Abstract:
Wet barrel fire hydrants which feature 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 valves which close off portions of the hydrant or water conduit otherwise available for receipt of toxic or other materials when the fire hydrant nozzle cap is unscrewed and open and/or a pump is connected to the nozzle. Such valves preferably open automatically when water is flowing from the water supply through the nozzle, but close off portions of the barrel when the nozzle is open and water is not flowing through the nozzle.

Description:
RELATED FIELDS 
       [0001]    Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to wet barrel fire hydrant systems which include additional valving in order to render more difficult the task of introducing toxins into a water supply. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional wet barrel fire hydrant systems offer access to a municipal water supply in a manner in which operatives with ill intent may appreciate. Wet barrel fire hydrant system generally include a wet barrel fire hydrant and a water conduit that connects the hydrant to a water main. Briefly, conventional wet barrel fire hydrants include at least one nozzle for coupling to a fire hose. The nozzle is closed off by a threaded cap 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 nozzle, and into the fire hose. The hydrant valve is opened and closed using an actuator nut on the outside of the hydrant that may be essentially opposite the nozzle. 
         [0003]    Conventionally, the nozzle of the hydrant can accommodate at least some fluid. Accordingly, it is possible to unscrew a nozzle cap, introduce a 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 and/or when the hydrant valve is closed, water pressure from the water supply would not force the toxins back out of the hydrant. 
         [0004]    Toxins may also be introduced into the fire hydrant barrel and the water supply using a pump. For example, the nozzle cap can be removed and a hose attached to the nozzle. The nozzle valve can be opened and a pump attached to the hose can pump toxin into the hydrant. The pump may operate at sufficient pressure to overcome the water pressure of the fire hydrant system (for example, 60 to 120 PSI) and contaminate the water supply. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    One or more of various structures and embodiments according to the present invention may be introduced between the nozzle and the municipal water supply in order to make it more difficult or impossible to introduce toxins to a water supply through a wet fire hydrant. Structures such as valves according to various embodiments of the present invention permit the flow of water from the water supply to the nozzle, but prevent or substantially prevent the flow of water, or other liquid, gas, or solid, from the nozzle to the water supply. 
         [0006]    Valves or other structure according to various embodiments of the present invention may be introduced in the hydrant barrel, in a water conduit, or otherwise. They may form at least two general types: 
         [0007]    (1) Valves which operate logically as an “and” gate to open only when both the hydrant valve and at least one nozzle is open but to be closed at all other times; and 
         [0008]    (2) Check valves that open when liquid or gas flows in one direction and close when liquid or gas flows in a second direction. 
         [0009]    Preferably, valves according to various embodiments of the present invention are located between a hydrant upper barrel and a water main that may be located below ground. 
         [0010]    It is accordingly an object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide additional structure for wet barrel fire hydrant systems in order to reduce the possibility of toxins being introduced into a water supply. 
         [0011]    It is an additional object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide structures for retrofitting into wet barrel fire hydrant systems in order to reduce the possibility of toxins being introduced into a water supply. 
         [0012]    It is an additional object of various embodiments of the present invention to provide structure interposed between nozzles of wet barrel fire hydrants and a water source, such a municipality water line, through which water actually flows out of the hydrant when at least one nozzle and the hydrant valve is open. 
         [0013]    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 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a cross section of one version of a conventional wet fire hydrant with nozzle cap removed and hydrant valve closed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows toxins being introduced into the nozzle of the wet hydrant of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the cap replaced on the nozzle of the wet hydrant of  FIG. 1  after toxins have been introduced. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows opening of the hydrant valve of the hydrant of  FIG. 1  after toxins have been introduced and the nozzle closed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows toxins being introduced into a water supply as a result of the sequence shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows toxins being introduced into a water supply through a wet barrel fire hydrant using a pump and hose. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows the wet hydrant of  FIG. 1 , which can be any conventional wet hydrant, which includes one embodiment of a second valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows the wet hydrant of  FIG. 1  with a second valve located in a water conduit according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a globe containing a second valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of the globe of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows a cut-away view of the globe of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional wet fire hydrant  10 . Hydrant  10  typically includes a substantially vertical barrel  12  and at least one nozzle  14  through which water may flow from a water conduit  15  and/or water main (not shown) to a fire hose given certain circumstances as discussed generally below. At the nozzle  14  of the barrel  12  is a hydrant valve  16  which controllably interrupts fluid flow between the barrel  12  and the nozzle  14 . Opposite the nozzle  14  may be found an operating nut  18  that includes threads which receive threads on an actuator rod  20  which in turn connects to the hydrant valve  16 . In some hydrants, the operating nut  18  and/or nozzle  14  may be closed off by a cap structure. Operating nut  18  may be used by fire fighters or others to open the hydrant valve  16  via actuator rod  20 . Hydrant  10  can include more nozzles  14 . In some hydrants, each nozzle  14  may be closed with a cap such as a threaded cap  22 . The hydrant may also include breakaway structure such as a traffic feature  24 . 
         [0026]    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  14 , usually in a threaded fashion after the cap  22  has been removed (See, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ). Then, after the hose is connected, operating nut  18  may be rotated with a wrench to cause actuator rod  20  to pull on relevant portions of hydrant valve  16  in order to open hydrant valve  16  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). When valve  16  opens, water flows from the barrel  12  water flows past hydrant valve  16  and out nozzle  14  into the hose and accordingly toward its desired application or destination. 
         [0027]    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 taking advantage of the fact that the nozzle  14  can accommodate toxins. Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a malefactor can unscrew cap  22  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  16  as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the nozzle  14  or all nozzles  14  are closed off and the valve  16  opened, the toxins in the nozzle  14  can communicate with liquid in the water supply in order to foul the water supply to the potential detriment of all those whose facilities are in communication with such water supply. 
