Fail-Safe Hydrant Flushing via Compressed Gas Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flushing fire hydrants is a labor-intensive process that requires manual operation at each hydrant, making it inefficient and time-consuming, especially in large municipal water systems where hydrants are often 'dry' to prevent freezing.
Innovation Solution
A flushable fire hydrant system utilizing a compressed gas actuation system with a biased translational mechanism, allowing for automated or remote operation, which includes a piston assembly, a manual bleed valve, and a biasing element to open the fluid valve, enabling efficient flushing without the need for continuous compressed gas usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation is used to flush each hydrant, then the process is simple and reliable, but it is labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrant flushing system performs automated operations including detecting hydrant status, opening valves, controlling water flow, and closing valves without requiring manual intervention at each hydrant location. The system serves itself by automatically completing the entire flushing cycle through remote operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system that uses sensors, communication modules, and actuators to perform flushing operations remotely. The mechanical action of manually opening and closing valves is substituted with electronically controlled actuation mechanisms.
2Duration of action of moving object
If compressed gas is continuously used to actuate the piston assembly, then the hydrant can be flushed repeatedly, but the compressed gas supply is depleted quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed gas is released in periodic bursts corresponding to individual flushing cycles rather than continuous flow. The gas discharge valve opens briefly to provide the necessary pressure surge to actuate the piston, then closes to conserve gas for subsequent cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and retains compressed gas between flushing cycles by keeping the gas discharge valve closed. The compressed gas remains stored in the reservoir and is reused for multiple flushing operations, discarding only the minimal amount consumed during each brief actuation period.
3Loss of substance
If the gas discharge valve is normally-closed, then compressed gas is conserved, but the system cannot respond quickly to flushing requests
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed gas is pre-stored in the reservoir at high pressure, ready for immediate use. When a flushing request is received, the pre-stored gas can be rapidly discharged through the normally-closed valve without delay for gas accumulation or preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas discharge valve transitions dynamically from a normally-closed state to an open state when actuated. This dynamic switching allows the system to maintain gas conservation during idle periods while enabling rapid response when flushing is required, adapting its state based on operational needs.
4Ease of operation
If a biased translational system is used with a biasing element, then the piston assembly returns to the stop position automatically, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing element acts as a mechanical counterforce system that automatically returns the piston assembly to its initial position. The spring or elastic element stores potential energy during the flushing stroke and releases it to propel the piston back, providing an automatic reset function without requiring additional actuators.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and automated flushing of fire hydrants, reducing labor costs and increasing operational efficiency by allowing remote operation and preserving compressed gas for multiple flushing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
opening the fluid valve of the hydrant by pressurizing one side of a piston plate of the piston assembly with the compressed air
Implementation Method 2
a biasing element at least indirectly biasing the piston assembly towards a stop position
Data Source
AI summary
A device for flushing a hydrant includes a stem connected to a fluid valve of the hydrant and an actuation system including a biased translational system coupled to the stem, a compressed gas, and a normally-open gas discharge valve. An actuation system for flushing a hydrant includes a fluid, a piston assembly movable by the fluid, a manual bleed valve in communication with the fluid, and a biasing element at least indirectly biasing the piston assembly towards a stop position.