Hydrant Shoe Backflow Prevention Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire hydrants are vulnerable to unauthorized access and contamination, with existing solutions either requiring specialized tools, being complex, or prone to damage, which can hinder emergency access to the water supply.
Innovation Solution
A backflow prevention assembly is integrated into the hydrant shoe, featuring a disc and seat mechanism that rotates between open and closed positions based on water flow or pressure, preventing contaminants from entering the water supply when unauthorized pressure is applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional fire hydrant is made easily accessible in public areas, then emergency access speed is improved, but vulnerability to unauthorized access and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backflow prevention assembly as an intermediary device between the hydrant outlet and the water supply. This assembly includes a check valve mechanism that automatically prevents unauthorized backflow into the water supply while maintaining forward flow for legitimate fire fighting operations, thus protecting against contamination without hindering emergency access
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing backflow prevention devices are installed in the hydrant, then water supply contamination is prevented, but device complexity and susceptibility to damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the backflow prevention function from complex existing devices and implements it through a simplified check valve mechanism integrated into the hydrant shoe. This extracted mechanism uses basic mechanical components (valve seat, disc, spring) rather than complex electronic or multi-component systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection functionality
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing backflow prevention devices are installed in the hydrant, then water supply contamination is prevented, but reliability under emergency conditions deteriorates due to potential damage and hindered access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a spring-loaded mechanism in the check valve that provides beforehand cushioning protection. The spring absorbs potential impact forces and maintains sealing pressure, ensuring the valve remains reliable even under emergency conditions or attempted vandalism, preventing contamination while allowing legitimate fire flow operations
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
Effectively prevents contamination of the municipal water supply by ensuring that only authorized flow of water occurs, while allowing standard tools to be used for operation, thus maintaining access during emergencies without compromising security.
Implementation Method 1
a backflow prevention assembly adapted to allow water to flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly, and prevent media from entering the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly is in a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A fire hydrant system relating to protection of a water supply from contamination. The fire hydrant system includes a barrel adapted to communicate at least indirectly with a water supply; a nozzle extending from the barrel; a hydrant valve adapted to controllably regulate communication between the barrel and the water supply; a valve actuator adapted to allow actuation of the hydrant valve; a nozzle cap adapted to at least close off the nozzle opening; and a hydrant shoe in communication with the water supply, the hydrant shoe comprising a backflow prevention assembly, wherein water can flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly disc, and wherein media cannot enter the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly disc is in a closed position.