Tamper proof fire hydrant

• US 5,622,202 A
• Filed: 03/22/1994
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard F. Gropper III, Mitchell K. Etter
• Original Assignee: Leonard F. Gropper III, Mitchell K. Etter
• Inventors: Etter, Mitchell K., Gropper, Leonard F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/215,516
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 137/272, 137/281, 137/282, 251/58, 251/248, 251/249.5, 251/59, 251/291, 251/292, 60/325, 416/157 A
• US Class Current: 137/272
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/14 for mounting on, or in combination with, hand-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/16 with a mechanism, other than pulling-or pushing-rod, between fluid motor and closure member with float F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5327 Hydrant type

Abstract

A tamper proof fire hydrant which may only be operated by the application of pressurized fluid. The pressurized fluid engages the fire hydrant and travels through a pathway in the upper portion of the fire hydrant. The pressurized fluid engages a turbinelike impeller and then the pressurized fluid pressure rotates the impeller, the impeller is connected to a worm gear and turns the worm gear which then operates to open the hydrant'"'"'s water main valve. Later the flow of fluid is then reversed in order to turn the turbinelike impeller in the opposite direction thereby causing the worm gear to operate to close the hydrant'"'"'s water main valve. A cylinder and piston may be used in place if the impeller and worm gear, to open and close a water main valve in response to the application of pressurized fluid to the fire hydrant from an external source.

Claims

1. A fire hydrant comprising a fire hydrant body and a drive means for operating a water main valve in response to fluid pressure applied from an external detachable portable pressurized fluid source wherein:

said drive means includes an impeller and a worm gear;

said fire hydrant body has a first opening and a second opening defined therein;

said impeller is rotatably mounted within the fire hydrant body and is operatively engaged with the worm gear so that rotation of the impeller will cause the worm gear to raise and lower a drive shaft located within the fire hydrant body;

said drive shaft is connected to a water main valve in such a manner so that the position of the drive shaft will determine whether the drive shaft is opened and closed;

said first opening is so positioned so that when pressurized fluid is applied to said first opening from an external source, the pressurized fluid will flow in through the first opening and cause the impeller to rotate in a first direction, thereby operating the worm gear so as to lower the drive shaft, the pressurized fluid will then exit said fire hydrant thru the second opening; and

said second opening is so positioned so that when pressurized fluid is applied to said second opening from an external source, the pressurized fluid will flow in through the second opening and cause the impeller to rotate in a second direction, thereby operating the worm gear so as to raise the drive shaft, the pressurized fluid will then exit said fire hydrant through the first opening.

2. A fire hydrant comprising a fire hydrant body and a drive means for operating a water main valve in response to fluid pressure applied from an external detachable portable pressurized fluid source wherein:

said fire hydrant body is comprised of an upper chamber and a lower chamber;

said upper chamber has an impeller housing, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port formed therein;

said drive means is comprised of an impeller, a threaded axle, a worm gear, a drive shaft, and a directional valve;

said impeller is rotatably mounted within the impeller housing;

said threaded axle is operatively engaged with the worm gear and fixedly connected to the center of the impeller so that rotation of the impeller will cause the axle to rotate and thereby operate the worm gear;

the upper end of said drive shaft is operatively engaged with the worm gear so that the worm gear is capable of raising and lowering said drive shaft;

the lower end of said drive shaft is connected to a water main valve in such a manner so that the position of the drive shaft will determine whether the water main valve is opened and closed;

a first conduit is connected from the fluid inlet port to the directional valve;

a second conduit is connected from the directional valve to the impeller housing;

a third conduit is connected from the impeller housing to the directional valve;

a fourth conduit is connected from the directional valve to the water outlet port;

said directional valve has a first setting wherein fluid entering the directional valve from the first conduit will leave the directional valve via the second conduit, enter the impeller housing causing the impeller to rotate in a first direction in such a manner as to lower the drive shaft and thereby open the water main valve, exit the impeller housing via the third conduit, re-enter the directional valve from the third conduit and exit the directional valve via the fourth conduit to the fluid outlet port;

said directional valve has a second setting wherein fluid entering the directional valve from the first conduit will leave the directional valve via the third conduit, enter the impeller housing causing the impeller to rotate in a second direction in such a manner as to raise the drive shaft and thereby close the water main valve, exit the impeller housing via the second conduit, re-enter the directional valve from the second conduit and exit the directional valve via the fourth conduit to the fluid outlet port;

a wall separates the upper chamber from the lower chamber in such a manner as to prevent the flow of fluid between the upper chamber and the lower chamber but to still allow the drive shaft to pass therethrough; and

said lower chamber is connected between the upper chamber and a water main and has a plurality of discharge ports formed therein to allow water from the water main to exit through said discharge ports when the water main valve is open.