Fire Hydrant Assembly Connecting to Irrigation Riser Stubs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighting in remote areas is hindered by the limited capacity of internal water supply tanks in fire trucks and the need for separate water supplies or long distances to municipal water sources, impairing effective fire suppression.
Innovation Solution
A fire hydrant assembly that connects to agricultural irrigation systems, allowing water to be drawn from irrigation riser stubs using a cylindrical main body with a seal, nipple for fire hoses, and a valve actuator to control water flow, enabling easy and secure access to water sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fire trucks use internal water supply tanks, then fire trucks can operate independently without external water sources, but the limited tank capacity reduces the duration and effectiveness of fire suppression operations
Solution Approach 1:
The fire hydrant assembly acts as an intermediary device that connects fire trucks to existing irrigation water infrastructure. The assembly includes a coupling mechanism with seals and clamps that mediates between the fire hose and irrigation riser stub, enabling water transfer without requiring fire trucks to carry large water tanks or travel to distant municipal sources.
2Quantity of substance
If separate water supplies are trucked to remote fire sites, then adequate water quantity can be provided, but the time and resources required to transport water reduce firefighting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes existing irrigation infrastructure to provide water automatically at the fire site. Instead of requiring external water transport, the hydrant assembly taps into locally available irrigation water sources, allowing the system to serve itself by leveraging pre-existing water delivery infrastructure.
3Quantity of substance
If fire trucks travel to municipal water sources, then unlimited water supply can be accessed, but the distance and time required to reach water sources impairs firefighting effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrant assembly segments the water access function from the fire truck itself, creating a separate interface device that connects to local irrigation infrastructure. This segmentation allows fire trucks to remain stationary at the fire site while the hydrant assembly handles the water connection function, eliminating the need to travel to distant water sources.
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 fire fighting equipment to access ample water supplies in remote areas quickly and efficiently, simplifying connection and operation without requiring special tools or adapters, enhancing firefighting capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A seal disposed within the open end of the main body is sized to sealingly engage the end portion of the irrigation riser stub
Data Source
AI summary
A fire hydrant assembly for use with an irrigation riser stub may include a generally cylindrically-shaped main body having an open end and a closed end. The open end of the main body has an inside diameter that is sized to slidably receive an end portion of the irrigation riser stub. A seal disposed within the open end of the main body is sized to sealingly engage the irrigation riser stub. A nipple having a threaded end and a plain end is mounted within an opening provided in a side portion of the main body so that the threaded end may be threaded onto a fire hose assembly. An actuator shaft extends through a shaft opening defined by the closed end of the main body so that a head end of the actuator shaft is disposed outside the main body and so that a distal end of the actuator shaft is disposed within an interior cavity defined by the main body. A yoke mounted to the distal end of the actuator shaft is sized to operatively engage a valve stem associated with the irrigation riser stub.