Abstract:
A valve and an adjacent bell end and/or spigot components are integrally formed, whereby separating forces are resisted. A pipe sleeve may extend from a shroud atop the valve to a ground surface level for access to the valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In fields such as irrigation, there has long been the problem of preventing separation of valves from other components caused by changes in water pressure, opening or closing the valve, and outside forces. In utilization of bell end and spigot valving arrangements, the problem is well known. To prevent valve and pipe separation, concrete thrust blocks have long been utilized, requiring substantial labor and expense to mold concrete thrust blocks in place, or otherwise. Mechanical joint restraints have also been utilized to secure a valve with other components.  
           [0002]    The present invention provides means for preventing separation of valves from spigots without involving any thrust blocks or special mechanical restraint devices, particularly with bell and spigot type valves.  
           [0003]    The separation of valves from other components can be caused by changes in water pressure, as upon the closing off or opening of a valve, by outside forces, etc.  
           [0004]    The present invention provides an assembly wherein a valve housing is integrally formed or cast with bell end or a spigot, typically. “Bell end” is the term in the art for a component having a generally arcuate or rounded end portion adapted to receive the end of a spigot which is an unthreaded pipe end adapted to fit in the bell end.  
           [0005]    The present invention may be utilized with a wide variety of valves, including gate valves, globe valves, angle valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, and control valves.  
           [0006]    The present invention also relates to the provision of the above-mentioned combinations with a shroud disposed atop the valve and generally coaxial with a valve operator shaft, together with a pipe sleeve within and generally concentric with the valve operator to extend upwardly toward a ground surface to provide access to the valve operator.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a top view of a valve with a bell end member and a spigot integrally formed therewith, the view of FIG. 1 being taken at line  1 - 1  in FIG. 5;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a valve housing integrally formed with a bell end on its input side and a bell end on its output side;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a valve housing integrally formed with a bell end on its input side and a spigot on its output side;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a central valve housing integrally formed with a spigot on its inlet side and a spigot at its outlet side;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 shows an underground valve with components integrally formed thereon and a shroud having an upwardly extending pipe sleeve for access to the valve;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a shroud utilized with the apparatus of FIG. 5;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at line  7 - 7  in FIG. 6; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken at line  8 - 8  in FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    Referring to the drawings, an assembly  10  comprises a central valve housing  12  which is integrally cast with interconnections with and housings of a bell end  14  on an output side of the valve and a second bell end  16  on the input side of the valve. A pipe or spigot  18  has its end portion disposed in bell end  14 . The housing  12  of the valve is integrally cast and formed with interconnections or housings of the bell ends  14 ,  16 . There is thus provided effective restraint against separation of the valve from either of the bell ends, as would otherwise occur as result of changes in the flow or stoppage of flow through the valve or by other forces, such as outside forces. Separation is thus prevented as between a first component on an input side of the valve and a second component on the output side of the valve. The integrally cast interconnections between the first member on the input side and second member on the outlet side effectively prevent separation of the valve housing from the first and second members. These components may be utilized in different combinations. These include the bell end  14  and spigot  24  of FIG. 3, with the spigot  24  being on the input side of the valve and bell  14  being on the output side. FIG. 4 shows a central valve and housing  12  to which are integrally molded the housing or portion of spigot  24  on the input side of the valve and a spigot  26  on the output side of the valve, as shown.  
         [0016]    A wide variety of valves may be utilized with the valve housing  12 , including globe valves, gate valves, angle valves, plug valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, and control valves.  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 5, an assembly similar to that of FIG. 1 is shown disposed underground or under gravel  34 . The valve operator or handle  22  is atop the valve, and shroud  30  is disposed atop the valve, as shown. The shroud may be molded integrally with the valve housing, as shown in FIG. 5, or may comprise a plurality of upwardly extending bars or fingers  38 , as shown in FIG. 7. A pipe sleeve  32  is positioned and centered by the shroud. The pipe lower end portion is preferably sized to fit closely within the shroud  30 . Alternatively, a set screw  40  may be utilized to retain the pipe sleeve in the shroud, as indicated in FIG. 6. The shroud serves to center the pipe sleeve relative to the valve operator  22 .  
         [0018]    A cover  36  is preferably provided and disposed with its skirt portion inserted into the ground or gravel, as shown, and preferably with an upper surface flush with the upper surface of the ground, as shown. It is readily removable for access to pipe sleeve  32 . There is thus provided immediate access via the pipe sleeve for operation of the valve handle or operator  22 .  
         [0019]    It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.