GB2337287A

GB2337287A - Boundary box

Info

Publication number: GB2337287A
Application number: GB9810374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen John Graham
Original assignee: Edward Barber and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Edward Barber and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-13
Filing date: 1998-05-13
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Also published as: GB9810374D0

Abstract

A boundary box (1) for a water supply has a guard tube (3) and an extension member (19) which is an extension of the guard tube (3) and which is movable relative to the guard tube (3). The extension member (19) is fixed to the guard tube (3) by a coupling comprising lugs (22) which are selectively engageable in recesses (17) which are spaced apart along the length of the boundary box (1). This allows the extension member (19) to be moved relative to the guard tube (3) to allow the overall height of the boundary box (1) to be adjusted.

Description

1 BOUNDARY BOX 0 2337287 The present invention relates to a boundary box.

A boundary box provides the connection point between the mains water supply and a property to be supplied with water. The boundary boxIa used to contain and protect equipment such as a pressure-regulating valve which is used to reduce the mains waterpressure to a pressure suitable lo for use in the property, a water filter, a water meter, a water sampler for testing the quality of the water, and the like. A pit is dug outside the property to be supplied with water and the boundary box placed in the pit. Appropriate connections tor,the water mains supply and the property to be supplied w-tth water are made with the boundary box. The top ofAhe boundary box is preferably arranged so that it is flush with the surface of the ground. This often presents a problem in that it is difficult to dig the pit tp exactly the right depth such that a boundary box place-&-:in the pit has its top at the same level as the ground m wface. Furthermore, it is desirable for the boundary box to be disposed so that its longitudinal axis is vertical. However, the ground surface is often not horizontal. This makes it difficult to ensure that the top of the boundary box is flush with the ground surface whilst keeping th-jlongitudinal axis of the boundary box vertical.

There is disclosed in-GB-A-2254102 a boundary box which has a guard tube fot-containing and protecting the equipment typically foundj" a boundary box. An extension member is connected by a Cetinuous screw thread to the guard tube (via a collar) ARS an extension of the guard tube. The extension meffcan be screwed up or down relative to the guard tube--go that the overall height of the boundary box can be addusted. However, this use of a continuous screw thread c ection between the extension member and the guard tube,woans that adjusting the overall 2 height of this prior art boundary box is laborious because many turns of the extension member relative to the guard tube are required in order to wind the extension member up or down relative to the guard tube. moreover, the long screw thread can very easily become dirty or clogged with gri for example which makes it difficult to rotate the extension member relative to the guard tube and can even break the threads of the screw. In addition, there is no disclosure of any means for adjusting the angle of the lid on the guard tube in this prior art boundary box.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising: a guard tube; and, an extension member being an extension of the guard tube and being movable relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted; the extension member being fixed to the guard tube by a coupling comprising at least one lug which is selectively engageable in one of a plurality of recesses which are spaced apart along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted.

The coupling preferably comprises a plurality of lugs at least some of which are selectively engageable in at least some of the recesses to fix the extension member to the guard tube.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising: a guard tube; and, an extension member being an extension of the guard tube and being movable relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted; the extension member being fixed to the guard tube by a coupling comprising at least one recess which is selectively 3 engageable with one of a plurality of lugs which are spaced apart along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be s adjusted.

The coupling preferably comprises a plurality of recesses, at least some ot the lugs being selectively engageable in at least some of the recesses to fix the extension member to the guard tube.

Because the coupling between the guard tube and the extension member is by means of at least one lug which is selectively engageable in one of a plurality of recesses in the first aspect or by means of at least one recess which is selectively engageable with one of a plurality of lugs in the second aspect, moving and locking the extension member relative to the guard tube is achievable much more quickly than where a screw threaded connection is provided as in the prior art mentioned above. The fitter installing the boundary box simply needs to disengage the lug or lugs from the recess or recesses-y move the extension member relative to the guard tube, and then engage the lug or lugs with another recess or recesses (according to the embodiment) to fix the extension member to the guard tube at the desired height. The, lug/recess coupling is less susceptible to clogging, and breakage through contamination with dirt or-',lgrit compared to the long screw thread connection of the pwilor art boundary box mentioned above.

In a preferred embodiment, each recess is defined 4 between two projections wk4ch are spaced along the length of the boundary box and ben which a lug can move into said recess, and the boun box comprises a space adjacent each recess into which a lug can move from between the projections to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube, 4 In the prelferred embodiment, the extension member is rotated relative to the guard tube to disengage the or each lug f rom the or each recess in which the or each lug is engaged, the or each lug moving into the space or spaces adjacent the or each recess. The extension member can then be moved up or down relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be set at the desired height. The extension member is then rotated back again to lo engage at least one lug with at least one recess to f ix the extension member relative to the guard tube.

