Patent ID: 6053207
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
In a valve cover system a valve and a valve cover, and being suitable for being in a distribution network for communicating a fluid such as water or fuel gas through a plurality of additional valve systems, the improvement comprising said valve cover having a shape generally in the form of a regular octagon; a valve box for being buried in the ground, a valve socket externally engaged to a hollow cylindrical tube telescopically, said tube internally engaged telescopically at one end to said valve box and allowing access to the interior of said valve box, and engaged at the other end to said valve socket; sealing means operable for producing a substantially hermetic seal between said valve cover and said valve socket to inhibit the movement of any external liquids into said tube; said valve cover having indicia defined thereon to indicate essential information relating to both said valve and relative fluid passing through said valve and other valve systems in said network; said valve socket further including extensions forming bearing surfaces engaging the adjacent ground so that said valve socket will tend to move up and down along with the adjacent ground engaged by said extensions, whereby said valve cover will tend to remain relatively level with the adjacent ground over an extended period of time regardless of local changes and shifts on the ground elevation; said valve box being composed of a nonferrous material selected to resist corrosion; and to avoid explosion inducing sparks, and said valve system further comprising spherical polymer based aggregate surrounding said tube and generally between said tube and the adjacent ground, thereby reducing the inhibiting effect of the adjacent ground to movement of said tube relative said valve box, whereby the tendency of adverse conditions such as frost does not cause said valve cover to become below the adjacent ground due to said tube being inhibited relative said valve box.