Enclosure for leak detector

• US 10,386,257 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fleury, Jr., Leo W., Dintakurti, Ganapathi Deva Varma, Williams, James O., Yusuf, Shabbir
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Irving A
• Application Number:
  US15/401,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20170121949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 73 405 A, 73 405 R, 174521, 310331, 367157
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/14 Punching tools; Punching dies
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/003 Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

A nozzle cap assembly includes a nozzle cap configured to mount on a fire hydrant, the nozzle cap housing defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a nozzle cap cavity within the nozzle cap; an antenna enclosure mounted to the nozzle cap, a portion of the antenna enclosure disposed external to the nozzle cap; and an antenna positioned within the antenna enclosure.

Claims

1. A nozzle cap assembly comprising:

a nozzle cap configured to mount on a fire hydrant, the nozzle cap housing defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a nozzle cap cavity within the nozzle cap;

an antenna enclosure mounted to the nozzle cap, a portion of the antenna enclosure disposed external to the nozzle cap; and

an antenna positioned within the antenna enclosure.

2. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna defines a curved portion.

3. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the antenna is disposed external to the nozzle cap.

4. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the nozzle cap defines a bore extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;

an antenna cable is disposed within the bore; and

the antenna cable attaches the antenna to a circuit board disposed within the nozzle cap cavity.

5. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle cap defines a bore extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;

and wherein the antenna and the antenna enclosure cover the bore.

6. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna enclosure defines an antenna cavity, and wherein the antenna is disposed within the antenna cavity.

7. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor disposed within the nozzle cap cavity.

8. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna enclosure comprises a material configured not to interfere with wireless signals from the antenna through the enclosure.

9. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 8, wherein the material is a plastic.

10. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner surface defines an internally threaded portion configured to engage an externally threaded portion of a nozzle of the fire hydrant.

11. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the antenna enclosure is annular around the antenna.

12. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the antenna enclosure is secured to the nozzle cap by a shelf defined by the nozzle cap.

13. A fire hydrant assembly comprising:

a fire hydrant, the fire hydrant comprising a nozzle;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle, the nozzle cap defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a nozzle cap cavity within the nozzle cap;

an antenna enclosure mounted to the nozzle cap, a portion of the antenna enclosure disposed external to the nozzle cap; and

an antenna positioned within the antenna enclosure.

14. The fire hydrant assembly of claim 13, wherein the antenna defines a curved portion.

15. The fire hydrant assembly of claim 13, wherein a portion of the antenna is disposed external to the nozzle cap.

16. The fire hydrant assembly of claim 13, wherein the nozzle cap defines a bore extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;

and wherein the antenna and the antenna enclosure cover the bore.

17. The fire hydrant assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the nozzle cap defines a bore extending from the inner surface to the outer surface;

an antenna cable is disposed within the bore; and

the antenna cable attaches the antenna to a circuit board disposed within the nozzle cap cavity.

18. The fire hydrant assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner surface defines an internally threaded portion, and wherein the internally threaded portion engages an externally threaded portion of the nozzle.

19. A method for monitoring for a parameter in a fluid system, the method comprising:

mounting a nozzle cap assembly on a nozzle of a fire hydrant connected in fluid communication with the fluid system, the nozzle cap assembly comprising;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle, the nozzle cap defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a nozzle cap cavity within the nozzle cap;

a sensor disposed within the nozzle cap cavity, the sensor configured to collect data for the parameter;

an antenna enclosure mounted to the nozzle cap, a portion of the antenna enclosure disposed external to the nozzle cap; and

an antenna positioned within the antenna enclosure, the antenna configured to transmit a signal carrying data gather by the sensor;

gathering data for the parameter with the nozzle cap assembly; and

transmitting the data collected by the sensor with the antenna.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein mounting the nozzle cap assembly on the nozzle further comprises:

engaging an internally threaded portion of the nozzle cap with an externally threaded portion of the nozzle, the internally threaded portion of the nozzle cap defined by the inner surface.