# US 2016/0258140 A1 · Valve access conduit assembly and method of installing the assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258140 A1 - Document ID: US20160258140A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/066,553 - Filed: 2016-03-10 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-05 - Assignees: Argonics, Inc. - Applicants: Argonics, Inc. - Inventors: Joseph Roell; Alan J. Henderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258140A1 ## CPC - E03B 7/07: Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems - E03B 9/08: Underground hydrants - F16K 31/46: for remote operation - Y10T 29/49407: Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging - Y10T 137/0491: Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing - Y10T 137/598: With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means - Y10T 137/6991: Ground supporting enclosure - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - 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)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In combination: 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 comprising an adaptor assembly, the adaptor assembly comprising a body made from a non-metal material and having at least a first connector, the valve having at least a second associated connector, the first and second connectors configured to cooperate to maintain the body operatively connected to the valve, the conduit assembly further comprising at least a first conduit part configured to connect to the body and bound a portion of the access passage accessible through an entry opening remote from the valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first and second connectors comprise cooperating threads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combination according to claim 1 wherein the non-metal material making up the body comprises urethane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The combination according to claim 2 wherein the adaptor assembly comprises a main body part and a component that is connected to the main body part and defines the threads making up the first connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The combination according to claim 4 wherein the main body part is mold formed around the component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The combination according to claim 1 wherein the adaptor assembly and a first end of the first conduit part are configured so that the first end of the first conduit part and adaptor assembly are telescopingly engaged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The combination according to claim 6 wherein the adaptor assembly comprises a main body part and a component that is connected to the main body part and configured to telescopingly engage the first end of the first conduit part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The combination according to claim 1 wherein the body has a cylindrical shape with a central axis and a cylindrical outer surface from which at least one component projects radially relative to the central axis and is configured to at least one of: a) facilitate hand gripping of the body; and b) resist turning of the body around the central axis with ground material compacted around the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The combination according to claim 8 wherein the at least one component comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first conduit part is made from a non-metal material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The combination according to claim 10 wherein the conduit assembly further comprises a second conduit part, the first conduit part having a first end connected to the body and a second end, the second conduit part having first and second ends, the first end of the second conduit part and second end of the first conduit part configured to be telescopingly engaged to thereby allow changing of a combined length of the first and second conduit parts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination according to claim 11 wherein the second conduit part extends to an entry opening to the access passage and is made from a non-metal material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12 wherein the conduit assembly further comprises a cap that can be selectively changed between: a) a first state wherein the cap blocks the entry opening; and b) a second state wherein above ground access can be gained to the valve actuator through the entry opening and access passage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination according to claim 13 wherein substantially the entire conduit assembly extending away from the body toward the entry opening is made from a non-metal material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The combination according to claim 4 wherein the component is made from a non-metal material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The combination according to claim 7 wherein the component is made from a non-metal material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The combination according to claim 6 wherein the first end of the first conduit part is secured to the adaptor assembly with an adhesive. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A method of installing a conduit assembly to facilitate controlled access to an actuator on an underground valve, the method comprising the steps of: providing the combination of claim 11; securing the body to the valve; sliding an end of the first conduit part relative to the adaptor assembly and into a first relationship with the adaptor assembly; securing the end of the first conduit part relative to the adaptor assembly with the end of the first conduit part and adaptor assembly in the first relationship; cutting the first conduit part at a second location so that the first conduit part has a selected length between the end of the first conduit part and a second location; telescopingly engaging the second conduit part with the first conduit part so that the first and second conduit parts have a desired combined length; and compacting material around the conduit assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of securing the body to the valve comprises securing the body to the valve through a threaded connection by turning the body around an axis relative to the valve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of cutting the first conduit part comprises cutting the first conduit part at a site at which the underground valve is located.