises a concrete box with a lockable, hinged fiberglass lid. The box has an appendage housing the locking mechanism external to the box. The lid is designed to achieve an ASTM A-16 load rating and has a domed skid resistant surface for use flush with a sidewalk. A floor platform lies above the bottom of the box such that utilities cables enter the box below the floor. A hinged utilities wiring frame is mounted inside opposite the lid hinge such that the frame hinges down in the box when the vault is closed and into a vertical position for making connections. A safety barrier is formed by the lid, the wiring frame, and barrier arms which hinge between them. A venting system provides egress for gasses and equalization of pressure between the interior and exterior of the vault.

Abstract: A below grade utilities connections vault is disclosed. The vault of the present invention comprises a concrete box with lockable, hinged lid. A floor platform lies at a distance above the bottom of the box such that utilities cables enter the box below the level of the floor. A hinged utilities wiring frame is mounted to the wall opposite the lid hinge such that the frame hinges down into the box when the vault is closed and into a vertical position for making connections. A safety barrier is formed by the lid, the wiring frame, and barrier arms which hinge between them surrounds the vault, when open. A venting system provides egress for gasses and equalization of pressure between the interior and exterior of the vault.

Abstract: A vault suitable for underground burial, having a vent capable of passing air into and out of the vault and excluding rising external water from entering the vault through the vent, and a valve assembly for accomplishing this exclusion. The vault has walls enclosing an open interior storage space. The vent has a conduit communicating between the interior space and the outside atmosphere. The valve assembly is located at the free end of the conduit. The valve assembly comprises a vertical, cylindrical chamber having a lower opening open to the atmosphere and an upper opening connected to the conduit. Two spherical floats of unequal diameter are occupy the chamber, with the smaller float located above the larger float. The upper float is a valve cooperating closely with a valve seat located at the upper opening. A grate or screen retains the floats in the chamber. When rising waters threaten to flood the vault, the floats rise, the upper float seating in the seat and closing the upper opening.

Abstract: A vault for storing batteries underground, having glass fiber reinforced concrete body including a floor and vertical walls, and an insulated fiberglass top closure, and a method of storing batteries. Two conduits disposed in generally concentric fashion communicate between the interior of the vault and the external atmosphere. One conduit has a connector for connecting to a supply of pressurized nitrogen gas. The other conduit branches into two secondary conduits, each having a unidirectional check valve opening when a pressure differential between the interior of the vault is established relative to the external atmosphere. One check valve admits air to the vault and the other check valve allows air to escape to the external atmosphere. The vault includes an external support structure for supporting a davit in an operable position for lifting batteries from the vault.

Abstract: A four-sided hollow post provides a mount for four repeater housings of the type used by the cable industry and protectively houses the cable so that cable guards are not needed. The post has a removable back panel so that backfill material is positioned within the hollow interior of the post during the backfill procedure; this stabilizes the post so that it remains upright. The base of the post is also flared outwardly to accomplish the same objective. A unistrut bracket is positioned in each of the four side walls to enable facile mounting of brackets that support the repeater housings, and a knock out panel is formed in each side wall so that the cable stubs depending from a repeater housing may extend into the interior of the post through a cable exit port that is created when the knock out panel is removed.