US-12620794-B2 - Enclosure system for underground utility connections

US12620794B2US 12620794 B2US12620794 B2US 12620794B2US-12620794-B2

Abstract

An underground electrical utilities vault and distribution enclosure system having a grade level box having an upper opening facing an interior region for containing a below-ground electrical utility cable, a removable lid adapted for mounting to the opening in the grade level vault, and a pedestal housing, the pedestal housing having a vault adapter configured for replacing the removable lid for access to the interior region of the grade level vault that removably mounts in the upper opening, and an cover positioned over the adapter, the adapter and the vault having slidable doors covering openings to provide access to add additional electrical utility cables to the enclosure.

Inventors

Edward J. Burke
Thomas Edward Burke

Assignees

CHANNELL COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240227

Claims (20)

1 . A utilities enclosure and distribution assembly comprising: a grade level vault adapted for installation below ground and having an upper opening facing an interior region for containing at least a below-ground electrical utility cable; a removable lid adapted for mounting to the opening in the grade level vault to close off the interior region thereof from the environment; and an above grade pedestal housing, the pedestal housing comprising a vault adapter configured for replacing the removable lid that removably mounts in the upper opening of the vault for partially closing off the interior region of the vault from the environment, the adapter having an opening to provide access to the interior region of the vault, and an elongated cover positioned over the opening in the adapter having a cross-sectional configuration that matches the adapter opening, the adapter and the elongated cover configured for use in receiving electrical connections to a utility cable contained in the grade level vault and brought above-ground level inside the pedestal housing, wherein the grade level vault has an opening in a side wall having a slidable door for access to the interior region of the vault.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the grade level vault has a rim adjacent the upper opening, the rim having a plurality of locating slots for adapter interface.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the adapter has a plurality of clips for insertion into the locating slots.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein each clip of the plurality of clips has a detent for engaging a lower surface of the rim to lock the adapter to the vault.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vault has an internal chamber conduit extending upwardly from the opening in the side wall for directing cable upwardly toward the vault adapter.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vault adapter has a slidable door providing access into the adapter from outside of the adapter.
7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the vault adapter has a sloped wall portion extending upwardly towards a cylindrical wall portion, the slidable door is located on the sloped wall portion and covers an opening through the sloped wall portion.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the vault adapter includes a channel in the cylindrical wall portion and a connector located in the base of the channel to align and lock the cover to the adapter.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vault adapter has internal flanges for attachment of a bracket for mounting equipment within the pedestal housing.
10 . A utilities enclosure and distribution assembly comprising: a grade level box adapted for installation below ground and having an upper opening at ground level facing an interior region for containing a below-ground utility cable; an adapter configured for access to the interior region of the grade level box that removably mounts in the upper opening for partially closing off the interior region of the grade level box from the environment, the adapter having an opening to provide access between the inside of the grade level box and an interior region inside the adapter; and an elongated cover positioned over the opening in the adapter having a cross-sectional configuration that matches the adapter opening, the adapter and the elongated cover configured for use in receiving electrical connections to a utility cable contained in the grade level box and brought above-ground level to convert the grade level box to a pedestal housing, wherein the adapter has a slidable door providing access into the adapter from outside of the adapter.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the grade level box has a rim adjacent the upper opening, the rim having a plurality of locating slots for adapter interface.
12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the adapter has a plurality of clips for insertion into the locating slots.
13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein each clip of the plurality of clips has a detent for engaging a lower surface of the rim to lock the adapter to the grade level box.
14 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the grade level box has an opening in a side wall having a slidable door for access to the interior region of the grade level box.
15 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the grade level box has an internal chamber conduit extending upwardly from the opening in the side wall for directing cable upwardly towards the adapter.
16 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the adapter has internal flanges for attachment of a bracket for mounting equipment within the pedestal housing.
17 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the adapter has a sloped wall portion extending upwardly towards a cylindrical wall portion, the slidable door is located on the sloped wall portion.
18 . The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the adapter includes a channel in the cylindrical wall portion and a connector located in the base of the channel to align and lock the cover to the adapter.
