Insulated Self-Supporting Water Hydrant for Remote Applications

Abstract

An insulated self-supporting water hydrant operating apparatus includes a molded exterior configured to provide stability and rigidity for standalone and alternative applications, a frost-free water valve, internal water conduit linked to an external water source, and expanding foam insulation to fill in all spaces inside the molded exterior shell and protect the plumbing and insulation from extreme weather conditions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to providing a durable, freeze-resistant, low-maintenance and long-term means for providing access to water in remote environments susceptible to extreme weather conditions.

2. Related Art

In a wide range of industries and applications, it is necessary to provide a water source in an open field or other remote location, distant from structures and temperature-controlled environments. Standalone hydrants and similar water sources are needed in a variety of locations to provide ready water access to the public, employees, contractors, or others. Such needs arise in numerous fields such as agriculture, construction, recreation and tourism, real estate, emergency and disaster relief, mining, forestry, municipal and public works, event management, energy and utilities, or the military.

However, providing and maintaining access to a standalone water source, especially in more remote locations and especially in locations that experience extreme temperatures, is often challenging due to inherent issues with how remote water hydrants are ordinarily constructed. Remote water hydrants typically lack stability, rigidity, and durability for standalone applications. They are also either uninsulated or not adequately insulated to resist freezing temperatures. Even when a remote water source is insulated, the insulation material is typically exposed to the sun and other weather conditions which inevitably leads to deterioration, poor performance, and needed repairs. Further, standalone water hydrants are often homemade and unreliable, while commercially available applications require underground drainage and lack adequate insulation when in use. Existing means of constructing insulated remote water hydrants do not have a protective outer shell that is rigid enough for standalone applications and that fully protects against weather damage.

As such, what is needed is an apparatus for providing access to water in one durable, standalone unit that is constructed with a rigid outer shell in order to provide stability, long-term durability, and protection against the environment. The shell in this needed apparatus will house a comprehensive set of integrated plumbing, frost-resistant faucet, and insulation material all in one unit designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. The lead-free, molded exterior shell will protect the frost-resistant water faucet, water pipe, fittings, and insulation, and will provide rigidity for the apparatus in standalone applications. The molded shell will also be sufficient in length to bury the base of the apparatus below the frost line, and may be produced with a bell-shaped end so that multiple segments of the molded exterior can be joined together to customize the overall shape and length for appropriate applications. The insulation material provided in the needed solution will consist of an expanding foam to fill in the entire space and all gaps between the inner components and the outer shell in order to protect against freezing conditions. The frost-free water faucet will terminate the water flow inside the insulated apparatus and drain the excess water that would otherwise be exposed to weather elements, then the water pipe, tubing and fittings will transport the water to the frost-free valve.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, an insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus is provided, comprising a rigid hollow molded exterior structure configured to stand upright with its lower end buried below ground level; a water line conduit positioned inside the molded exterior and configured to transport water upwards through the interior of the hydrant apparatus; a fitting positioned inside and near the lower end of the molded exterior connecting the water line conduit to an underground water source; a faucet at the upper terminal end of the water line conduit that extends through and exits the molded exterior; a frost-free faucet valve on the faucet; and an expanding foam insulation configured to fill the space between the molded surface exterior surface exterior and the other components positioned inside the hydrant apparatus.

Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior is composed of durable and natural UV-resistant material. Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior is comprised of low-density polyethylene material. Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior structure is of sufficient height such that its lower portion is buried at a sufficient depth to be below the frost line of a particular location where the apparatus is installed. Also in one embodiment, a portion of the water line conduit is comprised of flexible material. Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior is bell-shaped at the bottom end. Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior has an opening at one end and a removable rigid molded exterior end cap to cover the opening of the molded exterior. Also in one embodiment, the molded exterior is comprised of multiple segments each having a wider diameter at its lower end configured to connect to another segment of the molded exterior.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for assembling an insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus is provided, comprising the steps (a) placing a water line conduit inside of a rigid hollow molded exterior structure, (b) connecting an underground water source to the water line conduit with a fitting positioned inside the molded exterior, (c) installing a faucet with a frost-free faucet valve to the upper end of the water line conduit such that it extends through and exits the molded exterior, and (d) inserting an expanding foam insulation to fill the space between the molded surface exterior surface exterior and the other components positioned inside the hydrant apparatus.

