Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and devices for retrofitting fire hydrants with additional structure for reducing the potential that those with ill intent can foul municipal water supplies by introducing toxins or other materials into fire hydrants. Various embodiments include a seat and elongated member for efficient and cost effective installation and cooperation with valves, which close off portions of the hydrant otherwise available for receipt of toxic or other materials when the fire hydrant nozzle cap is unscrewed and open.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/997,733 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,544, entitled “Fire Hydrant With Second Valve” and filed Nov. 23, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/309,646, entitled “Fire Hydrant With Second Valve” and filed Dec. 4, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,860, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by this reference. 

   RELATED FIELDS 
   Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to retrofitting fire hydrants with additional valving in order to render more difficult the task of introducing toxins into a water supply. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Conventional fire hydrants offer access to a municipal water supply in a manner in which operatives with ill intent may appreciate. Briefly, conventional fire hydrants include at least one nozzle for coupling to a fire hose. A threaded cap closes off the nozzle when the hydrant is not in use. The hydrant also includes a hydrant valve which controls flow of water from the water supply to and through the hydrant, through the nozzle, and into the fire hose. 
   Conventionally, the barrel of the hydrant between the nozzle and the hydrant valve, which is in the lower portion of the hydrant, accommodates several gallons of fluid. Accordingly, it is possible to unscrew a nozzle cap, introduce gallons of toxin, reattach the nozzle cap and open the hydrant valve to allow the toxins to communicate with and flow by gravity and perhaps at least to some extent by Bernoulli&#39;s principle, into the municipal water supply, since when the nozzle cap is attached, water pressure from the water supply would not force the toxins back out of the hydrant. 
   Accordingly, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/265,051, entitled “Fire Hydrant With Second Valve,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/309,646, entitled “Fire Hydrant With Second Valve,” the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by this reference, a seat is affixed to the interior cavity of the fire hydrant using an adhesive or mechanical means, a valve structure is introduced between the nozzle and the hydrant valve and cooperates with the seat to make it more difficult or impossible to introduce toxins to a water supply through a fire hydrant. The valve structure prevents or substantially prevents the flow of water through the valve and thus closes off portions of the hydrant barrel when a nozzle is open but the hydrant valve is closed. Generally, the valve structure comprises a secondary valve, a seat, and biasing structure. 
   Retrofitting fire hydrants with a secondary valves may be accomplished by removing the hydrant barrel, inserting the secondary valve and affixing the seat to the hydrant body with an adhesive or mechanical means, such as a screw. While this is an effective method for installing the secondary valve, another less expensive and more efficient method is needed to retrofit a fire hydrant with the secondary valve. 
   SUMMARY 
   One or more of various structures and embodiments according to the present invention may be utilized to retrofit a fire hydrant with an additional valve in order to make the retrofitting process more efficient and less costly. Structures such as an insert according to various embodiments of the present invention may allow quick installation of an additional valve in a fire hydrant to close off portions of the hydrant barrel when a nozzle is open but the hydrant valve is closed and thus save time and money. An insert or other structure according to various embodiments of the present invention, are preferably introduced between the lowest nozzle in the hydrant and the main hydrant valve during the installation of an additional valve. 
   According to various aspects and embodiments of the present invention, the insert may include a valve seat, an elongated member and a flange portion. During installation of a secondary valve, an upper portion of a fire hydrant may be removed, the secondary valve installed, and the seat positioned along with an elongated member and flange portion. 
   It is accordingly an object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide structures for retrofitting into fire hydrants in order to reduce the possibility of toxins being introduced into a water supply. 
   It is an additional object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide quick installation of additional structure for fire hydrants in order to reduce the possibility of toxins being introduced into a water supply. 
   It is an additional object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide a valve seat adapted to be easily installed in a fire hydrant barrel and capable of cooperating with a valve to restrict the flow of water in the hydrant barrel upon certain conditions. 
   Other objects, features, and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent with respect to the remainder of this document. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a conventional fire hydrant with nozzle cap removed and hydrant valve closed. 
       FIG. 2  shows toxins being introduced into the nozzle of the hydrant of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the cap replaced on the nozzle of the hydrant of  FIG. 1  after toxins have been introduced. 
       FIG. 4  shows opening of the hydrant valve of the hydrant of  FIG. 1  after toxins have been introduced and the nozzle closed. 
       FIG. 5  shows toxins being introduced into a water supply as a result of the sequence shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the hydrant of  FIG. 1 , which can be any conventional hydrant, which includes one embodiment of a secondary valve, seat and elongated member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  shows the seat and elongated member of  FIG. 6  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of retrofitting a hydrant with a secondary valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows an alternative embodiment of retrofitting a hydrant with a secondary valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a conventional fire hydrant  10 . Hydrant  10  typically includes a substantially vertical barrel  12  through which water may flow from a water main to a fire hose given certain circumstances as discussed generally below. At one end of the barrel  12  is a hydrant valve  14 , which controllably interrupts fluid flow between a water supply  16  and the barrel  12 . At the upper end of the barrel  12  may be found a cap structure  18  which can include, for instance, a housing cover  20  and an operating nut  22  which rotates within the housing cover. The operating nut  22  includes threads, which receive threads on an actuator rod  24 , which in turn connects to the hydrant valve  14 . Not only does the cap structure  18  seal the top portion of the barrel  12  to prevent the flow of water, but operating nut  22  may be used by fire fighters or others to open the hydrant valve  14  via actuator rod  24 . Hydrant  10  includes at least one nozzle  26  and can include more nozzles  26 . Each nozzle  26  may be closed with a cap  28  such as a threaded cap. The hydrant may also include breakaway structure such as a traffic feature  30 . 
