TAMPER-RESISTANT OPERATING NUT FOR HYDRANTS

• US 20190195388A1
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Published: 06/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Childress, Justin Blaine
• Granted Patent: US 10,458,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/04 Column hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/504 the actuating means being rotable, rising, and having internal threads which co-operate with threads on the outside of the valve body
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence

Abstract

A hydrant includes an operating stem defining a threaded distal end extending from the hydrant; an operating nut defining a first end facing the hydrant, an opposed second end, and a central bore defined in the operating nut and extending from the first end to the second end, the operating nut positioned on the operating stem such that a portion of the stem is positioned in the central bore and the threaded distal end of the stem extends beyond the second end of the operating nut; and a nut comprising a frustoconical portion configured to be rotatably secured to the distal end of the stem.

Claims

1. A hydrant comprising:

an operating stem comprising a proximal operating nut engaging portion and a threaded distal end extending from the hydrant;

an operating nut comprising a first end facing the hydrant, an opposed second end, and a central bore defined in the operating nut and extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the operating nut is positioned on the operating stem such that a portion of the stem is positioned in the central bore and the threaded distal end of the stem extends beyond the second end of the operating nut, and wherein the central bore engages the operating stem at the operating nut engaging portion, the operating stem configured to rotate with the operating nut; and

a nut comprising a frustoconical portion configured to be rotatably secured to the distal end of the stem.

2. The hydrant of claim 1, wherein the nut is a frustoconical grooved nut comprising a plurality of indentions defined in an outer surface of the grooved nut and internal threads configured to matingly engage the threaded distal end of the stem.

3. The hydrant of claim 2, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotated relative to the threaded distal end of the stem until a proximal end of the grooved nut is adjacent to the second end of the operating nut.

4. The hydrant of claim 2, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotatably secured to the threaded distal end of the stem with a specialized tool that is configured to rotate the grooved nut relative to the threaded distal end of the stem.

5. The hydrant of claim 2, wherein the grooved nut is a tri-groove nut.

21. The hydrant of claim 1, wherein the operating stem defines a cross section at the operating nut engaging portion that is substantially polygonal, and the central bore defines a substantially polygonal cross section that is complementary to the cross section of the operating nut.

22. The hydrant of claim 21, wherein the nut is a frustoconical grooved nut comprising a plurality of indentions defined in an outer surface of the grooved nut and internal threads configured to matingly engage the threaded distal end of the stem.

23. The hydrant of claim 22, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotated relative to the threaded distal end of the stem until a proximal end of the grooved nut is adjacent to the second end of the operating nut.

24. The hydrant of claim 22, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotatably secured to the threaded distal end of the stem with a specialized tool that is configured to rotate the grooved nut relative to the threaded distal end of the stem.

25. The hydrant of claim 21, wherein the operating nut defines an outer cross-sectional profile, the outer cross-sectional profile being substantially polygonal, a number of sides of the polygonal outer cross-sectional profile different than a number of sides of the polygonal cross section of the operating stem.

26. The hydrant of claim 25, wherein the nut is a frustoconical grooved nut comprising a plurality of indentions defined in an outer surface of the grooved nut and internal threads configured to matingly engage the threaded distal end of the stem.

27. The hydrant of claim 26, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotated relative to the threaded distal end of the stem until a proximal end of the grooved nut is adjacent to the second end of the operating nut.

28. The hydrant of claim 26, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotatably secured to the threaded distal end of the stem with a specialized tool that is configured to rotate the grooved nut relative to the threaded distal end of the stem.

29. The hydrant of claim 25, wherein the cross section of the operating stem is substantially a square, and the outer cross-sectional profile of the operating nut is substantially a pentagon.

30. The hydrant of claim 29, wherein the nut is a frustoconical grooved nut comprising a plurality of indentions defined in an outer surface of the grooved nut and internal threads configured to matingly engage the threaded distal end of the stem.

31. The hydrant of claim 30, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotated relative to the threaded distal end of the stem until a proximal end of the grooved nut is adjacent to the second end of the operating nut.

32. The hydrant of claim 30, wherein the grooved nut is configured to be rotatably secured to the threaded distal end of the stem with a specialized tool that is configured to rotate the grooved nut relative to the threaded distal end of the stem.

6-20. -20. (canceled)