Patent Publication Number: US-6702205-B1

Title: Apparatus for redirecting flow of water exiting a fire hydrant support

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to apparatus for redirecting the flow of water exiting the exit opening of a fire hydrant support having a fire hydrant support flange surrounding the exit opening. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fire hydrants typically are mounted on fire hydrant supports in the form of pipes or conduits projecting upwardly and having a circular-shaped flange at the upper end thereof to which the fire hydrant is secured by bolts which are designed to shear if the fire hydrant is impacted or otherwise has a significant force applied thereto. Typically, such force is a result of a vehicle crashing into the fire hydrant. 
     Immediately after a fire hydrant has been broken away from its support, water in great volume and under considerable pressure exits the fire hydrant support. This can cause considerable property damage, can present a traffic hazard and can result in personal injuries. 
     Each hydrant normally has its own valve but these are often difficult to approach and/or access under such conditions. Fire fighter&#39;s gear quickly becomes soaked, impairing his or her performance and increasing the chance of injury. 
     Another approach to stopping water flow has been to shut down an entire water grid with which the hydrant is associated. During shut down the entire area serviced by the grid is unprotected. 
     As will be seen below, the present invention provides a means for quickly and efficiently diverting water flow from a fire hydrant support so that the valve associated with the hydrant can be approached and turned off. A single individual can divert the water while another individual attends to the valve. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,044, issued Sep. 22, 1998, discloses a system for controlling fluid flow from an outlet aperture, particularly a stand pipe such as a fire hydrant. According to the system, a first cylindrical collar element is positioned by operators using handles around the stand pipe. According to the patent, water is directed into and through a flexible pipe located above the stand pipe and directed away from the stand pipe. A second cylindrical element forms an annular space with the first cylindrical collar element and fluid fills the space and allegedly stabilizes the elements relative to the stand pipe. 
     There is no showing in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,044 of a positive means to connect the fluid control system to the stand pipe. A number of individual&#39;s must operate the system and are subject to possible injury. Furthermore, water issues from fire hydrant supports with great force and in great volumes. Water spouting from a fire hydrant support can rise a great many feet into the air. It would appear that the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,044 could not safely handle such volumes of water and deal with the forces caused thereby. It is likely that the high pressure, fast water flow passing through the bent flexible pipe would result in a highly unstable situation. 
     The following patents relating to water diverters of various types are known: U.S. Pat. No. Des.319,290, issued Aug. 20, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 1,158,302, issued Oct. 26, 1915, U.S. Pat. No.3,847,159, issued Nov. 12, 1974, U.S. Pat. No. 2,539,976, issued Jan. 30, 1951, U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,139, issued Aug. 18, 1959, U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,851, issued Apr. 2, 1968, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,228, issued Jan. 30, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,435, issued Aug. 10, 1982, U.S. Pat. No. 1,751,345, issued Mar. 18, 1930, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,691, issued Oct. 9, 1984. The devices are not suitable for use in diverting water exiting a fire hydrant support. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus which can efficiently and quickly be applied to divert water from a fire hydrant support. The apparatus is easy to use, only one person being required to position the apparatus in place and divert water flow. Water can quickly be diverted in any desired direction. The apparatus is safe to use, a positive means being employed to retain the apparatus in place on the fire hydrant support until water shutoff has occurred. 
     The apparatus of the invention is for redirecting flow of water exiting the exit opening of a fire hydrant support having a circular-shaped fire hydrant support flange surrounding the exit opening. 
     The apparatus includes a flange connector defining a flange connector opening and including connector structure for releasably connecting the flange connector to the fire hydrant support flange. 
     The apparatus also includes handle structure connected to the flange connector and projecting therefrom for manually positioning the flange connector on the fire hydrant support with the connector structure in engagement with the fire hydrant support flange to releasably connect the flange connector and the fire hydrant support flange, the flange connector opening being in fluid flow communication with the exit opening of the fire hydrant support. 
     The invention also includes a water diverter mounted on the flange connector engageable by water passing through the fire hydrant support exit opening and the flange connector opening to divert flow thereof. 
    
    
     Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in position on a fire hydrant support, the water diverter being positioned by an individual so that no diverting of the water flow has as yet taken place; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the individual positioning the water diverter so that water flow is redirected; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view illustrating the flange connector and associated water diverter being positioned on the flange of a fire hydrant support; 
     FIG. 4 is a top, plan view showing the apparatus in place on the flange, the water diverter not yet in a position to divert water flow; 
     FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  6 — 6  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partially cross-sectional view showing operational details of pivot structure of the invention and an associated lock; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line  8 — 8  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating the water diverter and handle structure of the invention locked at a different angle of inclination than that shown in FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating the water diverter and handle structure at the angle of inclination shown in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, a fire hydrant pipe or support  10  having an exit opening  12  and a circular-shaped flange  14  surrounding the exit opening is illustrated. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate water  16  exiting the exit opening  12 , it being understood that the hydrant (not shown) normally associated with the support  10  has been inadvertently broken away, for example as a result of vehicular collision. 
     As has been indicated above, water often exits from fire hydrant support openings in great volume and under considerable pressure. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show an individual holding onto an elongated handle  18  of apparatus  20  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the apparatus having been previously applied to the fire hydrant support in a manner which will be described in more detail below. 
     Apparatus  20  includes a flange connector  22  of generally U-shaped configuration. The flange connector  22  includes a connector top  24  positionable over the fire hydrant support flange and also connector sides  26 ,  28  projecting downwardly from the connector top. The connector sides are for positioning alongside the fire hydrant support flange to partially surround the support flange when the connector top is positioned over the flange. 
     Connector sides  26 ,  28  define a front space  30  and a rear space  32 , the front space communicating with a flange connector opening  34  defined by the connector top  24 . The front space accommodates the portion of the fire hydrant support flange projecting beyond the flange connector opening  34  (see FIG. 4) when the apparatus is in place. 
     Connector side  26  includes a first connector side segment  36  and a second connector side segment  38 . Connector side  28  includes a first connector side segment  40  and a second connector side segment  42 . The first connector side segments are diametrically opposed, spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the fire hydrant support flange and engageable with opposed sides of the fire hydrant support flange when the apparatus is in position to stabilize the apparatus. 
     The second connector side segments  38 ,  42  are closer together than the first connector side segments  36 ,  40  and are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the fire hydrant support flange. 
     Projections  44 ,  46  are attached to second connector side segments  38 ,  42  respectively and project under the fire hydrant support flange at locations on opposed sides of the front space  30  when the connector top is over the fire hydrant support flange and the apparatus is in place on the fire hydrant support. 
     The connector top, the second connector side segments  38 ,  42  and the projections  44 ,  46  define channels for receiving the fire hydrant support flange to substantially prevent up, down and rearward movement of the flange connector relative to the fire hydrant support flange, while allowing the flange connector to be turned by the handle structure  18  relative to the fire hydrant support flange. This allows water exiting through the exit opening  18  and communicating flange connector opening  34  to be redirected over a full 360 degree range, as selected by the operator. 
     FIG. 3 shows the apparatus in the process of being connected to the flange  14 . The operator simply places the flange connector  22  as shown in that figure by manipulating of handle  18  so that the second connector side elements  38 ,  42  bypass the front of the flange (as shown in FIG. 3) sufficiently for the second connector side segments and projections  44  affixed thereto to clear the flange. Next, the operator lowers the connector top  24  into engagement with the top of the flange. Finally, the operator pulls the handle toward himself or herself so that the flange is engaged by second connector side segments  38 ,  42  and the projections  44 ,  46  are situated thereunder. This is shown, for example, in FIG.  4 . Water flows upwardly through the flange connector opening  34 . 
     A water diverter  50  is disposed adjacent to opening  34  and is pivotally mounted on flange connector  22  by pivot structure  52 . Pivot structure  52  includes a central pivot member  54  secured to connector top  24  and a pair of side pivot members  56  disposed on opposed sides of the central pivot member and pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin  58 . The side pivot members  56  are connected to both water diverter  50  and a handle connector element  60 . Thus, pivotal movement of the water diverter  50  is readily effected by the operator moving the handle up and down. FIGS. 7-10 provide an illustration of this. 
     A lock pin or detent  70  is slidably mounted in the handle connector  60 . A spring  72  biases the detent in the direction of central pivot member  54 . A plurality of openings  74  are formed in member  54  and the detent is selectively alternatively positionable in these openings to selectively lock the water diverter  50  in a plurality of alternative orientations relative to the flange connector. 
     FIG. 7 shows the water diverter in one orientation wherein it is not positioned over the flowing water and FIG. 9 shows the water diverter in an alternate position wherein the water diverter is impacted by at least some of the flowing water to divert the water. 
     A release element in the form of a string or wire  80  can be pulled by the operator to disengage the detent from the central pivot member and allow the handle and water diverter to be pivoted. The flowing water impacting the water diverter exerts a force on the apparatus in the direction of handle  18  and operator, maintaining the flange in position in the channels formed by the second connector side segments and their associated projections. 
     The operator can safely divert water in many different directions. The amount of water diverted can be controlled by the inclination of the water diverter. 
     In the present arrangement, the water diverter  50  is in the form of two rigidly interconnected angularly disposed diverter members or plates  84 ,  86  defining a water flow channel and an open water exit end communicating with the water flow channel.