In one embodiment of the method, the molded exterior structure is cut near its bottom end before installing the expanding foam insulation and the water line conduit. Also in one embodiment, expanding foam insulation and the water line conduit are installed inside the molded exterior structure through a pre-fabricated opening covered by removable rigid molded exterior end caps. Also in one embodiment, the lower portion of the insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus is buried below the frost line of a particular location where the apparatus is installed. Also in one embodiment, flexible material is used for the water line conduit to accommodate positioning the insulated self-supporting water hydrant in any direction respective to the direction of the said underground water source. Also in one embodiment, multiple connectible segments of the said molded exterior are assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a section view of an insulated self-supporting water hydrant according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus, constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a rigid hollow molded exterior 101 composed of durable and naturally UV-resistant low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”) material is provided. LPDE material is used in this example for the molded exterior 101 to protect the interior components of the apparatus from exposure to the sun and other weather conditions. An underground water source 102 is fed through a hole in the molded exterior 101 into the interior of the apparatus and connected via a fitting 103 to a main tube 104. In one embodiment of the present invention, the main tube 104 is composed of cross-linked polyethylene tubing (“PEX”) which is flexible so that the fitting 103 can be turned to accommodate a water source 102 coming from any direction, thus enabling the installer to face the apparatus in any direction of the user's choosing. The main tube 104 transports the water received from the underground water source upwards through the apparatus, and its upper end is connected to a faucet tube 105 by a 90-degree angle fitting 106. In one embodiment of the present invention, the main tube 104 and faucet tube 105 are composed of three-quarters inch PEX faucet tubing to allow for expansion, increased freeze-resistance, and increased volume of waterflow. The faucet tube extends out of the molded exterior 101 and terminates in a faucet 107 with a frost-free faucet valve 108. Expanding foam insulation material 109 is provided to fill the space between the molded exterior 101 and the interior components including the main tube 104, fittings 103 and 106, and faucet tube 105. In this example the insulation material 109 is 2.5-inch expanding foam to fill the entire space and provide freeze-resistance and stability for standalone applications. In this embodiment of the present invention, the molded exterior 101 has a removable bottom endcap 110 and removable top endcap 111 which are removed during installation to accommodate the placement of the interior components including the main tube 104, fitting 103 and 106, and faucet tube 105 as well as the expanding foam insulation material 109, after which the bottom endcap 110 and top endcap 111 are placed in position. In another embodiment of the present invention, the molded exterior 101 only has a removable bottom endcap 110. In another embodiment of the present invention, the molded exterior 101 is one solid piece with no removable endcaps, and must be manually cut in order to accommodate the insertion of the interior components including the main tube 104, fittings 103 and 106, and faucet tube 105 as well as the expanding foam insulation material 109. In one such embodiment, the manual cut to the molded exterior 101 is made near the bottom end in the same location as the top edge of the bottom endcap 110 reflected in FIG. 1. The entire apparatus stands upright such that the underground fitting 103 connected to the water source 102 are buried deep under ground level 112 and, depending on the climate where installed, below the frost line 113 for the particular location in order to protect the internal components from freezing temperatures. The rigid molded surface exterior 101, insulating expanding foam 109, frost-free faucet valve 108 and strategic positioning of the lower components below the frost line 113 work together to create a freeze-resistant outdoor hydrant apparatus that can withstand harsh weather conditions while providing a reliable water source.

Claims

1. An insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus comprising: a rigid hollow molded exterior structure configured to stand upright with its lower end buried below ground level;a water line conduit positioned inside the molded exterior and configured to transport water upwards through the interior of the hydrant apparatus;a fitting positioned inside and near the lower end of the molded exterior connecting the water line conduit to an underground water source;a faucet at the upper terminal end of the water line conduit that extends through and exits the molded exterior;a frost-free faucet valve on the faucet; andan expanding foam insulation configured to fill the space between the molded surface exterior surface exterior and the other components positioned inside the hydrant apparatus.

2. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior is composed of durable and natural UV-resistant material.

3. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior is comprised of low-density polyethylene material.

4. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior structure is of sufficient height such that its lower portion is buried at a sufficient depth to be below the frost line of a particular location where the apparatus is installed.

5. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the water line conduit is comprised of flexible material.

6. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior is bell-shaped at the bottom end.

7. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior has an opening at one end and a removable rigid molded exterior end cap to cover the opening of the molded exterior.

8. The insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus of claim 1, wherein the molded exterior is comprised of multiple segments each having a wider diameter at its lower end configured to connect to another segment of the molded exterior.

9. A method for assembling an insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus, comprising placing a water line conduit inside of a rigid hollow molded exterior structure;connecting an underground water source to the water line conduit with a fitting positioned inside the molded exterior;installing a faucet with a frost-free faucet valve to the upper end of the water line conduit such that it extends through and exits the molded exterior; andinserting an expanding foam insulation to fill the space between the molded surface exterior surface exterior and the other components positioned inside the hydrant apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9 further including cutting the molded exterior structure near its bottom end before installing the expanding foam insulation and the water line conduit.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising installing the expanding foam insulation and the water line conduit inside the molded exterior structure through a pre-fabricated opening covered by a removable rigid molded exterior end cap.

12. The method of claim 9 further including burying the lower portion of the insulated self-supporting water hydrant apparatus below the frost line of a particular location where the apparatus is installed.

13. The method of claim 9 further including using flexible material for the water line conduit to accommodate positioning the insulated self-supporting water hydrant in any direction respective to the direction of the underground water source.

14. The method of claim 9 further including assembling multiple connectible segments of the molded exterior.