Anchor valve for security
View Patent ↗An anchor valve for security is disclosed. The anchor valve includes a check valve with a flapper for preventing a contaminant from entering the fluid supply system. Contaminants that are outboard of the anchor valve are unable to pass by and are expelled when the fluid supply valve is opened. The anchor valve may include an access cover for maintenance and inspection of the flapper and the check valve.
1. A system for protecting a fluid supply from a contaminant, the system comprising:
an anchor check valve having an inlet end and an exit end, the anchor check valve including a flapper in communication with a sealing surface, wherein fluid can flow through the anchor check valve from the inlet end to the exit end but is prevented from flowing through the anchor check valve from the exit end to the inlet end;
a dry-barrel fire hydrant in proximate fluid communication with the anchor check valve, the dry-barrel fire hydrant having a valve operating mechanism; and
a hydrant shoe coupled to the anchor check valve, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly adjustably connected to the valve operating mechanism of the dry-barrel fire hydrant;
wherein the anchor check valve includes a first mechanical joint arranged at the inlet end of the anchor check valve and a second mechanical joint arranged at the exit end of the anchor check valve;
wherein the first mechanical joint includes at least a first non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of a pipe of a fluid supply, a first shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the first non-threaded male portion, and a first flange portion, the first shoulder portion being disposed between the first flange portion and the first non-threaded male portion; and
wherein the second mechanical joint includes at least a second non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of the hydrant shoe, a second shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the second non-threaded male portion, and a second flange portion, the shoulder portion being disposed between the second flange portion and the second non-threaded male portion.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper is constructed of water-impervious materials.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper is constructed of rubber.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper is constructed of synthetic materials.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper is reinforced with a strengthening member.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the anchor check valve includes an access cover.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the access cover is secured to the anchor check valve by at least one fastener.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper pivots away from the sealing surface as the fluid flows through the section of pipe from the inlet end to the exit end.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve operating mechanism is rotatable.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly of the hydrant shoe includes a valve seat, a hydrant valve, an upper plate, and a lower plate.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is connected to the valve operating mechanism by an operating stem.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second flange portion of the second mechanical joint is rotatable around a portion of the exit end.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second shoulder portion of the second mechanical joint is configured to prevent the second flange portion from being removed from the exit end.
14. A method of installing an anchor check valve on a dry-barrel fire hydrant, comprising the steps of:
removing a section of pipe connected between a fluid supply and a hydrant shoe of a dry-barrel fire hydrant, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly;
replacing the section of pipe with an anchor check valve, the anchor check valve including an inlet end, an exit end, and a flapper in communication with a sealing surface, the anchor check valve including a first mechanical joint arranged at the inlet end and a second mechanical joint arranged at the exit end; and
securing the anchor check valve to a remaining piping;
wherein the first mechanical joint includes at least a first non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of a remaining section of piping of the fluid supply, a first shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the first non-threaded male portion, and a first flange portion, the first shoulder portion being disposed between the first flange portion and the first non-threaded male portion; and
wherein the second mechanical joint includes at least a second non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of the hydrant shoe, a second shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the second non-threaded male portion, and a second flange portion, the second shoulder portion being disposed between the second flange portion and the second non-threaded male portion.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of closing a gate valve coupled to the remaining section of piping.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second flange portion of the second mechanical joint is rotatable around a portion of the exit end.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second flange portion of the second mechanical joint is configured to prevent the second flange portion from being removed from the exit end.
18. A method of preventing a contaminant from entering a fluid source via a dry-barrel fire hydrant, comprising the steps of:
drawing a desired amount of fluid from the fluid source through a dry-barrel fire hydrant system including a hydrant shoe and an anchor check valve having an inlet end, an exit end, and a flapper in communication with a sealing surface, the anchor check valve coupled to the hydrant shoe and including a first mechanical joint arranged at the inlet end and a second mechanical joint arranged at the exit end,
the first mechanical joint having at least a first non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of the fluid source, a first shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the first non-threaded male portion, and a first flange portion, the first shoulder portion being disposed between the first flange portion and the first non-threaded male portion,
the second mechanical joint having at least a second non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of the hydrant shoe, a second shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the second non-threaded male portion, and a second flange portion, the second shoulder portion being disposed between the second flange portion and the second non-threaded male portion, and the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly;
maintaining a remaining portion of the fluid on an exit side of the anchor check valve after the desired amount of fluid is withdrawn from the fluid source;
preventing the remaining portion of fluid from reentering the fluid source via the anchor check valve, thereby preventing a contaminant from entering the fluid source; and
expelling the remaining portion of fluid and contaminant from the fire hydrant system upon a further withdrawal of fluid from the fluid source.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid is maintained on the exit side of the anchor check valve by the flapper and the sealing surface.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of opening a hydrant valve in the valve assembly of the hydrant shoe.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second flange portion of the second mechanical joint is rotatable around a portion of the exit end.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second flange portion of the second mechanical joint is configured to prevent the second flange portion from being removed from the exit end.