IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,188,212
Granted Patent B2
US 12,188,212 · App. 18/219,532 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Automatic shutoff valve for breakaway wet barrel fire hydrant

Inventors: Alan D. Beneventi (San Diego, CA); John G. Polifka (San Diego, CA)
E03B9/04F16K17/406F16L55/1007F16K15/033F16K15/038F16K17/36F16K31/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,188,212
App. No.
18/219,532
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic shutoff valve for breakaway wet barrel fire hydrant is disclosed. In general, one aspect disclosed features an apparatus comprising: a valve housing comprising a valve body, a flange, and a valve seat; a valve pedal configured to engage the valve seat and prevent fluid flow through the valve seat in a closed position, and to permit fluid flow through the valve seat in an open position; a lockout tab disposed within the valve body, wherein the lockout tab maintains the valve pedal in the open position; a lockout bar disposed distally from the valve body; and an activation rod mechanically coupled to the lockout bar and configured to keep the valve pedal engaged with the lockout tab.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a valve body having a flange, a lockout bar, and a valve seat;

a valve pedal configured to engage the valve seat and prevent fluid flow through the valve seat in a closed position, and to permit fluid flow through the valve seat in an open position;

a saddle fixedly coupled to the flange;

a lockout tab disposed on the saddle, wherein the lockout tab maintains the valve pedal in the open position;

an activation rod mechanically coupled to the lockout bar and configured to keep the valve pedal engaged with the lockout tab;

a valve slide slidably mounted to the saddle, wherein the valve pedal is pivotally mounted to the valve slide, and wherein the activation rod is configured to press the valve slide toward the lockout tab; and

a spring configured to urge the valve slide away from the lockout tab.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the valve body is configured to be disposed within a fluid supply pipe, and the flange is configured to mate with a flange of the fluid supply pipe.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the activation rod is not present, the valve pedal disengages from the lockout tab, and a flow of fluid passing the valve pedal moves the valve pedal from the open position to the closed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second spring configured to urge the valve pedal away from the lockout tab;

wherein, when the activation rod is not present, the spring causes the valve pedal to disengage from the lockout tab, and a flow of fluid passing the valve pedal moves the valve pedal from the open position to the closed position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a collar disposed between the lockout bar and the valve body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the collar is a breakaway collar.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

a hydrant, wherein the collar is secured to the hydrant by a breakaway collar.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a bottom saddle comprising the lockout tab, wherein the bottom saddle is fixedly mounted within the valve body.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a lockout ring disposed distally from the valve body, the lockout ring comprising the lockout bar.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second spring configured to urge the valve pedal from the open position toward the closed position.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a valve body having a flange, a lockout bar, and a valve seat;

a valve pedal configured to engage the valve seat and prevent fluid flow through the valve seat in a closed position, and to permit fluid flow through the valve seat in an open position;

a saddle fixedly coupled to the flange, wherein the saddle is configured to be disposed within a riser, and the flange is configured to mate with a flange of the riser;

a lockout tab disposed on the saddle, wherein the lockout tab maintains the valve pedal in the open position; and

an activation rod mechanically coupled to the lockout bar and configured to keep the valve pedal engaged with the lockout tab.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flange is further configured to mate with a flange of a hydrant.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein when the activation rod is not present, the valve pedal disengages from the lockout tab, and a flow of fluid passing the valve pedal moves the valve pedal from the open position to the closed position.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a spring configured to urge the valve pedal away from the lockout tab;

wherein, when the activation rod is not present, the spring causes the valve pedal to disengage from the lockout tab, and a flow of fluid passing the valve pedal moves the valve pedal from the open position to the closed position.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a collar disposed between the lockout bar and the valve body.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the collar is a breakaway collar.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

a hydrant, wherein the collar is secured to the hydrant by a breakaway collar.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a valve slide slidably mounted within the valve body, wherein the valve pedal is pivotally mounted to the valve slide, and wherein the activation rod is configured to press the slide toward the lockout tab; and

a spring configured to urge the valve slide away from the lockout tab.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a bottom saddle comprising the lockout tab, wherein the bottom saddle is fixedly mounted within the valve body.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a lockout ring disposed distally from the valve body, the lockout ring comprising the lockout bar.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2024
From: BENEVENTI, ALAN D.; POLIFKA, JOHN G.
To: CONSERVENTI VALVE LLC
Reel/Frame 067074/0198 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17835721 · Jun 8, 2022
Continuation 17692986 · Mar 11, 2022
Related Publication 20230349134A1 · Nov 2, 2023
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