A tunnel connector for an in-ground storm shelter which allows inhabitants to enter the in-ground storm shelter from a trailer house without being exposed to external environmental factors. The tunnel connector includes a U-shaped enclosure wall, a staircase, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are connected perpendicular to the staircase across each other to provide lateral protection. The U-shaped enclosure wall includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interconnecting sidewall. The interconnecting sidewall is terminally connected in between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first lateral wall is adjacently connected to the first sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. Similarly, the second lateral wall is adjacently connected to the second sidewall, opposite the interconnecting sidewall. The tunnel connector is installed in between a floorboard of the trailer house and the in-ground storm shelter.

The present disclosure relates to a manhole with a manhole cover that can be adjusted in height and inclination in the entire structure. A manhole with a height/inclination-adjustable manhole cover includes: a manhole cover; a cover base closing the top of the manhole cover and having a pipe shape; a support having a pipe shape and radially overlapping the cover base; and an insertion disposed between the cover base and the support in the radial direction of the cover base and preventing movement of the cover base relative to the support through a wedge effect.

A valve box for accessing a utility valve, the valve box having a box housing with an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface may have a plurality of fins, and the inner surface may have a plurality of keyways configured to receive a plurality of keys. The inner surface may additionally have threading. The box housing may have an access opening in some embodiments, and the valve box may include a threaded valve box cover configured to be arranged over the access opening. In some embodiments, the box housing may have a plurality of modular rings. A valve box tool may have a driving portion, a valve box engaging portion, and a stem portion. The valve box engaging portion may have a plurality of keys configured to engage the plurality of keyways. The stem portion may be configured to extend between the driving portion and a valve.

A valve box for accessing a utility valve, the valve box having a box housing with an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface may have a plurality of fins, and the inner surface may have a plurality of keyways configured to receive a plurality of keys. The inner surface may additionally have threading. The box housing may have an access opening in some embodiments, and the valve box may include a threaded valve box cover configured to be arranged over the access opening. In some embodiments, the box housing may have a plurality of modular rings. A valve box tool may have a driving portion, a valve box engaging portion, and a stem portion. The valve box engaging portion may have a plurality of keys configured to engage the plurality of keyways. The stem portion may be configured to extend between the driving portion and a valve.

A vault system is provided that secures a brace to the underside of a vault lid to improve the performance of the lid when the lid is subject to external loads. The vault has guiding features to receive a brace and place the brace in a particular position. Then, a vault lid is pressed into the vault, and tabs on the vault lid deflect into receiving portions on the ends of the brace to secure the brace to the vault lid. The resulting vault lid is reinforced with a brace. In some embodiments, the guiding feature comprises a rib in a recess in the brace, and in various embodiments, the tabs have an arm and a hook disposed on a distal end of the arm. The tab arms deflect to fit around the end of the brace, then an undercut on the hook secures the brace to the lid.

A manhole base assembly and a method for making the same employ a non-cylindrical, low-volume concrete base that is fully lined to protect the concrete against chemical and physical attack while in service. This lined concrete manhole base assembly may be readily produced using a modular manhole form assembly which can be configured for a wide variety of geometrical configurations compatible with, e.g., varying pipe angles, elevations and sizes. The form assembly is configurable to provide any desired angle and elevation for the pipe apertures to interface with various underground systems, and can be formed on-site to facilitate compatibility with existing structures. The assembly provides for flexible, modular construction of a wide variety of lined manhole base assemblies at minimal cost, reduced concrete consumption and reduced operational complexity. The modular nature of the production form assembly also facilitates reduced inventory requirements when various manhole base assembly geometries are needed.

A system for detecting an intrusion of at least one of a monitoring fiber and a detector comprises a sensor having a closure monitor and an intrusion monitor, the closure monitor including a signal generator and at least one detector attached to the monitoring fiber. The signal generator transmits signal light such that the monitoring fiber receives the transmitted signal light and reflects a portion of the signal light via the at least one detector to the closure monitor and transmits a non-reflected portion of the signal light. The intrusion monitor receives the transmitted non-reflected portion of the signal light, and monitors the non-reflected portion of the signal light to detect transient changes in the non-reflected portion of the signal light indicative of at least one of a vibration, a motion and a handling of at least one of the monitoring fiber and the at least one detector.

A method configured to be executed by a system controller. The method includes obtaining a first metric from a first sensor installed in a first underground vault of a system of interconnected underground vaults, and obtaining a second metric from a second sensor installed in a second underground vault of the system. The first and second underground vaults are in fluid communication with one another via one or more connections. The method also includes locating a gas source based at least in part on one or both of the first and second metrics, and performing an action. The action includes identifying the gas source to one or more users and/or altering a rate of atmospheric turnover in at least a portion of the system.

A method configured to be executed by a system controller. The method includes obtaining a first metric from a first sensor installed in a first underground vault of a system of interconnected underground vaults, and obtaining a second metric from a second sensor installed in a second underground vault of the system. The first and second underground vaults are in fluid communication with one another via one or more connections. The method also includes locating a gas source based at least in part on one or both of the first and second metrics, and performing an action. The action includes identifying the gas source to one or more users and/or altering a rate of atmospheric turnover in at least a portion of the system.

A vertical manhole apparatus for use in a waste facility to provide access to one or more leachate collection pipe access points. The vertical manhole is stabilized using stabilizing features extending out from a vertical pipe of the vertical manhole apparatus.