   In normal operation, the hydrant  10  may be employed as follows to help fight fires, provide refreshing summer breaks for overheated urban citizens and/or their offspring, participants in road races, or for other purposes or beneficiaries. First, a hose (not shown) may be connected to nozzle  26 , usually in a threaded fashion after the cap  28  has been removed (See, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ). Then, after the hose is connected, operating nut  22  may be rotated with a wrench to cause actuator rod  24  to push down on relevant portions of hydrant valve  14  in order to open hydrant valve  14  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). When valve  14  opens, water flows from the water supply  16  through hydrant valve  14  through barrel  12 , out nozzle  26  into the hose and accordingly toward its desired application or destination. 
   However, hydrant  10  may also be the subject of attention from miscreants who have the temerity to attempt to introduce toxins into a public water supply. Such concerns have heightened since the date known as “9-11” (Sep. 11, 2001) when terrorists activities became the focus of heightened concern. Accordingly, the need for structures according to various embodiments of the present invention became more apparent after that bellweather event, even if they were foreseen by the inventor named in this document beforehand. More particularly, a person with ill design can attempt to introduce toxins into a water supply  16  taking advantage of the fact that the barrel  12  of a hydrant  10  between the nozzle  26  and the hydrant valve  14  can accommodate several gallons of liquid or solid material. Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 1–5 , a malefactor can unscrew cap  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 , introduce toxins as shown in  FIG. 2 , screw the cap back on as shown in  FIG. 3 , and open the hydrant valve  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the nozzle  26  or all nozzles  26  are closed off and the valve  14  opened, the liquid or solid toxins in the barrel  12  can communicate with liquid in the water supply  16  in order to foul the water supply  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , to the potential detriment of all those whose facilities are in communication with such water supply  16 . 
   Various structures according to various embodiments of the present invention prevent or reduce the possibility of such unworthy and direct reprobatory activity. Generally, various structures according to various embodiments of the present invention introduce physical structure between nozzle  26  and hydrant valve  14  through which water flows only when a nozzle  26  and hydrant valve  14  are open. Alternatively, or in combination, such structure may close off portions of the barrel  12  below the nozzle  26  in order to deprive miscreants of at least a portion, if not all, of the space available into which to load toxins before closing the nozzle  26  and opening the valve  14 . 
   According to a first embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a secondary valve  32  according to the present invention could be considered, according to one view, to operate in logical fashion as an and gate, the logical operands being at least partial openness of both the nozzle  26  and the hydrant valve  14  (or otherwise when water pressure is applied through the barrel  12  to nozzle  26 ) thus prohibiting miscreants or others the opportunity to introduce toxins into the hydrant  10 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , secondary valve  32  includes a seat  34 , which is mounted to barrel  12  in a manner that allows valve  32  to be retrofitted to the hydrant  10 . The seat  34  may be supported by an elongated member  39 . As explained in more detail below, in one embodiment, an elongated member  39  assists in retrofitting a hydrant with a secondary valve  32 . A valve  32  cooperates with seat  34  to obstruct the flow of water and other liquids in the barrel  12  upon certain conditions being met. Valve  32  may preferably be disc shaped to correspond generally to the inside surfaces of the barrel  12 . In other embodiments, the valve  32  may be rectangle, square, or any size and shape in order to cooperate with the seat  34  to obstruct the flow of water. In addition, the seat  34  and valve  32  may close off portions of the barrel  12  to preclude or render more difficult introduction of toxins into the closed-off portions of the barrel  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the seat  34  also includes an “O” ring or quad ring  38  that helps form a seal between seat  34  and barrel  12 , on the one hand, and seat  34  and valve  32  on the other hand. 
   The seat  34  may preferably be made from brass or alternatively made from any metal, plastic, or rubber that is able to cooperate with the valve  32  to obstruct the flow of water and be resistant to corrosion due to intermittent or long-term exposure to water. The barrel  12  may preferably be made from cast iron or alternatively made from any metal or rigid material that provides the necessary strength to withstand the relatively high internal water pressure when necessary and to withstand varying external climate changes for a long period of time. The “O” ring or quad ring  38  may preferably be made from rubber or alternatively from any material that will provide a seal between the seat  34 , barrel  12  and valve  32 . 
   A biasing structure  40  can be disposed to bias the valve  32  against “O-ring” or quad ring  38  and/or valve seat  34 . Biasing structure  40  may include any of the following, among others: any resilient member such as, for instance, including but not limited to a spring, any form of resilient material shaped or formed as desired, and/or a weight applied to valve  32  for biasing via gravity. As discussed below, biasing structure  40  may also include the actuator rod  24  if the valve  32  is coupled to the actuator rod  24  to travel in a manner corresponding to travel of rod  24  such as being mounted to rod  24 . 
