IP Library Granted Patent US 9,624,653
Granted Patent B2
US 9,624,653 · App. 14/462,023 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

System for contaminant isolation and flushing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,624,653
App. No.
14/462,023
Granted
Apr 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a hydrant including an upper barrel; at least one hose nozzle; a valve associated with the hose nozzle; an electric motor to open and close the valve; and a controller coupled to the hydrant. In various embodiments, the hydrant includes a diffuser coupled to the hose nozzle. In various embodiments, the hydrant is in wired communication with a monitoring facility, a detection device, or a water motorized valve in a water distribution network. In various embodiments, the hydrant includes a transmitter and receiver.

Claims (34)

1. A hydrant comprising:

a bonnet, the bonnet comprising a top;

an upper barrel;

at least one hose nozzle;

a valve associated with the at least one hose nozzle;

an electric motor mounted at least partially outside of the top of the bonnet and configured to open and close the valve;

a detection device configured to identify a condition, the condition comprising at least a back flow;

a diffuser coupled to the hydrant;

a battery housing mounted at least partially outside of the upper barrel; and

a controller coupled to the hydrant, the controller configured to

receive signals from the detection device,

send signals to a monitoring facility if contaminated water has been detected,

receive instructions to open the valve and the diffuser when a contaminant has been detected upstream from the hydrant to divert the contaminated water,

activate the electric motor to open the valve when the contaminant has been detected upstream from the hydrant, and

flush the contaminated water outside of a water distribution network through the diffuser, wherein the controller is disposed in the battery housing.

2. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to receive instructions from the monitoring facility.

3. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is coupled to the at least one hose nozzle.

4. The hydrant of claim 1 wherein the upper barrel is configured to connect to more than one type of lower barrel and to connect to existing hydrant buries.

5. The hydrant of claim 1 further comprising an upper stem designed to accommodate more than one upper barrel configuration.

6. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the hydrant is in wired communication with the monitoring facility.

7. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the hydrant is in wired communication with at least one detection device.

8. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the hydrant is in wired communication with at least one motorized valve in a water distribution network.

9. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a transmitter and receiver.

10. The hydrant of claim 9 , wherein the transmitter and receiver are wireless.

11. The hydrant of claim 10 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the monitoring facility.

12. The hydrant of claim 10 , where the hydrant is in wireless communication with at least one detection device.

13. The hydrant of claim 10 , wherein the hydrant is in wireless communication with at least one motorized valve in a water distribution network.

14. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the controller has an override control.

15. The hydrant of claim 1 , further comprising advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) components, wherein the AMI components are disposed in the battery housing.

16. The hydrant of claim 15 , wherein the AMI components are configured to send signals to at least one motorized valve in the water distribution network.

17. The hydrant of claim 15 , wherein the AMI components are configured to send a message to alert an entity within a predetermined radius of a location of the contaminated water.

18. The hydrant of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser comprises dechlorination tablets.

19. The hydrant of claim 1 , further comprising a lateral tee coupled to the hydrant.

20. The hydrant of claim 19 , wherein the detection device is installed on the lateral tee.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 046395/0444 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 2, 2014
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC, AS GRANTOR
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034502/0219 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034498/0272 →