Fire hydrant anti-tamper device
First Claim
1. A tamper detection apparatus for a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on the fire hydrant, the apparatus comprising:
- a cap movement detector adapted to be mounted to a fire hydrant discharge nozzle cap, the cap movement detector generating an output upon detecting movement of the cap relative to the fire hydrant; and
transmitter means, adapted to be mounted to a fire hydrant cap and responsive to an output of the cap movement detector, for remotely transmitting a tamper detection signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detection and signaling apparatus is mountable in a fire hydrant to detect a parameter, such as unauthorized movement of a discharge nozzle cap relative to the fire hydrant. A housing carrying a sensor, such as a motion detector, is mounted inside of the cap. The sensor has an output connected to a transmitter. Movement of the cap relative to the fire hydrant activates the motion detector which generates an output signal causing the transmitter to remotely transmit a tamper detection signal and, also, a fire hydrant location identification code. A pressure sensor can also be coupled to the transmitter to sense water supply main pressure and water flow through the fire hydrant.
72 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A tamper detection apparatus for a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on the fire hydrant, the apparatus comprising:
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a cap movement detector adapted to be mounted to a fire hydrant discharge nozzle cap, the cap movement detector generating an output upon detecting movement of the cap relative to the fire hydrant; and
transmitter means, adapted to be mounted to a fire hydrant cap and responsive to an output of the cap movement detector, for remotely transmitting a tamper detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tamper detection apparatus for a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on the fire hydrant, the apparatus comprising:
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a cap movement detector adapted to be mounted to a fire hydrant cap to detect movement of the cap relative to the fire hydrant;
a transmitter, responsive to an output of the detector, for remotely transmitting a tamper signal;
a housing, the detector and the transmitter carried in the housing, the housing adapted to be mountable in a fire hydrant cap; and
a stored fire hydrant location identification, the transmitter transmitting the fire hydrant identification when transmitting the tamper signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A fire hydrant comprising:
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a housing fluidically connected to a water supply conduit;
a discharge outlet carried in the housing;
a cap threadingly mountable over the discharge outlet to removably close the discharge outlet;
a cap movement detector coupled to the fire hydrant cap to detect movement of the cap relative to the fire hydrant; and
a transmitter, coupled to the cap and responsive to an output of the cap movement detector, for remotely transmitting a tamper detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of detecting tampering with a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on a discharge outlet on of the fire hydrant comprising the steps of:
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coupling a cap movement detector to the cap to detect movement of the cap relative to the housing; and
coupling a signal transmitter to the detector so that the transmitter, in response to an output from the detector, remotely transmits a tamper signal.
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31. A method of monitoring a parameter of a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on a discharge outlet of the fire hydrant and a valve opening the fire hydrant to water flow, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a parameter sensor to at least one of the cap to detect an operating parameter of the fire hydrant when the cap is mounted on the discharge outlet of the fire hydrant and the valve to detect opening of the fire hydrant to water flow; and
coupling a signal transmitter to the parameter sensor so that the transmitter, in response to an output from the parameter sensor, remotely transmits a data signal corresponding to the sensed operating parameter. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A cap for a fire hydrant having a fluid discharge outlet, the cap comprising:
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a body having a first end and a second end, a bore extending from the first end into the body;
threads formed adjacent the first end of the body adapted for engagement with a fluid outlet of a fire hydrant;
a housing fixedly mountable in the bore in the cap;
a sensor, carried by the housing, for detecting at least one operating parameter of a fire hydrant in which the housing is mounted; and
a transmitter carried in the housing, the transmitter, when receiving an output from the sensor, transmitting a remote signal containing data corresponding to the sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of detecting an operating parameter of a fire hydrant having a cap mounted on a discharge outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a unique fire hydrant identification in a housing mountable within the cap;
storing the geographical coordinates of the fire hydrant along with the unique fire hydrant identification; and
providing a transmitter in the housing for transmitting a signal from the housing in the fire hydrant to a remote processor, the signal containing at least the fire hydrant identification. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification