Universal Fire Hydrant Valve Key for Damaged Ring Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire hydrant crews face the challenge of repairing inoperable hydrants with different brands and sizes, requiring multiple specialized tools that are bulky and inefficient, and conventional tools fail when upwardly extending projections are broken.
Innovation Solution
A universal fire hydrant repair tool with a valve key and shaft assembly that engages the main valve's ring tabs, allowing torque application to decouple the valve from the hydrant body, compatible with various brands and sizes, and includes a guide housing for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized valve tools are carried for different brands and sizes, then each specific valve type can be repaired, but the tools consume space and are bulky in the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a universal valve tool with a single shaft and handle assembly that can accommodate multiple valve types through interchangeable heads or adapters. This allows fire hydrant crews to carry one tool instead of multiple specialized tools, reducing vehicle space consumption while maintaining compatibility with different valve brands and sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent illustrates how different valve heads or adapters can be nested or stored within the main tool body when not in use. This nesting arrangement allows multiple specialized components to be compactly integrated into a single tool unit, minimizing the volume occupied in the vehicle while preserving the ability to service various valve types
2Ease of operation
If conventional tools engage upwardly extending projections to remove the main valve, then the valve can be removed when projections are intact, but the tools become unable to engage when projections are broken off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a tool design that can adapt its engagement parameters based on the condition of the valve. When upward projections are broken, the tool can engage alternative features on the valve body such as the valve stem or body flanges, changing the engagement point from the projections to these alternative features, thereby maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces alternative engagement features or intermediary components that can mediate between the tool and the valve when the primary engagement points (upward projections) are damaged. These intermediary engagement points serve as backup mechanisms to maintain the tool-valve connection when the original engagement method is no longer viable
Data Source
AI summary
A fire hydrant repair tool is provided for removing a main valve of a fire hydrant, wherein the main valve has a pair of ring tabs extending upwardly therefrom. The fire hydrant repair tool can include a valve key having a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to receive, respectively, the first and second ring tabs. Each of the first and second receptacles can define a first face that is configured to bias against the first side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs, and a second face that is configured to bias against the second side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs. A shaft can be coupled to the valve key.