Underground valve monitoring device and method of operation
AssigneeConsolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Trieste, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring an underground valve is provided. The system includes a valve having an actuator operable to open and close the valve. The system includes a first housing having a recess, the recess being sized to fit at least partially over the actuator. A second housing is removably coupled to the first housing, the second housing having a hollow interior disposed to have an open end enclosed by the first housing, the second housing further having a handle feature opposite the open end. A sensor is disposed in the hollow interior, the sensor generating a first signal in operation in response to a movement of the second housing.
Claims25
A system for monitoring an underground valve, the valve having an actuator operable to open and close the valve, the actuator being disposed in a riser shaft that is enclosed by a cover the system comprising:
- a first housing having a recess, the recess being sized to fit at least partially over and removably positioned directly above the actuator;
- a second housing removably coupled to the first housing on an opposite side from the recess, the second housing having a hollow interior disposed to have an open end enclosed by the first housing, the second housing further having a handle feature opposite the open end, wherein the first housing and second housing are sized to fit within the riser shaft beneath the cover;
- and
- a sensor disposed in the hollow interior, the sensor generating a first signal in operation in response to a movement of the second housing relative to the actuator when the first housing and second housing are removed from the riser shaft.
A method of monitoring an underground valve, the valve being disposed at least partially within a riser shaft that is enclosed by a cover, the method comprising:
- removably disposing a housing onto an actuator of an underground valve, the housing having a first portion coupled to a second portion, the first portion having a recess sized to at least partially receive the actuator, the second portion being coupled to the first portion on an opposite side from the actuator, the second portion having a hollow interior with an open end, the open end being enclosed when the second portion is coupled to the first portion, the housing being sized to fit within the riser shaft beneath the cover;
- detecting motion of the housing relative to the actuator when the housing is removed from the riser shaft with a sensor disposed in the hollow interior;
- and
- transmitting a first signal in response to the determining of motion.
An underground gas delivery system comprising:
- a valve box having an unsecured removable cover;
- a riser shaft coupled to the valve box and extending into the ground;
- a gas pipe disposed underground;
- a valve operably coupled to the gas pipe, the valve having an actuator and being arranged with the actuator being within the riser shaft;
- a monitoring device disposed within the riser shaft beneath the removable cover, the monitoring device comprising:
- a first housing having a recess, the recess being sized to fit at least partially over and being removably disposed above the actuator;
- a second housing removably coupled to the first housing on an end opposite the actuator, the second housing having a hollow interior disposed to have an open end enclosed by the first housing, the second housing further having an handle feature opposite the open end;
- and
- a sensor disposed in the hollow interior, the sensor generating a first signal in operation in response to a movement of the second housing relative to the actuator when the monitoring device is removed from the riser shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.