Anchor valve for security

Abstract

A system for protecting a fluid supply from a contaminant includes an anchor check valve having an inlet end and an exit end, the anchor check valve adapted to allow fluid flow through the anchor check valve from the inlet end to the exit end but prevent fluid flow through the check valve from the exit end to the inlet end; a dry-barrel fire hydrant in proximate fluid communication with the anchor check valve, the dry-barrel fire hydrant having a valve operating mechanism; and a hydrant shoe coupled to the anchor check valve, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly adjustably connected to the valve operating mechanism of the dry-barrel fire hydrant.

Claims

1. A system for protecting a fluid supply from a contaminant, comprising: an anchor check valve having an inlet end and an exit end, the anchor check valve adapted to allow fluid flow through the anchor check valve from the inlet end to the exit end but prevent fluid flow through the anchor check valve from the exit end to the inlet end, the inlet end and the exit end of the anchor check valve facing a horizontal direction, the exit end including an exit end flange; a dry-barrel fire hydrant in proximate fluid communication with the anchor check valve, the dry-barrel fire hydrant having a valve operating mechanism; and a hydrant shoe having an inlet end and an exit end, the inlet end of the hydrant shoe coupled to the exit end of the anchor check valve by the exit end flange of the anchor check valve, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly adjustably connected to the valve operating mechanism of the dry-barrel fire hydrant, the inlet end of the hydrant shoe facing a horizontal direction, the exit end of the hydrant shoe facing a vertical direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor check valve includes a flapper in communication with a sealing surface and wherein the flapper pivots away from the sealing surface as the fluid flows through the anchor check valve from the inlet end to the exit end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor check valve includes an access cover.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlet end and the exit end swivels.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor check valve includes a non-threaded male mechanical joint in at least one of the inlet end and the exit end.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the exit end of the anchor check valve includes an insertion portion, the hydrant shoe sized to accept the insertion portion within the hydrant shoe and having a hydrant shoe flange to engage the exit end flange of the anchor check valve.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve operating mechanism is rotatable.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly of the hydrant shoe includes a valve seat, a hydrant valve, an upper plate, and a lower plate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is connected to the valve operating mechanism by an operating stem.

10. A method of installing an anchor check valve on a dry-barrel fire hydrant, comprising the steps of: removing a section of pipe from piping connected to a hydrant shoe, the hydrant shoe having an inlet end and an exit end, the hydrant shoe connected to the dry-barrel fire hydrant, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly, the hydrant shoe adjustably connected to a valve operating mechanism of the dry-barrel fire hydrant, the inlet end of the hydrant shoe facing a horizontal direction, the exit end of the hydrant shoe facing a vertical direction, the inlet end of the hydrant shoe defining a female connection portion; replacing the section of pipe with the anchor check valve, the anchor check valve including an inlet end, an exit end, and a flapper in communication with a sealing surface, the inlet end and the exit end of the anchor check valve facing a horizontal direction, the exit end of the anchor check valve defining a male connection portion, the male connection portion of the anchor check valve extending into the female connection portion of the inlet end of the hydrant shoe; and securing the anchor check valve to a remaining piping.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anchor check valve includes a non-threaded male mechanical joint in at least one of the inlet end and the exit end.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-threaded male mechanical joint swivels.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of closing a gate valve coupled to the piping.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the valve assembly of the hydrant shoe includes a valve seat, a hydrant valve, an upper plate, and a lower plate, and the valve operating mechanism is rotatable.

15. A method of preventing a contaminant from entering a fluid source via a dry-barrel fire hydrant, comprising the steps of: drawing a desired amount of a fluid from the fluid source through a dry-barrel fire hydrant system including the dry-barrel fire hydrant, a hydrant shoe having an inlet end and an exit end, and an anchor check valve having an inlet end and an exit end, the anchor check valve coupled to the inlet end of the hydrant shoe by a flange on the exit end of the anchor check valve, the hydrant shoe having a valve assembly adjustably connected to a valve operating mechanism of the dry-barrel fire hydrant, the inlet end and the exit end of the anchor check valve facing a horizontal direction, the inlet end of the hydrant shoe facing a horizontal direction, the exit end of the hydrant shoe facing a vertical direction; maintaining a remaining portion of the fluid on an exit side of the anchor check valve after the desired amount of the fluid is withdrawn from the fluid source; preventing the remaining portion of the fluid from reentering the fluid source via the anchor check valve, thereby preventing the contaminant from entering the fluid source; and expelling the remaining portion of the fluid and contaminant from the dry-barrel fire hydrant system upon a further withdrawal of the fluid from the fluid source.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid is maintained on the exit side of the anchor check valve by a flapper in communication with a sealing surface of the anchor check valve.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the inlet end and the exit end swivels.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the anchor check valve includes a male mechanical joint in at least one of the inlet end and the exit end.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of opening a hydrant valve in the valve assembly of the hydrant shoe.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the exit end of the anchor check valve includes an insertion portion and wherein the hydrant shoe is sized to accept the insertion portion within the hydrant shoe and has a hydrant shoe flange to engage the flange on the exit end of the anchor check valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a traditional fire hydrant.

