Patent Application
20050103381
Water hydrants, such as those used in firefighting, are often used in emergency situations, and normally it is important that the hydrant be easy to access and operate. Conditions can arise, however, that make it more difficult to access and operate hydrants. In areas that experience significant snowfall, for example, hydrants often become buried under several feet of snow. This can make the hydrant much more difficult to find and use, thus creating a significant hindrance to firefighting efforts. In addition, many other situations can arise where a hydrant is obstructed or is otherwise made difficult to access and operate.
It will be appreciated that hydrant 12 cannot normally be operated if buried under snow, water, dirt, etc. In areas that experience significant snow accumulation, buried hydrants can be difficult to locate and operate. During times of repeated snowfall, hydrants may need to be repeatedly dug out so as to enable access to valve actuator 18 and hydrant outlet 20. Plowing can further complicate hydrant access, by adding dense layers of snow over the top of the hydrant.
Accordingly, the exemplary depicted system may include additional components configured to facilitate access to and operation of buried hydrants. Typically, the system is configured so as to allow the valve actuator of the hydrant to be operated from a location spaced from the hydrant, which often is above the hydrant. Additionally, or alternatively, the system may be configured to allow for attachment of a water hose at a location above or otherwise spaced from the hydrant. Specifically, an actuator extension 30 may be provided to facilitate operation of valve actuator 18 from a remote location. Typically, as in the depicted example, the remote location will be directly above the hydrant body, and will be spaced appropriately depending on the extent to which the hydrant is buried.
Exemplary extension 30 may include a riser conduit 31 and a torque linkage, such as extension rod 32, extending through the conduit. A lower, or proximal, end 32a of rod 32 may be operatively engaged with actuator 18, while upper, or distal, end 32b may be provided with an operating nut 34 mounted on wrench platform 36, or with some other torque-receiving member or device. Rod 32 thus provides an operative torque-transmitting linkage between nut 34 and nut 18, allowing valve mechanism 14 to be opened and closed by rotating nut 34 (e.g., via an external torque or force applied with a wrench or like tool). Rod 32 and conduit 31 may be provided in any desired length, and/or may be made adjustable. In the depicted example, adjustability of conduit 31 is achieved by providing two telescopically interfitting pieces that are secured with extension pin 38.
As shown, a flare 40 may be provided to provide heat and thereby guard against freezing of moving parts. Indeed, it may be desirable in some cases to form riser 32 as an at least partly hollow member, so that a flare or other source of heat may be inserted and placed in proximity to actuator 18.
As shown in the exemplary system, hydrant outlet 20 may also be fitted with an outlet extension 50, to allow delivery of water to a point above the snow level. Extension 50 may be formed as a single unitary piece or, as shown, from multiple pipe sections secured together, such as with coupling 52. Typically, it will be desirable that extension 50 be made adjustable, to accommodate various snow levels. Additionally, or alternatively, modular pipe sections of different lengths may be employed to accommodate varying burial depths. Outlet extension 50 may be provided with a pressure valve or other like mechanism to allow liquid to drain from extension 50 after use of the hydrant, for example to prevent accumulation of frozen water during cold temperatures.
It should be appreciated that the extension components may be fabricated from a variety of different materials, such as PVC piping, galvanized steel and the like, and may be formed to have any practicable length or other dimension, as appropriate to a given setting. Furthermore, it will often be desirable to provide a stabilizing structure (e.g., structure 56) between the two extensions in order to provide added structural support.
While the present embodiments and method implementations have been particularly shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The description should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Where claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the following U.S. provisional patent application, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes: Ser. No. 60/511,174, filed Oct. 14, 2003.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60511174 | Oct 2003 | US |
