# US 11,028,940 B2 · Underground valve monitoring device and method of operation

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- Number: US 11,028,940 B2
- Document ID: US11028940B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/365,732
- Filed: 2019-03-27
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-02
- Assignees: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
- Applicants: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard J. Trieste, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028940B2

## CPC

- F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)}
- F16K 35/00: Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an antenna.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna is disposed within the senor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the antenna is external to the sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer, the accelerometer being operable to generate the first signal in response to movement of the second housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor further includes a processor and a communications circuit, the processor is responsive to nontransitory executable computer instructions to transmit a second signal via the communications circuit in response to the first signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further responsive to storing a date and time data in a memory in response to the first signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the data and time data is transmitted via the second signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a weather seal operably coupled between the first body and second body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the handle feature includes a hook member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the handle feature includes a loop member.

### Claim 12

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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a second signal to a computer network in response to the first signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising engaging a handle feature disposed on an end of the housing and removing the housing from the valve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first portion is sealingly coupled to the second portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a date and time when the motion is detected.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the date and time data in memory.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor includes an antenna, the antenna being disposed within the sensor or external to the sensor.

### Claim 20

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.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer, the accelerometer being operable to generate the first signal in response to movement of the second housing.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the sensor further includes a processor and a communications circuit, the processor is responsive to nontransitory executable computer instructions to transmit a second signal via the communications circuit in response to the first signal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further responsive to storing a date and time data in a memory in response to the first signal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23, wherein the data and time data is transmitted via the second signal.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor includes an antenna, the antenna being disposed within the sensor or external to the first housing.