19 . A utilities enclosure and distribution assembly comprising: a grade level box adapted for installation below ground and having an upper opening at ground level facing an interior region for containing a below-ground utility cable; an adapter configured for access to the interior region of the grade level box that removably mounts in the upper opening for partially closing off the interior region of the grade level box from the environment, the adapter having an opening to provide access between the inside of the grade level box and an interior region inside the adapter; and an elongated cover positioned over the opening in the adapter having a cross-sectional configuration that matches the adapter opening, the adapter and the elongated cover configured for use in receiving electrical connections to a utility cable contained in the grade level box and brought above-ground level to convert the grade level box to a pedestal housing, wherein the grade level box has an opening in a side wall having a slidable door for access to the interior region of the grade level box.
20 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the adapter has a sloped wall portion extending upwardly towards a cylindrical wall portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to enclosures for buried and underground electrical transmission lines and related electrical devices and contacts. The invention includes a grade level box or vault closed by a lid. The vault is upgradeable by converting to a pedestal housing by including an adaptor for connection to the grade level vault in place of the lid. The adaptor is configured to accept a pedestal cover and provides an above-ground distribution enclosure containing interconnect hardware for making electrical connections to the transmission lines and/or devices contained in the grade level box. BACKGROUND Various electrical transmission lines and other equipment used for buried and underground utilities are commonly contained in enclosures that protect the underground wiring cables, fiber taps and splices, service lines, etc. from the environment. Initial construction often requires installation of such a below-ground enclosure, commonly referred to as a grade level box or vault. At a later date, if service is to be provided to the premises, a portion of the lid for the grade level box is removed and connections are made inside an above-ground pedestal housing mounted on a portion of the grade level box. The above-ground connections are protected from the weather but also must be protected from vandalism and tampering. There is also a need to provide a pedestal housing assembly that can be readily installed and opened to facilitate further connections and/or service with minimal time and labor costs. The present invention is applicable to any system for storing and protecting underground or buried electrical conductors and devices from the environment and for facilitating access to them when making further connections, providing service, making new installations, and the like. The invention is applicable to electrical utilities connections normally using buried or underground lines or connections such as cable TV, data transmission lines, various types of telecommunications, optical fiber connections, commonly referred to as “fiber to the premises,” service lines, water meters, electrical power distribution, and other utilities equipment, for example. Previous vault and pedestal designs included a complex multi-purpose lid assembly for the grade level box adapted to accommodate a later installed pedestal housing used to bring the fiber taps and splices above ground as disclosed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 7,385,137, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In one design a removable split cover plate was adapted for mounting to the opening in the grade level box to close off its interior region from the environment. The split cover plate comprised a pedestal mounting section and a cooperating cover section which were joined together to close off the interior of the grade level box. The pedestal mounting section comprised a base, a plug opening in the base for access to the interior of the grade level box, and a plug that removably mounted in the plug opening for closing off the interior of the grade level box. The plug configuration matched the configuration of the base of the pedestal housing cover or a component part of the pedestal housing assembly to be mounted in the plug opening when the plug was removed. Another version included a removable split cover plate adapted for mounting to the opening in the grade level box. The split cover included a pair of side-by-side cover plates which provided a pedestal mounting section and a cooperating cover section. The cover plates were joined together to close off the interior of the grade level box. A base of the pedestal housing assembly was adapted for interlocking with the access opening and for mounting the pedestal cover to the split cover plate. In another embodiment, the pedestal housing assembly comprised a collar and a separate pedestal cover. The collar was adapted to interlock with the access opening in the pedestal section of the split cover. The collar carried one or more upright connection devices for making connections with utility lines or contacts contained in the grade level box. The pedestal cover releasably mounted over the upright connection devices and releasably engaged the collar to contain the electrical connections in the above-ground pedestal assembly. In another embodiment, the pedestal housing assembly included a collar which was formed integrally with a plug base that interlocks in the access opening of the split cover. The collar carried one or more upright connection devices for making connections with the utility lines or contacts contained in the grade level box. The pedestal cover removably mounted over the connection devices to contain them within the interior of the combined cover, collar, and plug base. Although the split cover provided improved access to the utility cables and lines contained in the grade level box, the need to manufacture and account for complex split lids, plugs, pl