It will be appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment where there are plural recesses and plural lugs each spaced along the length of the boundary box, usually it will be the case that not all of the lugs are engaged with all of the recesses.

The or each lug may be carried by the extension member. The or each recess may be provided in the guard tube. Alternatively, the or each recess may be provided in a collar which is carried by the guard tube. It will be appreciated that the or each lug may be carried by the guard tube or collar and that the or each recess may be provided in the extension member. Provision of a separate collar having the recesses (or lugs) enables the extension member to be fitted to a standard boundary box having a conventional guard tube in order to allow the height of a standard boundary box to be adjusted quickly and simply.

The boundary box may comprise plural lugs and plural recesses, the lugs and recesses providing a partial screw thread having a continuous space parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boundary box to allow the 3s extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube.

The boundary box preferably comprises a lid for closing the extension member, the lid having a seal for sealing the lid to the extension member. The seal preferably comprises two materials, one material being relatively flexible for sealing the lid to the extension member and the other material being relatively rigid to s support the relatively flexible material of the seal.

The position of the lid on the extension member may be adjustable in a direction along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the overall height of the boundary box lo to be adjusted. The lid can be easily moved relative to the extension member, in the preferred embodiment by virtue of the seal sliding on the extension member, which allows a fine height adjustment to be achieved after a coarse height adjustment has been achieved by moving the extension member is relative to the guard tube.

The lid is preferably movable about an axis which is not parallel to the length of the boundary box to adjust the angle of the lid on the extension member. This allows the angle of the lid to be set so that the lid is flush with the surface of the ground in which the boundary box is located whilst keeping the boundary box itself vertical.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising: a guard tube; and, a lid for closing the guard tube, the lid having a seal for sealing the lid to the guard tube, the seal comprising two materials, one material being relatively flexible for sealing the lid to the guard tube and the other material being relatively rigid to support the relatively flexible material of the seal.

The position of the Ltd on the guard tube is preferably adjustable in a direction along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted. The lid can be easily moved relative to the guard tube, in the preferred embodiment by 6 virtue of the seal sliding on the guard tube, which allows the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted.

The lid is preferably movable on the guard tube about an axis which is not parallel to the length of the boundary box to adjust the angle of the lid on the extension member. This allows the angle of the lid to be set so that the lid is flush with the surface of the ground in which the boundary box is located whilst keeping the boundary box lo itself vertical.

It will be appreciated that, generally speaking, the extension member can be regarded as an extension of the guard tube. Thus, for example, where it is stated in this specification that a lid closes the guard tube, it will be understood that the lid may in fact close the extension member which projects from the guard tube in the specific example described below. Similarly, where a collar is provided as in the specific example described below, the collar is generally provided simply for convenience and/or to allow the height adjustment feature of the present invention to be utilised with standard conventional boundary boxes. Accordingly, where it is stated for example that the recesses are formed in the collar, it will be understood that the recesses in some circumstances at least could be formed in the guard tube itself and function in the same manner.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of an example of a boundary box according to the present invention; 7 Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned side elevation showIng the lid, extension member and a portion of the guard tube in more detail; and, Fig. 3 is a sectional view from above of the boundary box.

A boundary box 1 has a base 2 which is placed at the bottom of a pit in which the boundary box 1 is located. A lo tubular guard tube 3 of c_ircular cross-section is open at its lower end 4 and its r end 5. into the base 2. The f iM-ing of the guard tube 3 into the base 2 may be watertight if necessary.

The lower end 4 fits The guard tube 3 hawan inlet aperture 6 through which an inlet pipe 7 passes tQ_qarry water from a mains water supply into the boundary 1 3. The inlet pipe 7 passes to a stop valve 8 which can be operated by a key 9 which is accessible through the top 5 of the guard tube 3 in order to shut off the water supply through the boundary box 3 as and when required. Water flowing through the stop valve 8 passes through a manifold.10 which has a connection point 11 to which equipment suclL-, as a water meter, filter, water sampler, etc may optionally be fitted. Water then flows through an outlet pipe 12------Whichpasses through an outlet aperture 13 in the guard C-phe 3 to the property to be W7 supplied with water.

A tubular collar 14 ULarranged to fit over the upper wR open end 5 of the guard t 3. The collar 14 fits partly "MT over and around the top 5 the guard tube 3, the collar 14 having an internal shoader 15 to seat the collar 14 on 77 the guard tube 3.

