Device for closing a fire hydrant

Abstract

Device for closing a fire hydrant, comprising: - a main body (10) with a threaded section (11) and a stop section (12) closing off the threaded section (11) on the underside, wherein the main body (10) is designed to seal a hydrant connection (41) on its underside; - an annular claw element (20) with at least two claws (24) projecting outwards in a radial direction, wherein the claw element (20) is designed to be screwed onto the threaded section (11) of the main body (10); - a cover element which can be attached to the top of the main body (10) and which has an information element that can be read from above; wherein the main body (10) and the claw element (20) are each made of a plastic.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for closing a hydrant, in particular an underground hydrant. background

[0002] Underground hydrants are essential components of modern water supply and fire suppression systems. Unlike above-ground hydrants, underground hydrants are located below the surface and protected by a cover or cap. They allow quick and safe access to the water main in case of fire or during maintenance work, without obstructing the streetscape or creating traffic hazards. Due to their discreet design and robust construction, underground hydrants are particularly suitable for urban areas, sidewalks, and high-traffic areas. Appropriate security measures must be implemented to prevent misuse or unauthorized use of underground hydrants. Summary

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a device for closing a fire hydrant which can be manufactured cost-effectively and enables increased security with regard to unauthorized use.

[0004] A device according to claim 1 has been created to solve the problem. The dependent claims relate to further embodiments.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for closing a hydrant, preferably an underground hydrant, has the following features: - a main body with a threaded section and a stop section closing the threaded section on the underside, wherein the main body is designed to seal a hydrant connection on its underside; - an annular claw element with at least two claws projecting outwards in a radial direction, wherein the claw element is designed to be screwed onto the threaded section of the main body; - a cover element which can be attached to the top of the main body and which has an information element that can be read from above; wherein the main body and the claw element are each made of a plastic.

[0006] The use of plastic for the main body and the claw element allows for cost-effective manufacturing of the device, and it is less susceptible to corrosion than, for example, a metal closure. Furthermore, the cover element can be more easily attached to a plastic main body.

[0007] The claw element can be formed with an annular base body around an opening and have an internal thread around the opening, which corresponds to the external thread of the main body, in particular so that the claw element is designed to be screwed onto the threaded section. The at least two claws can project radially outwards from the base body and can be arranged opposite each other. The claws are dimensioned such that they can engage under the bracket of the hydrant connection.

[0008] The main body can have a threadless upper section, which is preferably dimensioned such that the claw element can be guided over the upper section to the threaded section. Alternatively, the threaded section can extend to an upper end of the main body.

[0009] The main body and the claw element can be made of the same plastic and / or consist essentially of the same plastic. Alternatively, the main body and the claw element can be made of different plastics and / or consist of different plastics.

[0010] The cover element can be made of plastic or metal and / or consist essentially of plastic or metal. Furthermore, the cover element can be formed as a flat disc. The cover element can be dimensioned such that it completely covers the hydrant connection and preferably substantially fills the cross-section of the hydrant shaft. For example, the cross-section of the cover element can be substantially oval and / or elliptical. Optionally, the cover element can have a recess, for example, at one end of a long elliptical axis of symmetry.

[0011] At least one of the main body, claw element, and cover element can be made of a glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic. The plastic can be, for example, polyamide-based. The glass fiber content can be, for example, between 35% and 45%, preferably 40%. In particular, Grivory can be used as the plastic. ® GV-4 FWA nature is intended.

[0012] The information element can be a notice. In particular, the information element can contain a warning. For example, the information element can indicate that the hydrant must remain closed and / or that an emergency shut-off valve is in place. Furthermore, the information element can include contact information, such as a telephone number.

[0013] The cover element can be attached to the main body by means of screws. For example, the cover element can have one or more through holes, and the main body can optionally have one or more corresponding threads.

[0014] Alternatively, other fastening options may be provided, such as a plug connection. Furthermore, it may be possible for the cover element to simply rest on the main body.

[0015] A recess for a wrench can be formed on the top surface of the main body. The recess can, for example, have a depth between 20 mm and 30 mm, preferably 25 mm, and / or a length between 25 mm and 35 mm, preferably 32 mm.

[0016] In particular, the recess can be a square recess. Alternative recess shapes are also possible, for example a hexagonal recess.

[0017] The main body may have a lower section on its underside, which is designed to be at least partially inserted into the hydrant connection. This lower section may be designed, for example, to center the main body relative to the hydrant connection. The lower section may be truncated and conical in shape.

[0018] The main body can be formed essentially rotationally symmetrical (about a longitudinal axis of the main body). In particular, the threaded section and / or the stop section can (each essentially) be cylindrical. The threaded section and / or the stop section and / or the lower section can be formed concentrically around the central axis of the main body.

[0019] The main body can have an axial length of between 50 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 60 mm and 65 mm. The increased length of the main body allows for improved fixation of the cover element.

[0020] The stop section can have a larger diameter than the threaded section. Specifically, the threaded section can have a diameter between 75 mm and 85 mm, and the stop section a diameter between 90 mm and 100 mm.

[0021] The claw element can have an axial length of between 15 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 21 mm. The claws of the claw element can have a radial length of between 20 mm and 25 mm and a circumferential length of between 20 mm and 30 mm.

