Height Adjustable Meter Pit Using Mating Screw Threads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device pits, such as meter pits, often require adjustment to match varying ground levels, but current solutions lack simplicity and adaptability in construction and adjustment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable device pit design featuring mating screw threads on a lower and upper housing section allows for vertical movement along a longitudinal axis, enabling easy height adjustment and access, with a retrofit kit option for existing pits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If device pits are installed at fixed depths to protect equipment from freezing temperatures, then equipment protection is ensured, but the pits cannot adapt to varying ground levels and geographical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device pit employs a telescopic structure with multiple extendable sections that allow the pit height to be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic design enables the pit to adapt to varying ground levels and geographical conditions while maintaining equipment protection, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and fixed structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device pit is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can be independently extended or retracted. This segmentation allows for flexible height adjustment without requiring a completely different pit structure, simplifying the adjustment mechanism while improving adaptability to different installation conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device pits are constructed with fixed dimensions, then construction simplicity is maintained, but adjustment to final grade levels becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic structure allows the device pit to be manufactured in a compact, standardized form that is simple to produce, yet provides dynamic height adjustment capability during installation. This resolves the contradiction between construction simplicity and height adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic sections are designed with nested configurations where smaller sections fit within larger ones, allowing the pit to be compact during transport and installation while providing extended height when needed. This nesting principle maintains construction simplicity while enabling height adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable height mechanisms are added to device pits, then adaptability to ground levels improves, but the complexity of construction and adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic mechanism provides smooth, continuous height adjustment along the longitudinal axis, allowing operators to easily adapt the pit to ground levels without complex mechanisms. The dynamic extension and retraction operations are simple and intuitive, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a versatile and user-friendly method for adjusting device pits to match ground levels, ensuring proper installation and access while accommodating various geographical and final grade conditions.
Implementation Method 1
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 being 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
Data Source
AI summary
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).