Patent Application
20180058613
The invention pertains to the field of fire hydrants. More particularly, the invention pertains to improved nozzle seals on fire hydrants.
Prior art hose nozzles on fire hydrants include a triangular chamfer and an O-ring or other seal.
Due to the shape of the chamfer 9, the O-ring (not shown) is squeezed into a triangular shape. When putting any bias on the nozzle 110, the nozzle 110 has a tendency to slide because of the 45 degree angle of the chamfer 9. If the nozzle is put on crooked, the O-ring ends up being tangent to the nozzle 110 and the nozzle 110 is cocked with respect to the rest of the hydrant. As a result, the O-ring is unable to align with the end of the nozzle 110.
A hose nozzle for a fire hydrant including at least one O-ring comprises a cylindrical housing including a plurality of threads in proximity to a first end of the housing and a curved second end, wherein a radius of the curved second end matches a radius of the O-ring such that a first mating surface of the curved second end is complementary to a second mating surface of the O-ring. In one preferred embodiment, the radius is approximately 0.105 inches. In another preferred embodiment, a center of a curve of the curved second end forms a 45 degree angle with respect to a top of the curve of the curved second end.
A novel hose nozzle has a cup shaped capture nozzle housing with a curved shape similar to the mating O-ring. This O-ring capture nozzle housing is preferably used on a fire hydrant. The fire hose is threaded onto the nozzle, preferably with a ¼ turn socket. Lugs in the nozzle have a pitch, fit into two slots in the socket and follow a groove.
The cup shaped ends of the nozzle have a 45 degree angle, measured as the angle between a center of the curve of the end of the nozzle and a top of the curve. If any bias is put on the nozzle, a side load is created. The ends of the nozzle slide on the O-ring, which is in the corners of the nozzle. There is some clearance so the nozzle can rock.
The novel shape of the ends of the nozzle traps the O-ring at the same radius of the O-ring. The O-ring is automatically aligned with the nozzle. The end of the nozzle is rounded off, such that the end has a radius equivalent to the O-ring. With the O-ring and the nozzle cup having the same radius, the only way to get the O-ring to move would be to shear the O-ring in half. The novel shape of the end of the nozzle eliminates the need to worry about the movement of the O-ring with respect to the nozzle, or the elements coming together and being crooked.
Since there is no longer a round item trying to fit onto a flat surface, the nozzle cannot be installed in a crooked manner. It should be noted that by avoiding sharp corners on the nozzle housing, the O-ring is less likely to shred.
The present invention stabilizes the end of the nozzle, and aids in preventing the nozzle from being crooked. In one embodiment, the mating surfaces between the nozzle cup and the O-ring are the same and the radius at the end of the nozzle preferably matches the radius of the O-ring. In an alternate embodiment, the O-ring mating surface has a complementary shape to the nozzle mating surface and the radius at the end of the nozzle preferably matches the radius of the O-ring.
The nozzle 48 includes a number of threads 41. Lugs 45, 47 or other connectors and a nozzle retaining screw 68 fasten the nozzle 48 to the upper barrel 58.
The cup shaped capture nozzle housing 39 is curved to match the curve of the O-ring 38 with which it mates. The O-ring 38 and the capture nozzle housing 39 preferably have the same radius. The mating surfaces of the O-ring 38 and the capture nozzle housing 39 either match each other or are complementary to each other so that the two components create an effective seal.
In one preferred embodiment, the capture nozzle housing 39 has a single radius 39R, as shown in
In another preferred embodiment, there is a short flat portion 37 between two radii 39R1 and 39R2 of the capture nozzle housing 39, as shown in
The capture nozzle housing 39 may have different dimensions, depending upon the fire hydrant and nozzle which with they are used. Other dimensions for a single radius 39R, or the two radii 39R1, 39R2, the flat 37 and the angle 49 may be used depending upon the type and size of the nozzle and O-rings.
An operating stem nut 84 connects the upper stem 54 to the cap portions of the fire hydrant 1. The upper stem 54 is located in the center of the upper barrel 58 and the lower stem 52 is located in the center of the lower barrel 60. An O-ring 46 creates a seal between the upper barrel 58 and the lower barrel 60. A stem ferrule, ring or cap 8 is preferably located on an upper end of the upper stem 54. A stem breaker coupling 30 is located between the upper stem 54 and the lower stem 52. The stems 52, 54 are fastened to the coupling 30 with coupling pins 40. The coupling 30 is preferably located directly above the ground line 104.
A bottom end view of the stem breaker coupling 100 and a wrench square 102 can be seen in
In some embodiments, there are two breaker straps 10 and two breaker rings 20. Each breaker strap 10 connects to the ends of the two breaker rings 20. The curve of the breaker straps 10 matches the curve of the breaker rings 20. The bolt or other fastener 24 goes through the holes 22 in the breaker ring 20, the holes 12 in the breaker strap 10, and into a hole 64 in the flange 62 of the lower barrel 60. The breaker straps 10 pick up the outer holes 22 in each side of the two half moon breaker rings 20.
The straps 10 under the head of the bolt or other fastener 24 keep the breaker rings 20 in place. This is similar to chain couplings in chain links. The breaker straps 10 are preferably made of metal, such as a sheet metal stamping. The ledge 50 is often tapered, for example beveled 15 degrees. With the breaker straps 10, the breaker rings 20 are able to better ride out the angle and the breaker straps 10 keep the breaker rings 20 in place.
While breaker straps 20 are shown in
The hose nozzle 26 of the fire hydrant 1 includes a nozzle 48, an O-ring 38, a nozzle cap 66, a nozzle cap gasket 36, and a nozzle retaining screw 68. The nozzle 26 also preferably includes a nozzle cap chain 28 and a nozzle chain hook 29, for example an S-hook, which connects one end of the chain 28 to the body of the fire hydrant 1. As discussed above with respect to
An elbow 78 includes a seal 70 and fasteners 72. The fire hydrant 1 also includes a drain tube 76. A drain valve 90 includes a drain valve pin 88, and a drain valve facing with inserts 18. A seat ring 92 includes a seat ring insert 74. Seals, such as O-rings 94, seal the seat ring 92 to the main valve 96. A bottom plate 98 sits within the elbow 78. In
While a specific design for a fire hydrant 1 is shown in the figures, other fire hydrant models that use a nozzle and O-ring could use the nozzle cup 39 described herein. Alternatively, the nozzle cup 39 may be used on a nozzle for a gate valve.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.