(2) FIG. 2 is a projection view of one embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a flapper of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a close up view of portion C of the flapper of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) As embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosures herein provide detailed embodiments of the invention. However, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, there is no intent that specific structural and functional details should be limiting, but rather the intention is that they provide a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

(7) A problem in the art capable of being solved by the embodiments of the present invention is preventing contamination of fluid supplies. It was surprisingly discovered that a check valve that is incorporated into the piping of a fluid supply is capable of preventing contaminants from entering the fluid supply. By preventing the back flow of fluid into the fluid supply, a check valve is able to keep the fluid supply free of contamination.

(8) FIG. 2 illustrates anchor valve 1. Check valve 2 is shown situated about the middle of the section of pipe 5, with inlet end 3 and exit end 4 located at opposite ends of pipe 5. Pipe 5 can be of any length. In certain embodiments, inlet end 3 may be adapted to be coupled to a hydrant shoe in other embodiments, exit end 4 may be adapted to be coupled to a hydrant shoe. Inlet end 3 and exit end 4 may be secured to a hydrant shoe or any other piping by any means known in the art, including but not limited to bolts via flanges, screw fittings, clips, welding, and adhesive. Within check valve 2 is flapper 6 which is fixedly attached to the interior of check valve 2 and operates by forcibly closing when fluid pressure reaches a minimum threshold amount, thereby preventing a contaminant from being introduced into the fluid supply system. FIG. 3 shows also the anchor check valve may include a first mechanical joint arranged at the inlet end of the anchor check valve and a second mechanical joint arranged at the exit end of the anchor check valve. Also, the first mechanical joint may include at least a first non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of a pipe of a fluid supply, a first shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the first non-threaded male portion, and a first flange portion. The first shoulder portion may be disposed between the first flange portion and the first non-threaded male portion. The second mechanical joint may include at least a second non-threaded male portion extending within an inner portion of the hydrant shoe, a second shoulder portion having an outermost diameter greater than an outermost diameter of the second non-threaded male portion, and a second flange portion, the shoulder portion being disposed between the second flange portion and the second non-threaded male portion. The second flange portion of the second mechanical joint may be rotatable around a portion of the exit end and may be configured to prevent the second flange portion from being removed from the exit end.

(9) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of anchor valve 1. Anchor valve 1 is defined by a hollow cavity within pipe 5, which enables media to flow from a fluid source to an exit of the system. Check valve 2 is located along pipe 5 within the hollow cavity. At one end of pipe 5 is inlet end 3, at the opposite end of pipe 5 is exit end 4. Anchor valve 1 may include an access cover 7 enabling access into the cavity of anchor valve 1. Cover 7 may be secured to pipe 5 with a plurality of fasteners 8, but is easily removable for inspection or maintenance. While cover 7 is shown secured to pipe 5 by 6 fasteners, any number of fasteners may be used. Flapper 6 is fixedly attached to pipe 5 at securing point 10 and sealably engages pipe 5 at sealing surfaces 9, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, but is understood to include the entire inner circumference of pipe 5 at check valve 2. Flapper 6 may be reinforced by, preferably, a metal disc 406, encapsulated in a casing/covering 408, preferably made of rubber, to withstand a high differential pressure across flapper 6. Flapper 6 may be designed in such a way that in absence of pressure on either side of flapper 6, flapper 6 lies on sealing surfaces 9.

(10) Water or other fluid, as supplied by the fluid supply system which is connected to anchor valve 1, flows through inlet end 3 when the fluid is drawn through. Flapper 6 pivots open due to the force of the water overcoming the resistive force of flapper 6. Water flows through anchor valve unhindered and exits at exit end 4. As water pressure decreases, flapper 6 closes as the force of the water being drawn through anchor valve 1 decreases to below the level necessary to overcome flapper 6's closure force. Some water is trapped within the piping, between the exit point and the flapper 6, which forces flapper 6 to stay in the closed position, pressed against sealing surfaces 9. If a contaminant is added at this point, the remaining trapped water will be affected, but the contaminant will be unable to enter the supply system. When the hydrant or fluid valve is next activated, the pressure of supply water will again overcome the resistive force of flapper 6 and push the remaining existing water (with the contaminant) out of the system through the exit, but no back-flow of contaminated water will occur, thus preserving the integrity of the water supply.

(11) FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a flapper 404 (e.g., the flapper 6). Flapper 404 can include a positioning lip 412, locking lips 426, a sealing surface 414, disc reinforcement 422, and the casing/covering 408 encapsulating the metal disc 406.

(12) FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up of a disc short arm 424 of flapper 404 along with the locking lips 426 and positioning lip 412 for securing the disc short arm 424 of the flapper 404 in place. FIG. 5 also illustrates the disc reinforcement 422 for reinforcing flapper 404.

(13) Although several embodiments are specifically illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and are within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. While the embodiment herein are directed toward fire hydrants the invention can be used in any type of fluid deliver system, including but not limited to sprinkler systems and fuel distribution systems. Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. All references cited herein, including all publications, U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, are specifically and entirely incorporated by reference. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only with the true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, the term comprising includes the terms consisting of and consisting essentially of.