Hydrant Nozzle Cap Spacer for Leak Path Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire hydrant nozzle caps often face issues with leak detection systems, where the gasket can block water drainage due to resilient deformation into the leak path, preventing pressure reduction and potentially indicating an incomplete valve closure.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle cap spacer with a resilient spring arm that adjusts the rotational indexing of the nozzle cap relative to the hydrant nozzle, allowing for proper orientation of the antenna and maintaining the leak path for pressure relief while sealing effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket is used to seal the nozzle cap with the nozzle, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the gasket can resiliently deform into the leak path, blocking water drainage and preventing pressure reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into multiple independent radially outwardly extending arms rather than a continuous ring. This segmentation prevents the gasket from resiliently deforming into the leak path while maintaining sealing effectiveness at each segment interface with the nozzle cap.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the gasket have different functional properties: the distal ends of the arms provide sealing contact with the nozzle cap, while the spaces between arms maintain the leak path open for pressure relief. This local differentiation allows simultaneous sealing and drainage functions.
2Reliability
If the nozzle cap is rotated to orient the antenna for ideal signal transmission, then leak detection system performance is improved, but the rotational indexing may misalign the leak path with the nozzle leak channel
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle cap is designed to be rotatable relative to the nozzle body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the antenna orientation. The gasket's segmented structure accommodates this rotation while maintaining both seal integrity and leak path alignment through its flexible arm configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented gasket acts as an intermediary element between the rotatable nozzle cap and the fixed nozzle body. It mediates the rotational movement by maintaining sealing contact while allowing the leak path to remain aligned with the nozzle leak channel regardless of cap orientation.
3Reliability
If the gasket is compressed to improve sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the leak path becomes blocked and pressure relief is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is divided into discrete radial arms with gaps between them. Compression forces are localized to each arm's contact point with the nozzle cap, providing effective sealing without causing the gasket material to deform into the leak path and block pressure relief.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket arms are designed to be compressed only to the extent necessary for sealing contact, not excessive compression that would cause deformation into the leak path. The segmented structure allows partial compression action localized to seal interfaces while preserving the leak path.
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 pressure relief and leak detection by maintaining the leak path while ensuring proper antenna orientation and sealing, addressing the issue of gasket deformation and incomplete valve closure indications.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient first spacer spring arm extending from the outer body edge, wherein the first spacer spring arm is biased away from the spacer body in an extended orientation
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle cap spacer for a hydrant nozzle cap includes a spacer body defining an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge defining an opening formed through a center of the spacer body; and a leak path notch formed in the spacer body, the leak path notch extending radially inward from the outer edge of the spacer body.