Rotary Hydrant Shut-Off With Gear Reduction and Auto Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire hydrants face difficulties in operability and safety due to high operating forces required to overcome fluid pressure, which reduces the service life of shut-off devices and poses challenges in maintaining a long-term seal, especially under pressure.
Innovation Solution
A hydrant design featuring a rotatably mounted shut-off element that follows a surface of revolution, allowing for reduced operational forces by moving normal to the fluid flow direction, coupled with a gear reduction mechanism for actuation, and an integrated drain line that opens automatically when the liquid supply is shut off, ensuring efficient drainage without compressing the liquid column.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shut-off device with a piston valve is used to close the liquid supply, then the liquid flow can be stopped, but high operating forces are required to overcome fluid pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the shut-off element against the fluid pressure (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by moving the shut-off element perpendicular to the fluid flow direction. The shut-off element is rotatably mounted and follows a surface of revolution, allowing it to close the supply opening by rotating into position rather than being pushed against pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimension of movement from linear (against pressure) to rotational (perpendicular to flow). The shut-off element rotates about a pivot axis and follows a surface shaped like a body of revolution, utilizing rotational motion in a different dimension to achieve shut-off without directly opposing fluid pressure.
2Reliability
If high operating forces are applied to close the shut-off device, then the liquid supply can be stopped, but the service life of the valve seat and sealing element is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional shut-off mechanism by using rotational movement perpendicular to fluid flow instead of linear movement against pressure. This eliminates the high contact forces between the shut-off element and valve seat, significantly extending their service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters from high-force linear compression to low-force rotational movement. The shut-off element follows a surface of revolution with specific geometric parameters that enable sealing through rotation rather than compression, reducing stress on sealing surfaces.
3Reliability
If a conventional shut-off device is used, then the liquid supply can be closed, but maintaining a seal over extended periods is problematic due to pressurized valve seats
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the sealing approach by using a rotatable shut-off element that follows a surface of revolution, creating a seal through rotational positioning rather than continuous pressure. The shut-off element closes the supply opening by rotating into place, maintaining the seal without sustained high pressure on the valve seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic rotational movement to the shut-off mechanism, allowing the shut-off element to be positioned and secured through rotation rather than static compression. This dynamic approach enables the seal to be maintained with minimal continuous pressure, improving long-term reliability.
4Productivity
If the drain line is used to empty the riser pipe, then remaining fluid can be drained, but the drain line must be reliably closed when liquid supply is open to prevent pressure issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the shut-off element with the drain line control function. The same rotatable shut-off element that controls liquid supply also controls the drain line through its rotational positions. In the first rotational position, the shut-off element closes the supply opening and opens the drain line; in the second position, it opens the supply and closes the drain line.
Solution Approach 2:
The shut-off element serves multiple functions: it controls the liquid supply to the riser pipe and simultaneously controls the drain line opening and closing. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall system while ensuring reliable coordination between supply and drainage 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
The design enhances operability and reliability by reducing the forces needed for shut-off and ensuring a reliable seal, while the gear reduction and automatic drainage mechanism mitigate pressure shocks and extend the service life of components.
Implementation Method 1
Conventional shut-off devices are typically operated by moving a shut-off element against the fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
the transmission has a reduction ratio by which, when the actuating element is rotated by an actuating angle, the shut-off element is rotated by a shut-off angle that is smaller than the actuating angle
Implementation Method 3
a drain line that allows the riser pipe to be emptied when the fluid supply is shut off
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Hydrant comprising: a riser pipe (1), a shut-off device (2) with a shut-off element (3) for selectively opening or closing the liquid supply from an underground liquid line into the riser pipe (1), a drain line (4) for emptying the riser pipe (1) when the shut-off device (2) is closed, and an actuating element (5) for actuating the shut-off device (2), wherein the shut-off element (3) is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis (6), wherein the shut-off element (3) selectively has a first rotational position in which the liquid supply from the liquid line into the riser pipe (1) is closed by the shut-off element (3) and the drain line (4) is open, and wherein the shut-off element (3) selectively has a second rotational position in which the liquid supply from the liquid line into the riser pipe (1) is opened by the shut-off element (3) and the drain line (4) is closed.The actuating element (5) is rotatably coupled to the shut-off element (3) via a gearbox (15) and in particular also via a shaft (16), and the gearbox (15) has a reduction ratio by which, when the actuating element (5) is rotated by an actuating angle, the shut-off element (3) is rotated by a shut-off angle which is smaller than the actuating angle.