Hydrant Adapter With Stainless Drain for Legacy Elbow Retrofit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Old-style fire hydrants with leaded joints connected to underground water pipes are difficult to replace due to the need for extensive excavation and are not compatible with modern fire hydrants, which have different thread scales, leading to costly and unnecessary replacements.
Innovation Solution
A bronze adapter with a tubular body and stainless steel tubes is designed to connect modern fire hydrants to conventional old-style elbows, featuring multiple threads and a molded lip to ensure secure and functional attachment, allowing for drainage and corrosion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If old-style fire hydrants with leaded joints are replaced, then compatibility with modern fire hydrants is improved, but excavation and disassembly work is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component that connects modern fire hydrants to old-style elbows with leaded joints. The adapter has external threads that screw into the old elbow and internal threads that receive the modern fire hydrant, serving as a mediator that enables compatibility without requiring replacement of the difficult-to-replace underground elbow component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modern fire hydrants are connected to old-style elbows, then thread scale compatibility is improved, but connection security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates different thread parameters on its two ends - the external threads match the old-style elbow thread scale while the internal threads match the modern fire hydrant thread scale. This parameter transformation enables compatibility between different thread standards while maintaining secure connections through proper threading geometry and fit.
3Ease of operation
If drain holes are added to the adapter, then drainage function is improved, but corrosion resistance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter employs a composite construction with a bronze body providing corrosion resistance and stainless steel inserts providing drainage functionality. The stainless steel tubes or inserts are integrated into the bronze adapter body, combining the advantages of both materials - the bronze resists corrosion from water and environmental exposure while the stainless steel provides durable drainage passages that resist rust and degradation.
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
The adapter enables secure and efficient connection of modern fire hydrants to old-style elbows, facilitating replacement without excavation and ensuring durability against environmental factors and wear, while allowing for effective drainage to prevent freezing damage.
Implementation Method 1
at least one tube having a first end extending through the molded lip, a body portion extending from the first end along an internal length of the lower portion of the adapter body and a second end extending through an internal surface of the lower portion of the adapter body adjacent to an end thereof
Implementation Method 2
A bronze adapter with a tubular body and stainless steel tubes is designed to connect modern fire hydrants to conventional old-style elbows, featuring multiple threads and a molded lip to ensure secure and functional attachment, allowing for drainage and corrosion resistance
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an adapter and a method of making the same. The adapter includes threads to connect a fire hydrant to one end of a fire hydrant elbow having a different scale than the fire hydrant, the fire hydrant elbow being connected at a second end to an underground water pipe. The adapter also includes at least one stainless steel tube extending at a first end thereof from a corresponding at least one port hole formed through a lower end of an inner surface of the adapter and a second end thereof extending through a corresponding at least one port hole formed through an approximate middle portion of an outer surface of the adapter. The corresponding port holes through the inner surface of the adapter and the outer surface of the adapter being in vertical alignment.