Tamper resistant construction for hydrant

• US 5,632,301 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: McGard LLC
• Original Assignee: McGard LLC
• Inventors: Julicher, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/652,633
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 137/296, 137/371, 137/377, 137/381, 137/382, 137/382.5, 137/800, 220/284, 220/724, 220/725, 220/726, 220/727, 251/291, 251/292, 81/124.3, 81/125, 81/125.1
• US Class Current: 137/296
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7065 With means for accommodating a detachable actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9247 With closure

Abstract

A tamper resistant construction for a fire hydrant including a hydrant nut actuating body for mounting on a hydrant nut, a shroud rotatably mounted on a first end portion of the hydrant nut actuating body, a cap rotatably mounted on a second end portion of the hydrant nut actuating body, a wrench-receiving portion on the hydrant nut actuating body, a spring mounted within the hydrant nut actuating body and secured to the cap for biasing the cap over the wrench-receiving portion, and a specialized wrench for retracting the cap and engaging the wrench-receiving portion on the hydrant nut actuating body to thereby turn the hydrant nut actuating body and a hydrant nut coupled thereto.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant construction for a fire hydrant comprising a hydrant nut actuating body having first and second end portions, a shroud rotatably mounted on said first end portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, a cap rotatably mounted on said second end portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, a wrench-receiving portion on said hydrant nut actuating body, and a spring biasing a portion of said cap along a portion of said hydrant nut actuating body and over said wrench-receiving portion to prevent unauthorized access thereto.

2. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 1 including a wear ring mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body between said shroud and said cap.

3. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 2 including an upper edge on said wear ring, and a lower edge on said cap in engagement with said upper edge.

4. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said upper edge of said wear ring is beveled toward said lower edge of said cap.

5. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wear ring is rotatably mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body.

6. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 5 including an upper edge on said wear ring, and a lower edge on said cap in engagement with said upper edge.

7. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein said upper edge of said wear ring is beveled toward said lower edge of said cap.

8. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said upper edge of said wear ring is beveled toward said lower edge of said cap.

9. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 1 including a first bore in said upper portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, and wherein said spring is located within said first bore, a second bore in communication with said first bore and extending through said upper portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, a bolt extending through said spring and said second bore, a first end on said bolt received in said cap, and a second end on said bolt bearing against said spring.

10. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 9 including a wear ring mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body between said shroud and said cap.

11. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 10 including an upper edge on said wear ring, and a lower edge on said cap in engagement with said upper edge.

12. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said upper edge of said wear ring is beveled toward said lower edge of said cap.

13. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein said wear ring is rotatably mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body.

14. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 13 including an upper edge on said wear ring, and a lower edge on said cap in engagement with said upper edge.

15. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said upper edge of said wear ring is beveled toward said lower edge of said cap.

16. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 9 including a snap ring between said bolt and said cap.

17. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 1 including a wear ring mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body between said shroud an said cap, an upper edge on said wear ring which is beveled toward said cap, a wrench, a first portion on said wrench for bearing between said beveled surface and said lower edge of said cap, and a second portion on said wrench for nonrotatably engaging said wrench-receiving portion while said first portion bears between said beveled surface and said lower edge of said cap.

18. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 17 including an upper edge on said wear ring, and a lower edge on said cap in engagement with said upper edge.

19. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 18 wherein said wear ring is rotatably mounted on said hydrant nut actuating body, a first bore in said upper portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, and wherein said spring is located within said first bore, a second bore in communication with said first bore and extending through said upper portion of said hydrant nut actuating body, a bolt extending through said spring and said second bore, a first end on said bolt received in said cap, and a second end on said bolt bearing against said spring.

20. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 1 including a wrench, a wrench head on said wrench, an opening in said wrench head, lips on said wrench head facing said opening for engaging said wrench receiving portion, a wrench handle, and a threaded end on said wrench handle threadable into said wrench head in effective opposition to said lips.

21. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 20 wherein said wrench handle includes a portion which is offset relative to said threaded end.

22. A tamper resistant construction as set forth in claim 21 wherein said wrench handle includes an end opposite said threaded end for mounting a second wrench head.