Water Main Valve Replacement Through a Single-Pit Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for replacing a valve in a water main require multiple pits to be dug and alter various line components, making the process inefficient and disruptive, especially when only a single pit is needed and no alterations to the water meter pit to the building are allowed.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a housing with movable barriers and a coupling assembly to replace a first valve with a second valve in a water main, allowing for the process to be completed with only a single pit and without altering any line components from the water meter pit to the building, using a movable tool to decouple and re-couple the valves while maintaining water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional valve replacement method is used (digging multiple pits and altering line components), then the valve can be replaced, but the process becomes inefficient and disruptive with multiple excavation points required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate excavation operations into a single integrated apparatus that performs valve replacement through one pit. The housing with multiple workspaces allows simultaneous access to the valve, water main, and tool storage/assembly areas within a single excavation point, eliminating the need for multiple separate pits.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides a protective enclosure, creates multiple accessible workspaces, houses the movable tool, and facilitates valve replacement operations. This multi-functional design consolidates what would traditionally require separate equipment and multiple excavation points into a single universal apparatus.
2Ease of repair
If traditional valve replacement method is used, then the valve can be replaced, but various line components must be altered which increases disruption and maintenance time
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus segments the valve replacement process into distinct workspaces: a first workspace for valve access and removal, a second workspace for tool operations, and a third workspace for new valve assembly. This segmentation allows each operation to be performed independently within the single housing structure, eliminating the need to alter line components along the path between multiple pits.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the gap between the water main and the surface access point. By providing internal workspaces and a movable tool that travels through the housing, it eliminates the need for direct external manipulation of line components, thereby reducing disruption and maintenance time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a single pit is used for valve replacement, then excavation is minimized, but access to the valve and tools is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal access (multiple pits at different locations along the water main) to vertical access (single pit with housing extending upward). The housing creates a three-dimensional workspace structure that provides multiple access points and levels within a single excavation point, maintaining ease of operation while minimizing excavation disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus nests multiple workspaces and the movable tool within the housing structure. The first, second, and third workspaces are nested within the housing envelope, and the movable tool is nested within these workspaces. This nesting allows comprehensive valve replacement operations to be conducted from a single pit location.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for replacing a first valve connected to a water main with a second valve is disclosed and methods of use. The apparatus may comprise a housing including a top, a bottom, and at least one side. The housing may further include an access opening in the bottom providing access to an interior of the housing and a plurality of openings in the at least one side. The interior of the housing may include a plurality of workspaces, the plurality of workspaces including a first workspace and a second workspace. The first workspace being positioned closer to the top of the housing than the second workspace. The apparatus may further comprise a first movable barrier coupled to the housing and covering at least a first opening of the plurality of openings in the at least one side of the housing in a first configuration and allowing access to the first workspace of the interior of the housing in a second configuration. The apparatus may further comprise a second movable barrier coupled to the housing and covering at least a second opening of the plurality of openings in the at least one side of the housing in a first configuration and allowing access to the second workspace of the interior of the housing in a second configuration. The apparatus may further comprise at least one coupler adapted to couple the housing to the water main with the first valve aligned with the access opening in the bottom of the housing. The apparatus may further comprise a movable tool at least partially positioned in the interior of the housing and at least one divider movable between a first position wherein the movable tool may move from the first workspace to the second workspace and a second position wherein the movable tool is prevented from moving from the first workspace to the second workspace.