Hydrant monument

• US 6,874,238 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydmon Inc.
• Original Assignee: Darrell G.B. Cline
• Inventors: Cline, Darrell G. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/734,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 33/1.G, 33/1.CC, 332/90, 332/92, 332/93, 521/03
• US Class Current: 33/1.0CC
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5327 Hydrant type

Abstract

A survey monument comprises a conventional water hydrant with survey indicia or markings attached thereto. The survey indicia can be carried for example on a plate mounted on a flange bolt or attached to the operating nut of the hydrant. These survey monuments can be expanded upon and/or maintained in co-ordination with the expansion and maintenance of a municipality'"'"'s water supply system. The hydrants can also be utilized in connection with any geographical information system to provide known reference points. The hydrants can also be utilized in connection with GPS devices to assist in localizing, initializing and calibrating the same.

Claims

1. A method of surveying including the step of surveying with a survey instrument onto a hydrant monument the location of which is known in at least 2 dimensional space.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surveying is onto a reference point on said hydrant monument.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reference point is on an actuating or operating nut.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reference point is on a top surface of said actuating or operating nut.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reference point has a known location in at least 2 dimensional space.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said reference point has a known location in 3 dimensional space.

7. A method of surveying including the step of surveying from a hydrant monument the location of which is known in at least 2 dimensional space, onto a survey target.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the surveying is from a reference point on said hydrant monument.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said reference point is on an actuating or operating nut.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said reference point is on a top surface of said actuating or operating nut.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said reference point has a known location in at least 2 dimensional space.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said reference point has a known location in 3 dimensional space.

13. A method of using a geographical information system in conducting a survey, said geographical information system comprising a plurality of hydrant monuments having accorded thereto in said geographical information system known locations in at least 2 dimensional space, said method comprising the steps of (a) identifying a hydrant monument (b) accessing said geographical information system to ascertain the location information of said hydrant and (c) conducting a survey operation from said hydrant.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said locations are known in 3 dimensional space.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein a reference location on each of said plurality of hydrant monuments has accorded thereto in said geographical information system a known location, and wherein said survey operation is conducted in relation to said reference point.

16. A method of surveying comprising using a hydrant monument having a known location in at least 2 dimensional space as a survey monument in conducting a survey.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said location is known in 3 dimensional space.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 comprising using a reference location on a hydrant as a survey location as a survey monument.

19. A method of surveying comprising mounting a survey instrument on a hydrant said hydrant having a known location in at least 2 dimensional space.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said survey instrument is mounted in association with a reference point having a known location in at least 2 dimensional space located on said hydrant.

21. A method of surveying including the step of sighting with a survey instrument onto a hydrant monument the location of which is known in at least 2 dimensional space.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the sighting is onto a reference point on said hydrant monument.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said reference point is on an actuating or operating nut.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein said reference point is on a top surface of said actuating or operating nut.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said reference point has a known location in at least 2 dimensional space.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein said reference point has a known location in 3 dimensional space.

27. A method of surveying including the step of sighting from a hydrant monument the location of which is known in at least 2 dimensional space, onto a survey target.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the sighting is from a reference point on said hydrant monument.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said reference point is on an actuating or operating nut.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein said reference point is on a top surface of said actuating or operating nut.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said reference point has a known location in at least 2 dimensional space.

32. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein said reference point has a known location in 3 dimensional space.