Abstract: The combination of: an underground valve for a supply line and having an underground actuator through which a state of the valve can be changed to control flow within the supply line; and a conduit assembly embedded in ground material and defining an access passage through which above ground access can be obtained to the valve actuator. The conduit assembly has a housing defining a cavity in which at least a portion of the valve resides. The conduit assembly further has a valve base assembly configured to interact with: a) the housing; and b) at least one of: i) the valve; and ii) the supply line to maintain a desired relationship between the housing and the at least one of: i) the valve; and ii) the supply line.

Abstract: The combination of: an underground valve for a supply line and having an underground actuator through which a state of the valve can be changed to control flow within the supply line; and a conduit assembly embedded in ground material and defining an access passage through which above ground access can be obtained to the valve actuator. The conduit assembly has an adaptor assembly with a body made from a non-metal material and having at least a first connector. The valve has at least a second connector. The first and second connectors cooperate to maintain the body operatively connected to the valve. A first conduit part is configured to connect to the body and bound a portion of the access passage accessible through an entry opening remote from the valve.

Abstract: A safety device of a recirculating-water utilization system to be constructed in a specific area includes: at least one of a circulating-water monitoring unit configured to monitor a water quality of circulating water purified by a purifying unit, or a treatment-vessel monitoring unit configured to detect abnormality of treatment vessels constituting the purifying unit.

Abstract: A component for connection to a substantially identical component wherein the connected components form an alignment device for a gate valve assembly. The component includes a generally semi-circular body that has a peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is adjacent to the interior surface of the valve bonnet when the valve bonnet is positioned over the gate valve assembly. The generally semi-circular body has a diametrical edge wherein the diametrical edge contains an opening that receives a part of the gate valve assembly when the components are connected together. The peripheral wall has an exterior surface. The exterior surface has a pair of acutely disposed surfaces that intersect at an apex and the apex defines a flat surface, and at least a portion of the apex is in contact with the interior surface of the valve bonnet.

Abstract: A centering valve box adapter is provided for supporting a bonnet over a valve box to maintain vertical access to the valve box nut. A plurality of retainers can be affixed to the valve box using the bolts on the valve box. Each retainer has a lip and a keeper. Each keeper has a vertical hole. A plurality of brackets can also be provided. Each bracket can have an interface, an extension and a riser. The interface can be removably received within the hole of the keeper. The plurality of retainers and respective brackets form an assembly that defines a perimeter. A bonnet can be vertically supported on the respective extensions of the brackets. The bonnet is self centering and is laterally bound by the perimeter defined by the risers. The retainers and brackets can be made of stainless steel.

Abstract: An improved liquid infiltration adapting structure for preventing liquid infiltration around a gate valve box. The structure has an annular tube structure that is tapered to more easily receive a mating pipe. The tube structure may also comprise at least one bead for further securing the mating pipe. The adapting structure is also improved by providing a stepped inner flange for ease of installing the structure around the gate valve box.

Abstract: A guard for a valve upon a buried fluid line prevents earth entering the opposed arches or the bottom of a conventional casing during installation about and above the valve permitting access after filling of the excavated cavity for the fluid line. Alignment of the casing with the valve and the fluid line is also facilitated with an upward facing bore of an upward extending upward portion of the guard which permits insertion of the end of a length of conduit during installation and allows passage of the end of a wrench in operation of the buried valve. A longitudinal cavity open at the bottom and ends and continuous with the bore is defined by a lower portion of the guard. Opposed ends extend into the opposed arches of the casing, protect the fluid line from a descendant arch, and serve as guides for casing disposition. Two lateral pairs of stabilizers extending outwardly from either end stabilize the guard with respect to the casing and the fluid line.

Abstract: Water is supplied to a water user outlet facility by maintaining a tappable flow of water in a recirculating loop that includes a pump such as a centrifugal pump driven by a substantially constant speed motor to establish the flow, a water delivery path that extends from the pump to the outlet facility, and a water return path that extends from the outlet facility back to the pump. The flow is permitted to be controllably tapped at the facility by a water user while directing any untapped portion of the flow into the water return path. Such recirculation avoids stagnation and thereby impedes deterioration in the potability of the water. Further such recirculation makes the recirculating loop and water within the loop less sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding environment. The recirculating loop may include a water purifier such as an ultra-violet lamp source to kill organic contaminants and, as well, may include a filter to remove inorganic material.

Abstract: A manual/pneumatic oil pumping device having a housing defining therein an oil reserving space and an upper cover. A floating board is disposed in the oil reserving space. The upper cover is equipped with a manual air sucking mechanism, a pneumatic air sucking mechanism and an oil sucking tube. The pneumatic air sucking mechanism is provided with a controlling unit. The control controlling unit includes a seat body, a valve body, a sleeve and a movable block. The movable block is fitted in the sleeve and has a downward extending projecting post. When the oil is pumped to fill up in the oil reserving space, the projecting post is upward pushed by the floating board to make movable block move upward. At this time, the leakproof washer on the movable block seals the through hole of the seat body and the push pin pushes the valve body away from the through hole so as to block the air sucking passage of the pneumatic air sucking mechanism.

Abstract: A flow control device includes a first body and a second body; a threaded engagement for clamping the bodies together in an axially aligned relationship; a diaphragm seal that is disposed axially between the first and second bodies to form a seal there between; each of the first and second bodies having a generally flat surface portion near its respective outer periphery; at least one of the generally flat surfaces being adjacent an outer corner thereof; the diaphragm being singularly clamped between the generally flat portions; the diaphragm having an outer peripheral portion adjacent the generally flat surfaces and that bends over and seals at the corner.

Abstract: A valve alignment tool for correctly aligning the valve box above each shut off valve in the water pipes of a underground water main. The valve alignment tool fits over the square stem nut of the gate valve, and fits in sliding engagement with the valve box to align the bottom of the valve box around the square stem nut of the gate valve. The top of the valve alignment tool protrudes above the surface of the ground and contains a bubble level so that it can be held vertically as the sections the valve box are slid down the outside of the valve alignment tool. When the trench around the underground water main has been filled in, and the top section of the valve box has been put in place, the valve alignment tool is withdrawn.

Abstract: A water freeze prevention device is provided and includes a mechanism that is installed between a water meter and incoming water pipes to drain the water pipes to prevent the water pipes from freezing during severe cold weather conditions.

Abstract: An underground access box and valve operating and protecting means are disclosed. The access box comprises a pair of valve enclosing members adapted to be fitted together to enclose a valve and present an upward extension through which the valve can be reached. The valve enclosing members have a generally planar bottom, an open side, and an upwardly extending side portion. The bottom projects beyond a side portion and a flange extends upwardly from the bottom portion along a side portion. The valve operating means comprises a high-head comprising an elongated central portion, an upper operating nut portion, and a lower valve nut socket portion, at least one of which is melt fused to the central portion so as to be severed from the central portion if the high-head is exposed to torque which would damage the valve or the line to which the valve is connected. Further, an adapter is provided which enables one to use a square head valve operating socket on a flat head valve nut.

Abstract: A curb box for underground gas and water services formed of a synthetic plastic material wherein the lower portion of the curb box is formed with a bell housing for receiving a service or distribution line valve. The bell housing includes valve engaging surfaces frictionally contacting the valve wherein such frictional engagement initially positions the valve upon the curb box and resists inadvertent displacement between the valve and curb box during installation, back filling and settling.