Utility valve access and performance evaluation method

Abstract

A vacuum container having a vacuum producing means, mounted on a vehicle, a trailer, or skid mounted, with options chosen from an articulating boom, a water jetter system, a liquid pressure dissipating means, a valve actuator, and a drive motor for the valve actuator being either hydraulic, air, or electric powered, a global positioning system to determine and log the position of work, service or hardware, controls and measuring devices and de-chlorinator.

1 . An apparatus for opening or closing an in ground utility valve and measuring means for determining a condition of said utility valve comprising:
 a mobile platform; a valve actuator wherein said valve actuator further comprises a drive motor means for rotating a valve stem of said utility valve; a support means for positioning said valve actuator relative to said utility valve; an attachment means for connecting said valve actuator to a valve stem of said utility valve; a controller means for controlling a rotation of said drive motor; a Global Positioning System (GPS) means for determining a location; and a measuring means for determining a torque required for rotating said valve stem.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for rotating a valve stem of an in ground utility valve, comprising:
 a support;   a drive motor means for rotating a valve stem of said utility valve;   a control means for controlling characteristics relative to a rotation of said valve stem;   a measuring means for documenting a condition relative to said rotation of said valve stem;   and a Global Positioning System (GPS) means for determining a location with respect to an operation of said drive motor.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for rotating a valve stem of an in ground utility valve, comprising:
 a support;   a drive motor means for rotating a valve stem of said utility valve;   a control means for controlling a function relative to a rotation of said valve stem;   a measuring means for determining a condition relative to said rotation of said valve stem;   and a Global Positioning System (GPS) means for determining a location with respect to an operation of said drive motor, wherein said determining of a location occurs during a rotation of said valve stem and said control means causes the location determining means to determine a location of said apparatus in response to a rotation of said rotation means.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting said torque in combination with said location. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said GPS determines a location relative to said valve stem. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said utility valve. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a rotation counter means for counting a rotation of said valve stem. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said utility valve. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said utility valve onto a computer mapping program. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said utility valve onto a computer mapping program. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said utility valve onto a computer mapping program. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for testing a fire hydrant, comprising: a mobile platform; a valve actuator which comprises a drive motor means for rotating a valve stem of said fire hydrant; a support means for positioning said valve actuator relative to said fire hydrant; an attachment means for connecting said valve actuator to a valve stem of said fire hydrant; a controller means for controlling a rotation of said valve stem; a pressure dissipating means for dissipating pressure which further comprises a means for receiving and dispensing water from said fire hydrant; and a measuring means for detecting an effect of testing said fire hydrant on a utilities ability to flow volumes of water. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  and further comprising a measuring means for measuring at least one condition relative to said fire hydrant. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  and further comprising a measuring means for measuring water pressure, water flow, and or water temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  and further comprising a recording means for documenting the performance of said test hydrant with respect to said utilities ability to flow volumes of water. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  and further comprising a de-chlorinator means for removing chlorine from water before said water is placed on to the ground or into a storm drain. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said fire hydrant. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , and further comprising a recording means for documenting at least one condition relative to said fire hydrant onto a computer mapping program.