A curb valve cradle for maintaining operable access to the operating nut of a curb valve with a valve key wrench tool. The cradle has a pair of spaced-apart upstanding arms connected together by a base. Each arm has multiple stop ridges arranged in a vertical series along opposite interfacing surfaces of the arms. A retaining ring with a central opening is matingly slidable between and along the upstanding arms. The retaining ring has a peripheral latch flange protruding radially outward and engageable with the stop ridges. The latch flange and stop ridges are configured to permit the ring to be slid downward between the upstanding arms from the top free ends of the arms and pass the stop ridges and to resist or prevent the ring from being slid upward past the stop ridges.

A curb valve cradle for maintaining operable access to the operating nut of a curb valve with a valve key wrench tool. The cradle has a pair of spaced-apart upstanding arms connected together by a base. Each arm has multiple stop ridges arranged in a vertical series along opposite interfacing surfaces of the arms. A retaining ring with a central opening is matingly slidable between and along the upstanding arms. The retaining ring has a peripheral latch flange protruding radially outward and engageable with the stop ridges. The latch flange and stop ridges are configured to permit the ring to be slid downward between the upstanding arms from the top free ends of the arms and pass the stop ridges and to resist or prevent the ring from being slid upward past the stop ridges.

A curb box for underground gas and water services includes a tubular member such as a pipe that extends from a valve in an underground line up to surface. A resiliently flexible tubular member segment is installed in the tubular member between an uppermost end of the tubular member and a lower portion of the tubular member. The resiliently flexible tubular member segment allows the uppermost end to resiliently flex relative to the lower portion. As such, if impacted, the uppermost end can resiliently yield at the resiliently flexible tubular member, thereby preventing the tubular member from being bent and rendered inoperable as a conduit to the valve in the underground line.

A curb box for underground gas and water services includes a tubular member such as a pipe that extends from a valve in an underground line up to surface. A resiliently flexible tubular member segment is installed in the tubular member between an uppermost end of the tubular member and a lower portion of the tubular member. The resiliently flexible tubular member segment allows the uppermost end to resiliently flex relative to the lower portion. As such, if impacted, the uppermost end can resiliently yield at the resiliently flexible tubular member, thereby preventing the tubular member from being bent and rendered inoperable as a conduit to the valve in the underground line.

A method for delivering water through a fire hydrant is disclosed and includes unlocking a sprinkler cap control lock on the fire hydrant, removing the sprinkler cap control lock to access an operating nut of the fire hydrant and activating the operating nut to deliver water through a plurality of sprinkler ports in at least one of a plurality of caps on the fire hydrant. Also disclosed are fire hydrant with a lubricant channel and a method of lubricating a fire hydrant operation nut. Also disclosed is a fire hydrant that does not need a lubricant disposed between the operation nut and the fire hydrant body due to an operating nut sleeve being disposed between the operation nut and the fire hydrant body.

A method for delivering water through a fire hydrant is disclosed and includes unlocking a sprinkler cap control lock on the fire hydrant, removing the sprinkler cap control lock to access an operating nut of the fire hydrant and activating the operating nut to deliver water through a plurality of sprinkler ports in at least one of a plurality of caps on the fire hydrant. Also disclosed are fire hydrant with a lubricant channel and a method of lubricating a fire hydrant operation nut. Also disclosed is a fire hydrant that does not need a lubricant disposed between the operation nut and the fire hydrant body due to an operating nut sleeve being disposed between the operation nut and the fire hydrant body.

The disclosure teaches an adjustable/extendable piping system/module for associating fluid access products (such as fire hydrants) to a buried fluid source. The piping system defines an adjustable configuration that allows for the overall length of the piping system to be modified to compensate for different bury depths. The disclosure further teaches a flex module configured for associating a fluid product with a piping system connected to a fluid source. The flex module is configured to flex a predefined amount to prevent damage to the system from low energy impacts.

The disclosure teaches an adjustable/extendable piping system/module for associating fluid access products (such as fire hydrants) to a buried fluid source. The piping system defines an adjustable configuration that allows for the overall length of the piping system to be modified to compensate for different bury depths. The disclosure further teaches a flex module configured for associating a fluid product with a piping system connected to a fluid source. The flex module is configured to flex a predefined amount to prevent damage to the system from low energy impacts.

Disclosed is a dual size valve base that provides a fitted surface having indentations, protrusions and/or shaped surfaces that align with the lower surface of two different size valves, so that the valves fit within the valve base and do not rotate or otherwise move when secured to the valve base. The valve base has a sufficiently large platform to maintain a valve in a secure position underground on a support surface, so that the valve remains aligned with access pipes and access ports.

A method for operating a valve including locating an operating key system at the valve, communicating a location of the operating key system wirelessly to a central data system, communicating a rotational direction to open or close the valve wirelessly, engaging operating means of the valve by means of an operating key of the operating key system, rotating the operating key manually towards an open or a closed position of the valve while engaging the operating means, detecting the direction in which the operating key is rotated, detecting if the valve has reached the open or closed position, and communicating the location, the direction of rotation and the open or closed position wirelessly to a central data system.