Keyless fire hydrant protection system
View Patent ↗The protection system protects a fire hydrant. The protection system includes a nozzle, a protection device, and a bracket assembly. The nozzle defines a bore, is in fluid communication with an interior of the fire hydrant, and is adaptable to receive a fire hose. The protection device is carried by the bore of the nozzle for prohibiting access into the interior of the fire hydrant from the exterior. The protection device includes a first position for preventing access into the fire hydrant from the exterior, and a second position wherein water can flow from inside the fire hydrant externally via the nozzle. The bracket assembly is coupled to the protection device for rotating the protection device and carried by the nozzle, wherein the bracket assembly has sufficient rotational travel for enabling the protection device to move from the first position to the second position, depending on the water pressure.
1. A protection system for protecting a fire hydrant having an interior, the protection system comprising:
a nozzle defining a bore and in fluid communication with the interior of the fire hydrant, the nozzle adaptable to receive an end of a fire hose;
a rotatable protection device housed within the bore of the nozzle for prohibiting access into the interior of the fire hydrant from an exterior, the protection device having a first position preventing access to the interior of the fire hydrant from the exterior, and the protection device having a second position wherein water is allowed to flow from the interior of the fire hydrant externally via the nozzle; and
a bracket assembly coupled to the protection device for rotating the protection device, the bracket assembly carried by the nozzle,
wherein the bracket assembly has sufficient rotational travel for enabling the protection device to move from the first position to the second position, depending on the water pressure engaging the bracket assembly and
wherein the bracket assembly includes:
a bracket coupled to the protection device and including a first pin and a second pin;
a fixture in communication with the nozzle for securing the bracket assembly within the nozzle, the fixture including a bifurcated slot that restricts movement of the first and second pin to control rotation of the protection device, wherein the first pin moves from a first leg of the bifurcated slot to a second leg of the bifurcated slot depending on the water pressure; and
a spring mechanism coupled to the fixture for generating a force to rotate the protection device from the second position to the first position when the water pressure decreases.
2. The protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixture of the bracket assembly includes:
a first position with no water pressure, the first position preventing access to the interior of the fire hydrant and the first pin remains in the first leg of the bifurcated slot;
a second position where the fixture enables an edge of the protection device to move in an axial direction due to water flow, and the first pin remains in the first leg of the bifurcated slot; and
a third position where the protection device is adapted to rotate and the first pin is in the second leg of the bifurcated slot.
3. The protection system according to claim 1 , further including a shaft having opposing ends that are carried by the nozzle for fixing the bracket assembly within the nozzle, the opposing ends of the shaft having a gripping mechanism for preventing movement of the bracket assembly.
4. The protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly is adapted to rotate the protection device from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 90 degrees, according to the amount of water pressure.
5. The protection system according to claim 1 , wherein the protection device prohibits backflow into the interior of the fire hydrant.
6. A protection system for protecting a pipe having a cross section and an elongated body, the protection system comprising:
a bracket assembly carried by the pipe; and
a protection device coupled to the bracket assembly, wherein the bracket assembly rotates the protection device from a first position when media does not flow in the pipe to a second position when media does flow in the pipe,
wherein, in first position, the protection device creates a barrier from an exterior of the pipe to the interior of the pipe for protecting the interior, and
wherein the bracket assembly includes:
a bracket coupled to the protection device and including a first pin and a second pin;
a fixture in communication with the pipe for securing the bracket assembly within the pipe, the fixture including a bifurcated slot that restricts movement of the first and second pin to control rotation of the protection device, wherein the first pin moves from a first leg of the bifurcated slot to a second leg of the bifurcated slot depending on the media flow; and
a spring mechanism coupled to the fixture for generating a force to rotate the protection device from the second position to the first position when media flow decreases.
7. The protection system according to claim 6 , wherein the first position of the protection device is positioned perpendicular to the cross section of the pipe.
8. A protection system for protecting a pipe having a cross section and an elongated body, the protection system comprising:
a bracket assembly carried by the pipe; and
a protection device coupled to the bracket assembly, wherein the bracket assembly rotates the protection device from a first position when media does not flow in the pipe to a second position when media does flow in the pipe,
wherein, in first position, the protection device creates a barrier from an exterior of the pipe to the interior of the pipe for protecting the interior, and wherein the bracket assembly includes a double D bracket slot comprising a parallel sided slot terminating in a circular aperture.