Valve operating nut protector
AssigneeHampton Roads Sanitation District
InventorsDon Butler, Eric Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protective assembly for an operating nut of an actuator for a valve in an underground pipe system is comprised of a guide assembly and a mounting assembly. A riser pipe is used to access the operating nut from above ground. The protective assembly maintains alignment of the riser pipe at installation and as the ground shifts over time. The guide assembly is formed of a guide structure and a mounting collar that juts outwardly from the guide structure forming a flange. The mounting assembly has a first portion for attaching the mounting assembly to the flange, and a second portion for attaching the mounting assembly to the actuator.
Claims20
An apparatus for protecting an operating nut of an actuator that controls a valve in an underground pipe, comprising:
- a guide assembly formed of a hollow guide structure and a mounting collar, the guide structure fitting inside a lower end of a riser pipe and providing a barrier between the riser pipe and the operating nut, the riser pipe providing access from an above ground location to the operating nut along a main axis, the mounting collar being in a plane perpendicular to the main axis and being joined to a lower edge of the guide structure and jutting outwardly from said guide structure, the outward jutting portion of the mounting collar being a flange;
- and
- a mounting assembly having a first portion joined to said flange and having a second portion bolted directly to said actuator.
A method for protecting an operating nut of an actuator that controls a valve in an underground pipe, comprising:
- forming a guide assembly from a hollow guide structure and a mounting collar, the guide structure fitting inside a lower end of a riser pipe and providing a barrier between the riser pipe and the operating nut, the riser pipe providing access from an above ground location to the operating nut along a main axis, the mounting collar being in a plane perpendicular to the main axis and being joined to a lower edge of the guide structure and jutting outwardly from said guide structure, the outward jutting portion of the mounting collar being a flange;
- forming a mounting assembly having a first portion for joining to said flange and a second portion for being bolted directly to said actuator;
- and
- joining the guide assembly and the mounting assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.