[0022] In the context of this disclosure, interval specifications (“between”, “from ... to”) are to be understood as encompassing the interval ends. The embodiments described herein with respect to a first entity, such as a first data processing device or first image data, can be provided analogously for a corresponding second and / or third entity. In general, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or suggesting a relative meaning or set of the specified technical features. In the description of this application, the expression “a plurality of” or “a multitude of” means “at least two”, for example, “two or three”, unless otherwise specified.Local references such as "on" or "under" are, unless otherwise specified in the specific case, not to be understood as absolute, but as relative to other elements. Description of embodiments

[0023] Further embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a main body of a device for closing a hydrant in a top view, in a side view and in section according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a claw element of the device in a side view and a top view, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a further embodiment for a main body including mounted claw element and Fig. 4 a schematic illustration of an underground hydrant. Detailed description

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the main body 10 of the device for closing a hydrant in a top view (top left), a side view (bottom left), and a section view (bottom right). The main body has a threaded section 11, a stop section 12, and a lower section 13. The stop section 12 has a stop, formed as a radial projection, for an external thread 14 of the threaded section 11. A hydrant connection can be sealed on the underside of the main body 10 (in particular on the lower section 13 and the underside of the stop section 12).

[0025] A recess 15 for a tool, specifically a wrench, is formed on the upper surface of the main body 10. In the present embodiment, this is a square recess for an external square wrench.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the threaded section 11 has a diameter of 79.78 mm. The length (in the axial direction) of the threaded section 11 can, for example, be between 40 and 60 mm. The external thread is a metric trapezoidal thread, in this case TR80x4 7e.

[0027] The stop section has a diameter of 95.7 mm and an axial length of 6 mm. The lower section is obtusely conical with an upper diameter of 71.78 mm, a lower diameter of 69.50 mm, and a half-opening angle of 5°. The recess 15 is concentric around a central axis A of the main body 10 and preferably has a diameter of 32 mm and a depth of 25 mm.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the claw element 20 of the device in a side view (top) and a top view (bottom). The claw element 20 is formed with an annular base body 21 around an opening 22 and has an internal thread 23 (in this case TR80x4 7H) formed around the opening 22, which corresponds to the external thread 14 of the main body 10, so that the claw element 20 can be screwed onto the threaded section 11.

[0029] Furthermore, the claw element 20 has two claws 24 that project radially outwards from the base body 21 and are arranged opposite each other. In the present embodiment, the base body 21 has an outer diameter of 106.09 mm and an inner diameter of 82.92 mm. In the area of ​​the claws 24, the claw element 20 has an outer diameter of 152.44 mm. The claws 24 have a circumferential length of 26.75 mm. The claw element 20 also has an axial length of 20.6 mm.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment for a main body 10 including a mounted claw element 20. In this case, the main body has an upper section 16 arranged above the threaded section 11, which is formed without threads and is dimensioned such that the claw element 20 can be guided over the upper section 16 to the threaded section 11.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic illustration of an underground hydrant (low-level hydrant) 40 with a hydrant connection 41 for water extraction. For this purpose, a standpipe can be mounted on the hydrant connection 41 (not shown). Otherwise, the hydrant connection 41 must be closed, for example by means of the device according to the invention.

[0032] The underground hydrant 40 can be closed by means of an oval hydrant cap (street cap) 42. The hydrant connection 41 has two brackets 43 for locking the device according to the invention.

[0033] The device is mounted onto the hydrant connection 41 by placing the main body 10, including the screwed-on claw element 20, onto the hydrant connection 41 and rotating the device so that the claws 24 engage under the brackets 43. The main body 10 is then rotated further clockwise in the recess 15 using a wrench, so that the main body 10 is pressed onto the hydrant connection 41 by means of the claw element 20, which is held below the brackets 43. Finally, the cover element (not shown) is placed onto the main body 10 and screwed onto it. The cover element is dimensioned such that, when placed on the main body 10, it substantially covers the hydrant shaft 44. In the present embodiment, the cover element has a substantially oval shape, and additional recesses may be provided in the cover element.

[0034] The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be modified by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. The present disclosure also encompasses, within its technical scope, any embodiment derived by combining technical means that may be disclosed in different embodiments. Reference symbol list 10 main bodies 11 Thread section 12 Stop section 13 lower section 14 external threads 15 In-depth study 16 upper section 20 claw element 21 Basic body of the claw element 22 Opening 23 internal threads 24 Claw 40 underground hydrants 41 Hydrant connection 42 Hydrant caps 43 irons 44 Hydrant shaft

Claims

[1] Device for closing a fire hydrant, comprising: - a main body (10) with a threaded section (11) and a stop section (12) closing off the threaded section (11) on the underside, wherein the main body (10) is designed to seal a hydrant connection (41) on its underside; - an annular claw element (20) with at least two claws (24) projecting outwards in a radial direction, wherein the claw element (20) is designed to be screwed onto the threaded section (11) of the main body (10); - a cover element which can be attached to the top of the main body (10) and which has an information element that can be read from above; wherein the main body (10) and the claw element (20) are each made of a plastic. [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the main body (10) and the claw element (20) are made of the same plastic. [3] Device according to claim 1, wherein the main body (10) and the claw element (20) are made of different plastics. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element is made of a plastic or a metal. [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the main body (10), claw element (20) and cover element consists of a glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information element is a notice inscription. [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element can be attached to the main body (10) by means of a screw connection. [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a recess (15) for a wrench is formed on the top of the main body (10). [9] Device according to claim 8, wherein the recess (15) is a square recess. [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (10) has a lower section (13) on the underside which is designed to be inserted at least partially into the hydrant connection (41). [11] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (10) is formed in a substantially rotationally symmetric manner. [12] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (10) has a length in the axial direction between 50 mm and 80 mm, preferably between 60 mm and 65 mm. [13] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the threaded section has a diameter between 75 mm and 85 mm and the stop section has a diameter between 90 mm and 100 mm. [14] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the claw element (20) has a length between 15 mm and 25 mm in the axial direction. [15] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the claws (24) of the claw element (20) have a radial length between 20 mm and 25 mm and a circumferential length between 20 mm and 30 mm.

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