Remote-Actuated Fire Hydrant Valve for Single-Person Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire hydrant valves are inconvenient and often require multiple people to operate, leading to potential water wastage and delayed fire extinguishment, especially when used from a distance.
Innovation Solution
A fire hydrant valve design featuring a body with openings, a switching unit with a rod and disk, and movement units that allow the valve to be opened remotely or near the valve, preventing unintentional opening, and enabling single-person operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve is opened by turning the handle several times, then the valve can be opened, but it is too inconvenient to use and requires multiple operations
Solution Approach 1:
The fire hose outlet is preliminarily positioned in the hose receiving groove, and the quick coupling mechanism is pre-assembled with the valve body. When fire occurs, the user only needs to perform the final coupling action by pushing the hose outlet into the groove, which automatically triggers the valve opening through the connected rod mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple turning operations
Solution Approach 2:
A rod mechanism serves as an intermediary between the hose receiving groove and the valve handle. When the hose outlet is coupled into the groove, the rod transmits this action to automatically open the valve, converting the simple coupling motion into valve opening without requiring manual handle rotation
2Loss of substance
If the valve is opened while the fire hose is placed on the side of the valve, then water may be discharged and wasted during movement of the outlet, but opening the valve remotely prevents this water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The rod acts as an intermediary mechanism that connects the hose receiving groove to the valve opening mechanism. When the hose outlet is pushed into the groove from a distance, the rod transmits this action to open the valve automatically, allowing remote operation without water waste while maintaining simple single-person operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically opening the valve when the hose outlet is coupled into the receiving groove. The mechanical connection through the rod causes the valve to open without requiring additional manual intervention, enabling the system to regulate itself based on the user's coupling action
3Loss of substance
If the valve requires two people to operate (one to move hose outlet, another to open valve), then water waste is minimized, but it is inconvenient and not always possible to perform this process alone
Solution Approach 1:
The rod mechanism serves as a mechanical intermediary that transmits the hose coupling action directly to the valve opening mechanism. This allows a single person to perform both functions (positioning the hose and opening the valve) sequentially, eliminating the need for two simultaneous operators while preventing water waste
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of hose positioning and valve opening are merged into a single operational sequence. The hose receiving groove and rod mechanism combine these two actions, allowing one person to complete both tasks by simply pushing the hose outlet into the groove, which automatically triggers valve opening
4Ease of operation
If the valve can be opened from a long distance, then single-person operation is enabled, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rod serves as a simple mechanical intermediary that transmits force from the hose receiving groove to the valve opening mechanism. This straightforward mechanical connection enables remote operation from a distance while adding minimal complexity to the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The hose receiving groove serves multiple functions: it positions the hose outlet, guides the coupling motion, and triggers the valve opening through the rod mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, enabling remote operation without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a fire hydrant valve (easy action valve) that is usable alone quickly in the event of fire, and more particularly, a fire hydrant valve that is usable alone quickly in the event of fire, which can be even opened from a long distance away. The fire hydrant valve includes a body formed with a first opening and a second opening, a switching unit including a rod configured to penetrate the body, and a disk provided at an end of the rod to open and close the first opening, and a first movement unit connected to the rod and a hose connected to the second opening and configured to move the rod in response to movement of the hose.