Pitless Adapter Yard Hydrant Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current yard hydrant replacement methods require excavation and risk breakage or cross-threading due to lack of support during unscrewing and re-threading, and they fail to prevent clogging of the drain hole with dirt and debris.
Innovation Solution
A Yard Hydrant Made Easy system featuring a pitless adapter with a stationary and removable component, allowing for easy replacement without excavation, incorporating a seepage section with a mesh filter and a dual check valve backflow preventer to prevent freezing and clogging, and an underground shut-off valve for isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the old hydrant is unscrewed and the new hydrant is re-threaded onto the underground fitting, then the hydrant can be replaced, but the risk of breakage and cross-threading increases due to lack of support during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into an underground portion (casing with fitting) and an above-ground portion (hydrant). The hydrant can be removed and replaced independently without affecting the underground fitting, eliminating the risk of breakage and cross-threading during replacement while maintaining reliable connection through the protected underground fitting.
2Ease of repair
If excavation is performed to replace the hydrant, then the hydrant can be replaced, but the complexity and time of the replacement process increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the hydrant from the underground casing and fitting, the hydrant can be replaced quickly by simply unscrewing and re-screwing operations at the surface level, eliminating the need for time-consuming excavation work while maintaining secure connection through the protected underground fitting.
3Reliability
If the drain hole is exposed to the ground, then water can drain out to prevent freezing, but the drain hole becomes susceptible to clogging with dirt and debris
Solution Approach 1:
A screen or filter is introduced as an intermediary between the drain hole and the external environment. This screen allows water to pass through for drainage and freezing prevention while blocking dirt and debris from entering and clogging the drain hole.
4Reliability
If the hydrant is connected directly to the water line at below-freeze level, then the connection is secure, but replacement requires digging up the hydrant
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the permanent underground connection (casing with fitting connected to water line) from the removable hydrant portion. This allows the secure underground connection to remain fixed while enabling easy hydrant replacement by simply detaching and reattaching the hydrant at the surface level without excavation.
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 easy replacement of yard hydrants without excavation, prevents freezing by allowing water drainage, and maintains system integrity by avoiding cross-threading and clogging, while allowing for isolation of the hydrant without shutting down the entire water supply.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a seepage section with a mesh filter
Implementation Method 2
a hole is dug in the ground to below the freeze level and the hydrant is connected to a water line at that level. When the hydrant needs to be replaced
Data Source
AI summary
A Yard Hydrant Made Easy has a riser with a slip connection, called a pitless adapter, attached directly to the side of the riser, below freeze level. The water supply is connected to the outside section of the pitless adapter and a yard hydrant is attached to the inside removable section of the pitless adapter. This hollow riser and slip connection allows for easy removal and replacement of a yard hydrant, without the need of any future excavation, busting of concrete, or tearing up of landscaped areas. A seepage section may be incorporated at the base of the riser to allow a yard hydrant to drain out without ever coming in contact with soil. This prevents any chance of the drain hole, at the base of the yard hydrant, becoming stopped up and causing the hydrant to freeze. A dual check valve backflow preventer may be installed at the base of the hydrant. An underground shut-off valve may be connected to the outside section of the pitless adapter to allow the individual hydrant to be isolated without interrupting water supply to an entire property.