Surface box

Claim 2

A surface box for a valve fitted in underground piping, said valve having an operating rod, comprising a tube-like supporting frame, a rod guard sleeve slidingly positioned in said supporting frame, a thrust screw for supporting said rod guard sleeve on said supporting frame, said rod guard sleeve being keyed within said supporting frame, said rod guard sleeve and supporting frame including tortion-resistant means for preventing rotation of said rod guard sleeve relative to said supporting frame and at least one guide ridge for preventing said rod guard sleeve from tilting in said supporting frame.

Claim 3

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tortion-resistant means comprises an outer face of said rod guard sleeve having at least one first flat portion running along a distance thereon equal to the amount of sliding motion of the rod guard sleeve, and said supporting frame having a second flat portion mating with said first flat portion.

Claim 4

The surface box as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer face of the rod guard sleeve is cylindrical in form but for the presence of the said first flat portion thereon, said cylindrical form running from one end of the said rod guard sleeve to an opposite end of it.

Claim 5

The surface box as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second flat portion on the supporting frame is formed on a guide shoulder for guiding said rod guard sleeve.

Claim 6

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 comprising more than one such guide ridge, such ridges being spaced from each other circumferentially about said rod.

Claim 7

The surface box as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ridges are on an inner face of said supporting frame.

Claim 8

The surface box as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second flat portion on the supporting frame is formed on a guide shoulder for guiding said rod guard sleeve, said guide ridges having inner faces lined up with a guiding face on said shoulder.

Claim 9

The surface box as claimed in claim 7 wherein said guide ridges are made in one piece with said supporting frame and have top ends joined with said guide shoulder.

Claim 10

The surface box as claimed in claim 8 having two such guide ridges placed opposite said flat portion on said rod guard sleeve and two further such guide ridges being placed opposite thereto but at positions short of diametrally opposite ones.

Claim 11

The surface box as claimed in claim 9 wherein dirt take-up pockets are formed between said guide shoulder and the guide ridges and between the guide ridges themselves.

Claim 12

The surface box as claimed in claim 2 wherein said supporting frame has an outer face having a flat portion running along the length thereof.

Claim 13

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting frame has a polygonal-prismatic outer face.

Claim 14

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 comprising a thrust plate and a bearing means thereon for use with a lower end of said thrust screw.

Claim 15

The surface box as claimed in claim 13 wherein said bearing means comprises a keeper peg on said thrust plate fitting into a pocket in the said lower end of said thrust screw.

Claim 16

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thrust screw is eccentric within said supporting frame by a minimum distance from a lengthways middle axis of said supporting frame.

Claim 17

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 comprising a generally level ledge within and fixed to said rod guard sleeve, said ledge having a threaded hole therein into which said thrust screw is screwed, said ledge being spaced from an opposite inner wall face of said rod guard sleeve to give a large opening to take up the operating rod of said valve.

Claim 18

The surface box as claimed in claim 16 wherein said opening for said operating rod has a curved limit running round said ledge.

Claim 19

The surface box as claimed in claim 17 wherein said rod guard sleeve has an outer sloping face at its lower end for guiding it into said supporting frame on assembly thereof.

Claim 20

The surface box as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover with a flat portion for fitting against a mating flat portion at the edge of an opening in the top end of the said rod guard sleeve.

Claim 21

The surface box as claimed in claim 19 wherein said cover has a part of greater diameter fitting on a ring-like ledge at the top end of and within said rod guard sleeve, said cover having a part of smaller diameter under said part with greater diameter to be taken up within said ring-like ledge.

Claim 22

The surface box as claimed in claim 20 having a pin on said cover that is fitted into a hole in said ring-like ledge.

Claim 23

A surface box for a valve fitted in underground piping, said valve having an operating rod, comprising: a tube-like supporting frame; a rod guard sleeve slidingly positioned in said supporting frame; a thrust screw for supporting said rod guard sleeve on said supporting frame; said rod guard sleeve being keyed within said supporting frame; said rod guard sleeve having at least one first flat portion along a distance thereon equal to the amount of sliding motion of the rod guard sleeving, and said supporting frame having a second flat portion mating with said first flat portion for preventing rotation of said rod guard sleeve relative to said supporting frame; and a plurality of guide ridges on the inner face of said supporting frame for preventing said rod guard sleeve from tilting in said support frame, said guide ridges being circumferentially spaced about said rod.

Claim 24

A surface box for a valve fitted in underground piping, said valve having an operating rod, comprising: a tube-like supporting frame; a rod guard sleeve slidingly positioned in said supporting frame; a thrust screw for supporting said rod guard sleeve on said supporting frame; said rod guard sleeve being keyed within said supporting frame; said rod guard sleeve having at least one first flat portion along a distance thereon equal to the amount of sliding motion of the rod guard sleeving, and said supporting frame having a second flat portion mating with said first flat portion for preventing rotation of said rod guard sleeve relative to said supporting frame; and a plurality of guide ridges on the inner face of said supporting frame for preventing said rod guard sleeve from tilting in said support frame, said guide ridges being circumferentially spaced about said rod.

Claim 25

A surface box as in claim 22, wherein said box further includes dirt take-up pocket formed between said guide shoulder and the guide ridges and between the guide ridges themselves for collecting debris.