Height adjustable meter/device pit
AssigneeA. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
InventorRandal S. Aspen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A height adjustable device pit (10) is provided for use in installing water meters (12) or other equipment below ground level. The device pit (10) includes a lower housing section (14), an upper housing section (16), and a lid (18). The lower housing section (14) and the upper housing section (16) are engaged with each other by mating screw threads (20) and (22) that are centered on a vertical, longitudinal axis (24). The housing sections (14,16) are movable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis (24) to adjust the vertical height of the device pit (10) in response to relative rotation of the housing sections (14) and (16) about the longitudinal axis (24).
Claims25
A height adjustable meter pit for use in installing a water meter below ground level, the meter pit comprising:
- a lower housing section and an upper housing section engaged with each other by mating screw threads that are centered on a longitudinal axis, the housing sections moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis for height adjustment of the meter pit in response to relative rotation of the housing section about the longitudinal axis,
- the lower housing section defining a chamber for receiving at least one water meter and including a pair of openings, each opening sized to allow a water line located outside of the chamber to be connected to a water meter received in the chamber, and
- the upper housing defining an access passage to allow a worker to access the chamber in the lower housing.
A device pit retrofit kit for use in retrofitting an existing device pit to provide a height adjustable device pit, the retrofit kit comprising:
- a tubular-shaped retrofit component configured to be mounted on an existing meter pit, the retrofit component having a radially inwardly facing, cylindrical-shaped mount surface centered on a longitudinal axis, and an external screw thread centered on the longitudinal axis, the mount surface sized to closely conform to an external surface of the existing device pit;
- and
- an upper housing section having an internal screw thread configured for threaded engagement with the external screw thread to provide relative movement between the upper housing section and the retrofit component along the longitudinal axis in response to the upper housing section being rotated relative to the retrofit component, the upper housing defining an access passage to allow a worker to access the existing device pit after the retrofit kit is installed on the existing device pit.
A height adjustable device pit for use in installing equipment below ground level, the device pit comprising:
- a lower housing section and an upper housing section engaged with each other by mating screw threads that are centered on a longitudinal axis, the housing sections moveable relative to each other along the longitudinal axis for height adjustment of the device pit in response to relative rotation of the housing section about the longitudinal axis,
- the lower housing section defining a chamber for receiving at least one device and including at least one opening sized to allow a service line located outside of the chamber to be connected to the at least one device received in the chamber, and
- the upper housing defining an access passage to allow a worker to access the chamber in the lower housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.