The collar 14 has f04vertical sets of projections or lips 16 which project inwakdly of the extension member 14, the four sets of lips 16 ting disposed equiangularly at 900 intervals around the dictension member 14. The lips 16 Iffit 8 in each set are vertically separaed from each other at regular 1- tervals parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary box 1 to define plural recesses 17 which are spaced at regular intervals parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary box 1. Each lip 16 subtends an angle 0 of 450 at the centre of the collar 14. Accordingly, four spaces 18 are defined between the respective sets of lips 16, each of the four spaces 18 subtending an angle (x of 450 at the centre of the collar 14 lo and being continuous through the length of the collar 14 from the top to the bottom of the collar 14. In the example shown, the shoulder 15 is partly provided by the lowermost lips 16.

is A tubular extension member 19 is arranged to fit within the collar 14 and the guard tube 3. The extension member 19 in the example shown has an external rubber seal 20 at its lowermost open end 21 to seal the extension member 19 against the innermost wall of the guard tube 3.

The extension member 19 has four vertical sets of lugs 22 which project radially outwards from the outermost wall of the extension member 19. The four sets of lugs 22 are equiangularly spaced around the circumference of the extension member 19. Each lug 22 subtends an angle P of 420 at the centre of the extension member 19. The lugs 22 in each of the four sets are spaced from each other at regular intervals along the longitudinal axis X- X of the boundary box 1. Each lug 22 is thin enough so that it can be received within a recess 17 between a pair of adjacent lips 16 in the collar 14, preferably as a sliding fit. The vertical separation between the lugs 22 within a set corresponds to the vertical spacing of the recesses 17 within a set of the recesses 17 so that plural lugs 22 can be received simultaneously in respective plural recesses 17 as will be described further below.

9 To install a boundary box 1, a pit outside a property -to be supplied with water is first dug. The base 2 and guard tube 3 are lowered into the pit and appropriate connections made between the inlet and outlet pipes 7, 12 and the mains water supply and the property respectively. The collar 14 is then fitted over the uppermost open end 5 of the guard tube 3. The extension member 19 is then fitted within the collar 14 by aligning the four sets of lugs 22 respectively with the four continuous spaces 18 lo within the collar 14. The extension member 19 is pushed down in the collar 14 until it is at the desired height with the lugs 22 passing down the continuous spaces 18 in the collar 14. The extena-ion member 19 is then rotated through 900 about the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary is box 1. Through this rotation, at least some lugs 22 will pass into recesses 17 in the collar 14 in order to fix the extension member 19 to the guard tube 3 via the collar 14. In order to adjust the overall height of the boundary box 1, the extension member 19-,-.can be rotated through 900 to move the lugs 22 out of the recesses 17 and into the continuous spaces 18. The extension member 19 can then be moved up or down by the required amount and then rotated through 900 again to lock at least some of the lugs 22 into at least some of the recesses 17. It will be appreciated that setting and adjustingAhe height of the boundary box 1 by means of the lugs 22 wb& eh engage with the recesses 17 is very much quicker thanAl a screw threaded connection were used as, once the lug--22 have been moved into the spaces 18 in the present dary box 1, the extension member 19 can be freely moe d up and down relative to the guard tube 3 over a large Alstance in a quick and simple manner rather than having screw the extension member up or down is required if a adrew thread were used as disclosed in GBA-2254102. -i-,The lugs 22 and recesses 17 are also less susceptible to clo ogging compared to a screw thread.

i f 11 -1 ak- In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lugs 22 in adjacent sets of lugs 22 are staggered vertically relative to each other by a quarter of the pitch of the lugs 22 within a set of lugs 22. The lips 16 and recesses 17 in adjacent sets of lips 16 and recesses 17 of the collar 14 are similarly staggered by a quarter of the pitch of the lips 16 and recesses 17 within a set. Because the lugs 22, lips 16 and recesses 17 are not part of a screw thread, the height adjustment achievable by means of the lugs 22, lips 16 and recesses 17 can only be made in discrete steps. Staggering the lugs 22 and lips 16/recesses 17 between adjacent sets allows the discrete height adjustment jumps to be smaller.

The base 2, collar 14 and extension member 19 may all be made of plastics, such as polypropylene. The guard tube 3 may be made of UPVC.

A lid 23 is provided for closing the open uppermost end 24 of the extension member 19. The lid 23 allows a surface load on the boundary box 1 to be transferred to the base 2 via the extension member 19, collar 14 and guard tube 2.

As mentioned above, it is preferred that the planar top surface 25 of the lid 23 be flush with the surface of the ground in which the boundary box 1 is installed.

