Motorized hydrant

• US 4,989,830 A
• Filed: 01/26/1990
• Issued: 02/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ratnik Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ratnik Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Ratnik, H. Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/470,812
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.11, 251/264, 251/273, 251/274
• US Class Current: 251/129.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants

Abstract

A rotatable valve stem in a fluid (e.g. water) hydrant controls the axial position of a plug relative to a valve seat to control fluid-flow through the valve seat. The valve stem is threaded into a bushing of the hydrant so that rotational movement of the stem causes axial movement thereof. According to the invention, rotation of such valve stem is motorized by the coupling of a rotatably-driven drive shaft of an electric motor to the valve stem. The motor and, optionally, a gearing arrangement are enclosed by a protective housing supported by the hydrant. The motor is slidably mounted within the protective housing to accommodate axial movement of the motor caused by the axial movement of the valve stem and its coupled motor drive shaft. According to a preferred embodiment, such sliding movement is effected by the combination of one or more pins operatively coupled to the motor and extending radially outward relative to the motor drive shaft axis, and a like number of axially-extending slots formed in the protective housing and adapted to receive and guide such pins.

Claims

1. A motorized hydrant apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid, said hydrant apparatus comprising:

(a) a first housing including means defining (i) a valve seat through which a fluid can enter said first housing and (ii) an outlet through which a fluid within said first housing can exit therefrom;

(b) a plug adapted to cooperate with said valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid into said first housing through said valve seat;

(c) a valve stem operatively coupled to said plug for controlling the position of said plug relative to said valve seat, said valve stem having an end portion disposed outside said first housing;

(d) threaded means in said first housing for rotatably supporting said valve stem and for converting rotational movement of said valve stem to axial movement of said valve stem, whereby said plug is moved toward and away from said valve seat during rotational movement of said valve stem;

(e) motor means for rotatably driving said valve stem, said motor means comprising a rotatably-mounted drive shaft, a bi-directional electric motor adapted to selectively rotate said drive shaft in either of opposite directions, and coupling means for operatively coupling said drive shaft with the end portion of said valve stem;

(f) mounting means for slidably supporting said motor means on said first housing to allow said motor means to slide in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said valve stem in order to accommodate the axial movement of said valve stem occasioned by the rotational movement thereof by said motor means; and

(g) a second housing for protectively enclosing said motor means, said second housing being rigidly connected to said first housing, said motor means being slidably supported within said second housing.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises at least one pin member extending radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, and means defining an axially-extending slot in said second housing for receiving and guiding said pin member.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said second housing is releasably connected to said first housing.