         [0028]    Moreover, a hose with a pump may be connected, as shown in  FIG. 6 , to the nozzle  14  in order to introduce toxins in the barrel  12  and water supply. For example, the nozzle cap  22  may be removed from the nozzle  14  and a hose having a threaded end may be connected to the nozzle  14 . The valve  16  may be opened to allow the water in the barrel  12  to communicate with the hose. The hose may contain toxins and a pump capable of producing sufficient pressure to overcome the pressure of the water in the barrel  12 . The pump may pump toxins into the barrel  12  and water main through water conduit  15 , thereby contaminating the water supply. 
         [0029]    Some wet barrel fire hydrant systems include a cut off valve located close to or at the water main and/or in the water conduit between the hydrant and the water main. A malefactor may cut off the flow of water to the wet hydrant, remove the nozzle cap and open the hydrant valve to let at least some of the water in the wet hydrant to escape, and introduce toxins into the wet hydrant. The malefactor may close the hydrant valve and release the cut off valve to allow water to flow between the water main and wet hydrant, thereby allowing the toxins to mix with the water supply. 
         [0030]    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  14  and the water main (not shown) through which water flows only when a nozzle  14  and hydrant valve  16  are open. Alternatively or in combination, such structure may close off portions of the wet barrel fire hydrant system between the nozzle  14  and a water main (not shown) in order to deprive miscreants of introducing toxins into an upper portion of the barrel  28 , generally defined as the area of the barrel  12  above the breakaway structure or traffic feature  24 , and allowing the toxins to flow through a lower portion of the barrel  30 , generally defined as the area of the barrel below the breakaway structure or traffic feature, and through the water conduit  15  to the water main (not shown). 
         [0031]    According to a first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , a second valve  32  according to the present invention operates in logical fashion as an “and” gate, the logical operands being at least partial openness of both the nozzle  14  and the hydrant valve  16  or otherwise. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , second valve  32  includes a seat  34  which may be a portion of a globe  26  or, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a water conduit globe  50  in the water conduit  15 . The seat  34  may be any structure that preferably but not necessarily allows valve  32  to be retrofitted to the hydrant  10  or water conduit  15 . Valve  32  may also include a restriction member  36  and an “O” ring  38  located in the inner portion  33  of the globe  26  or the inner portion  51  of water conduit globe  50 , to assist in forming a seal between the restriction member  36  and the seat  34 . The restriction member  36  may be, slidably or otherwise, connected to a stem  40  and a spring  42 . The stem  40  can include a larger diameter portion at least near the middle of the globe  26  or water conduit globe  50  to limit the movement of the restriction member  36 . One or more connection members  44 ,  46  may be used to position the restriction member  36  in the globe  26  or water conduit globe  50 . The globe  26  can connect to the barrel  12 , such as by removing a portion of the barrel and attaching the globe  26  to the barrel using flanges. The water conduit globe  50  can connect to the water conduit  15 , such as by removing a portion of the water conduit  15  and attaching the water conduit globe  50  to the water conduit  15  using flanges. 
         [0033]    The spring  42  and stem  40  can introduce a force on the restriction member  36  in order to form a seal with the seat  34  to prevent or substantially prevent the flow of water, toxins, or other liquids or solids from upper barrel  28  to the lower barrel  30  or, as shown in  FIG. 8 , from the fire hydrant to the water main. For instance in  FIG. 7 , the spring  42  may bias the restriction member  36  unless water or other liquid flows from lower hydrant portion  30  to the upper hydrant portion  28 . If water or other liquid flows from the lower hydrant portion  30  to the upper hydrant portion  28 , the water can force the restriction member  36  to open, such as by forcing the restriction member upwards and compressing the spring  42  against the one or more connection members  44 ,  46 . When water or fluid is not flowing or flowing from the upper barrel  28  to the lower barrel  30 , the spring  42  biases the restriction member  36  to prevent fluid in the upper barrel  28  from flowing to the lower barrel  30 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 8 , the spring  42  may bias the restriction member  36  unless water or other liquid flows from the water conduit first portion  52  to the water conduit second portion  54 . In some embodiments, the water conduit first portion  52  may be between the water main (not shown) and the water conduit globe  50  and the water conduit second portion  54  may be between the water conduit globe  50  and the hydrant  10 . If water or other liquid flows from water conduit first portion  52  to water conduit second portion  54 , the water can force the restriction member  36  to open, such as by forcing the restriction member towards the water conduit second portion and compressing the spring  42  against the one or more connection members  44 ,  46 . When water or fluid is not flowing or flowing from the water conduit second portion  54  to the water conduit first portion  52 , the spring  42  biases the restriction member  36  to prevent fluid in the water conduit second portion  54  from flowing to the water conduit first portion  52 . 
         [0035]    Restriction member  36  may be disc shaped to correspond generally to the inside surfaces of the globe  26  and/or water conduit globe  50 , and it may include a collar to receive portions of stem  40  in sliding fashion or otherwise being connected to or mounted to stem  40 . 
         [0036]    When nozzle cap  22  is removed and toxins inserted into the nozzle or the cut off valve is used to cut off water, toxins inserted into the barrel, and the hydrant valve  16  is opened, the restriction member  36  prevents or substantially prevents toxins or other liquid, solids or materials from being poured into the barrel  12  and mix with the water supply. A reprobate, miscreant, villain or other unworthy type with ill will cannot push down on or puncture restriction member  36  to open up the barrel  12  according to restriction members  36  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 the restriction member  36  closes off the barrel  12  or water conduit  15  in all cases except where water is flowing from the water main and/or through the barrel  12 . 
         [0037]    Flanges may facilitate retrofitting globe  26  or water conduit globe  50  into hydrant  10  or water conduit  15 . In some embodiments, flanges may be chosen from a variety of split flanges such that the globe  26  or water conduit globe  50  may be used with various fire hydrants having various flange configurations. 
         [0038]    A logical table for operation of second valve  32  as shown in  FIG. 7-9  is shown in Table 1 may be as follows, where “O” means “open” and “C” means closed: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Hydrant 
                 O 
                 C 
                 O 
                 C 
               
               
                   
                 Valve 
               
               
                   
                 Nozzle 
                 O 
                 C 
                 C 
                 O 
               
               
                   
                 Second Valve 
                 O 
                 C 
                 C 
                 C 
               
               
                   
                 Flow from 
                 Y 
                 N 
                 N 
                 N 
               
               
                   
                 water main 
               
               
                   
                 through 
               
               
                   
                 barrel and/ 
               
               
                   
                 or water 
               
               
                   
                 conduit 
               
               
                   
                 Flow from 
                 N 
                 N 
                 N 
                 N 
               
               
                   
                 hydrant to 
               
               
                   
                 water supply 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0039]    Any desired physical structure may be employed to accomplish the objective of meeting logical Table 1 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 restriction member and/or the seat, may be formed from iron and dipped in a liquid material, such as rubber or plastic, to coat the components. Alternatively, in some embodiments, iron components may be encapsulated in SBR rubber. Such processes may protect the iron components from corrosion or other types of decay. Such processes may also facilitate the seal between the restriction member and the seat, potentially obviating the need for a separate gasket. In some embodiments of the present invention, the restriction member, stem, and connection members may be made from plastic. 
         [0040]    O-rings may be formed of conventional materials used in fire hydrants, or unconventional materials. Springs may be any suitable resilient structures formed of any desired material having requisite modulus of elasticity, durability, costs, and other properties. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 9-1   1  show one embodiment of a globe  100  that can house a second valve  120  and integrate or connect with a hydrant or water conduit. The second valve  120  can include a restriction member  122  and an “O” ring  124 . The “O” ring  124  and restriction member  122  may form a seal with a seat  126  formed by the globe  100 . The globe  100  can include a valve stem  102  that connects to the globe  100  by connection members  104 ,  106 . The connection members  104 ,  106  can keep the stem  102  in a desired position relative to the globe  100  by connecting the stem  102  at one or both ends of the globe  100 . The globe  100  may include flanges to connect with the barrel or water conduit with bolts  110 ,  116  through openings  112 ,  114 . For example, one or more of the openings  112 ,  114  may align with openings on flanges connected to, or part of, the barrel or water conduit. One or more bolts  110 ,  112 , or other structures, can connect the globe  100  to barrel or water conduit flanges. 
         [0042]    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.