   When nozzle cap  28  is removed and nozzle  26  is open, the valve  32  prevents or substantially prevents toxins or other liquid, solids or materials from being poured into the barrel  12  below the nozzle  26 . A reprobate, miscreant, villain or other unworthy type with ill or misguided will or intent cannot push down on or puncture valve  32  to open up the barrel  12  according to valve  32  formed according to preferred embodiments of the invention which provide suitable resistance to deformation or destruction such as by screwdrivers, crow bars, or other implements employed on occasion by those with ill design or for other purposes. Such malefactory activity is prevented because secondary valve  32  closes off barrel  12  in all cases except where water is flowing outwardly from water supply  16  through nozzle  26 . 
   According to another embodiment, valve  32  is mounted to rod  24  in order to move with rod  24 . In this embodiment, the valve  32  seats against bottom portions of valve seat  34  or an  0 -ring or quad ring  38  interposed below valve seat  34  so that secondary valve  32  opens when and only when rod  24  moves down, which also means that hydrant valve  14  is opening. In this embodiment, the secondary valve  32  could, unlike the valve of embodiment one, at least theoretically open to some extent when hydrant valve  14  is open but nozzle  26  is closed. As a practical matter, that makes no difference since cap  28  is on the nozzle  26  preventing introduction of undesired materials into hydrant  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of the seat  34  and elongated member  39  is shown. In one embodiment, the seat  34  may be a ledge around an opening to allow water or liquids to flow when the valve  14  and secondary valve  32  are opened. The seat is preferably connected to an elongated member  39  that extends in one direction from the seat  34 . The elongated member  39  preferably includes a cylindrical portion  42  and a flange portion  43  extending outwardly with respect to the cylindrical portion  44 . In one embodiment, the cylindrical portion  42  corresponds generally to the interior cavity of the hydrant body  12  and is essentially hollow to allow water to flow in certain conditions. The elongated member  39  may alternatively include any number of openings along the length of the elongated member  39  and include any number of elongated portions that assist in the installation of the seat  34 . The elongated member  39  and flange portion  43  may preferably be made from brass or alternatively from any rigid material that will provide the necessary assistance to the installation of the seat  34  and keep the seat  34  in place by communicating with the barrel  12 . 
   A retrofitting process according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8 . An upper portion  41  of the hydrant body  12  above the breakaway structure or traffic feature  30  is removed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the valve  32  is installed in the interior cavity of the hydrant body  12 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the valve  32 , biasing structure  40 , and/or “O-ring”  38  is installed in the interior cavity of the hydrant body  12 . A seat  34  and an elongated member  39  are then installed inside the upper portion  41  of hydrant body  12 . The seat  34  is installed at a location to cooperate with valve  32  to obstruct the flow of water in the barrel  12  upon certain conditions being met. The cylindrical portion  42  of the elongated member  39  is installed adjacent to the interior cavity  44  of hydrant body upper portion  41  and extends to the breakaway structure or traffic feature  30 . The flange portion  43  is adapted to be installed between the barrel  12  of the hydrant body upper portion  41  and the breakaway structure or traffic feature  30 . The hydrant body upper portion  41  is then reattached at the breakaway structure or traffic feature  30 . 
   A retrofitting process according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 9 . The installer removes cap structure  18  in order to install the secondary valve  32 . The seat  34  and elongated member  39  are installed with the seat  34  being placed at an appropriate location in order to cooperate with valve  32  to obstruct the flow of water in the barrel  12  upon certain conditions being met. The elongated member  39  extends in the direction of the cap structure  18  and comprises a cylindrical portion  42  and flange portion  43 . The cylindrical portion  42  has an opening  46  to allow water to flow to the nozzle  26 . The flange portion  43  is positioned so as to be held in place when the cap structure  18  is reattached. The secondary valve  32  is then installed and cap structure  18  reattached. 
   Any desired physical structure may be employed in order to produce or preclude introduction of undesired materials into fire hydrants. Components of embodiments according to the present invention are preferably durable materials but may be of any desired material. It is conventional for many components of fire hydrants to be bronze, and at least some or all of metallic components of structures according to various embodiments of the present invention may be formed of bronze or other conventional or even unconventional materials. For example, in some embodiments, at least some of the components, such as the valve and/or the seat and elongated member, may be formed from iron and dipped in or coated with a liquid material, such as rubber or plastic. Alternatively, in some embodiments, iron components may be encapsulated in SBR rubber or powder coated. Such processes may protect the iron components from corrosion or other types of decay. Such processes may also facilitate the seal between the valve and the seat, potentially obviating the need for a separate gasket. 
   O-rings or quad rings may be formed of conventional materials used in fire hydrants, or unconventional materials. Suitable resilient structures such as springs which may form biasing structures  40  may be formed of any desired material having requisite modulus of elasticity, durability, costs, and other properties. 
   Modifications, adaptations, changes, deletions, and additions may be made to various embodiments of the present invention as disclosed in this document without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.