Furthermore, because the arrangement of lugs 22, lips 16 and recesses 17 for coupling the extension member 19 to the guard tube 3 means that the adjustment of the overall height of the boundary box 1 can only be made in discrete steps, it is desirable to provide some means for fine adjustment of the overall height of the boundary box 1. To achieve this, the lid 23 has a depending lid collar 26 which has a diameter which is somewhat greater than the diameter of the extension member 19 so that the lid collar 26 can fit over the open end 24 of the extension member 19 with some clearance. The lid collar 26 is of a relatively 11 rigid material. The lid collar 26 is internally provided at its mouth 27 with a bead-like seal 28 of a relatively flexible material. A suitable material for the lid collar 26 is polypropylene and a suitable material for the flexible seal 28 is a thermoplastic elastomer. The lid collar 26 and the flexible seal 28 are preferably injection moulded together in one moulding operation to ensure that the flexible seal 28 is firmly connected to the lid collar 26.

As shown in Figure 1, because of the clearance between the lid collar 26 and the extension member 19 and because of the flexibility of the seal 28, the lid 23 can be tilted on the boundary box 1 so that the top surface 25 of the lid is 23 can be angled relative to the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary box 1 to be flush with the ground surface. Normally, the lid 23 will be tilted about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary box 1. Furthermore, because the seal 28 grips the extension member 19 so that the lid 23 is retained on the extension member 19 by frictional engagement between the seal 28 and the plastics material of the extension member 19, the lid 23 can be moved up and down on the extension member 19, by up to 60mm in a specific example. This 2s allows for a final fine adjustment of the overall height of the boundary box 1 after the overall height of the boundary box 1 has been coarsely set by moving the extension member 19 relative to the guard tube 3.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described with particular reference to the example illustrated. However, it vill be appreciated that variations and modificati ono may be made to the example described within the scope of the present invention. For example, while the lugs 22 and the recesses 17 are described above and illustrated as lying in planes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the boundary box, the lugs 22 and the recesses 17 may alternatively be z- 12 part of a partial screw thread. Such a partial screw thread would have continuous spaces through the length of the collar, extension member, and/or guard tube, as the case may be, like the continuous spaces 18 in the example s described above, so that the extension member can be pulled up or pushed down in the guard tube and then rotated to engage the partial screw threads to lock the extension member relative to the guard tube.

Claims

13 CLAIMS

1 A boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising: 5 a guard tube; and, an extension member being an extension of the guard tube and being movable relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted; the extension member being fixed to the guard tube by lo a coupling comprising at least one lug which is selectively engageable in one of a plurality of recesses which are spaced apart along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted.

2. A boundary box according to claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises a plurality of lugs at least some of which are selectively engageable in at least some of the recesses to fix the extension member to the guard tube.

A boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising:

a guard tube; and, an extension member being an extension of the guard tube and being movable relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted; the extension member being fixed to the guard tube by a coupling comprising at least one recess which is selectively engageable with-one of a plurality of lugs which are spaced apart along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube to allow the overall height of the boundary box to be adjusted.

4. A boundary box according to claim 3, wherein the coupling comprises a plurality of recesses, at least some of the lugs being selectively engageable in at least some 14 of the recesses to fix the extension member to the guard t ube.

5. A boundary box according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each recess is defined between two projections which are spaced along the length of the boundary box and between which a lug can move into said recess, and comprising a space adjacent each recess into which a lug can move from between the projections to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube.

6. A boundary box according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the or each lug is carried by the extension member.

is 7. A boundary box according to claim 6, wherein the or each recess is provided in the guard tube.

8. A boundary box according to claim 6, wherein the or each recess is provided in a collar which is carried by the 20 guard tube.

9. A boundary box according to any of claims 1 to 8, comprising plural lugs and plural recesses, the lugs and recesses providing a partial screw thread having a continuous space parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boundary box to allow the extension member to be moved relative to the guard tube.

10. A boundary box according to any of claims 1 to 9, comprising a lid for closing the extension member, the lid having a seal for sealing the lid to the extension member.

A boundary box according to claim 10, wherein the seal comprises two materials, one material being relatively flexible for sealing the lid to the extension member and the other material being relatively rigid to support the relatively flexible material of the seal.

is 12. A boundary box according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the position of the lid on the extension member is adjustable in a direction along the length of the boundary box thereby to allow the overall height of the boundary box s to be adjusted.

13. A boundary box according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the lid is movable about an axis which is not parallel to the length of the boundary box to adjust the lo angle of the lid on the extension member.

14. A boundary box for a water supply, the boundary box comprising: a guard tube; and, is a lid for closing the guard tube, the lid having seal for sealing the lid to the guard tube, the seal comprising two materials, one material being relativel flexible for sealing the lid to the guard tube and the other material being relatively rigid to support the relatively flexible material of the seal.

15. A boundary box according to claim 14, wherein the position of the lid on the guard tube is adjustable in a direction along the length.of the boundary box thereby to allow the overall height c>f the boundary box to be adjusted.

16. A boundary box according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the lid is movable about an axis which is not parallel to the length of the boundary box to adjust the angle of the lid on the ejaension member.

17. A boundary box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying 3s drawings.