Fire hydrant assembly

A fire hydrant assembly for use with an irrigation riser stub, comprising:

• a generally cylindrically-shaped main body defining an interior cavity, an open end, a closed end, and an opening in a side portion thereof, the open end of said main body defining an inlet having an inside diameter that is sized to slidably receive the irrigation riser stub;
• a seal disposed within the inlet of said main body, said seal being sized to sealingly engage the irrigation riser stub when the inlet of said main body receives the irrigation riser stub;
• a nipple having a threaded end and a plain end, the plain end of said nipple being mounted over the opening in the side Portion of said main body, the threaded end of said nipple being sized to threadingly engage a fire hose assembly;
• an actuator shaft having an proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said actuator shaft defining 5-sided head, said actuator shaft extending through a shaft opening defined by the closed end of said main body so that the proximal end of said actuator shaft is disposed outside said main body and so that the distal end of said actuator shaft is disposed within the interior cavity defined by said main body;
• and
• a yoke mounted to the distal end of said actuator shaft, said yoke being sized to operatively engage a valve stem associated with the irrigation riser stub.

A method of supplying fire fighting equipment with water from an irrigation system, the irrigation system including at least one irrigation riser stub, comprising:

• engaging a fire hydrant assembly with the irrigation riser stub, the fire hydrant assembly comprising:
• a main body having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the main body being configured to slidably receive the irrigation riser stub, the inlet end of the main body also defining a flange thereon that is sized and spaced to abut a bead provided on the irrigation riser stub when the fire hydrant assembly is engaged with the irrigation riser stub, the outlet end of the main body comprising a threaded portion thereon;
• and
• a valve actuator operatively associated with the main body of the fire hydrant assembly, the valve actuator operatively engaging a valve stem provided on the irrigation riser stub when the fire hydrant assembly is engaged with the irrigation riser stub;
• positioning a clamp over the flange provided on the inlet end of the main body and the bead provided on the irrigation riser stub;
• securing the clamp around the flange and bead;
• threading a fire hose onto the threaded portion of the outlet end of said main body;
• and
• operating the valve actuator on the fire hydrant assembly to operate the valve stem of the irrigation riser and initiate a flow of water through the fire hydrant assembly and into the fire hose.

A fire hydrant assembly for use with an irrigation riser stub, comprising:

• a main body defining an interior cavity therein, said main body having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of said main body being configured to slidably receive the irrigation riser stub, the outlet end of said main body comprising a male threaded portion sized to receive a female threaded portion of a fire hose assembly, wherein the inlet end and outlet end of said main body extend along respective inlet end and outlet end axes that are substantially perpendicular to one another;
• a clamp assembly operatively associated with the inlet end of said main body assembly, said clamp assembly being sized to releasably engage a bead provided on the irrigation riser stub when the fire hydrant assembly is mounted to the irrigation riser stub;
• a valve actuator mounted to said main body, said valve actuator comprising:
• an actuator shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said actuator shaft comprising a 5-sided head disposed outside said main body and wherein the distal end of said actuator shaft is disposed within the interior cavity defined by said main body;
• and
• a yoke mounted to the distal end of said actuator shaft, said yoke being sized to engage the valve stem of the irrigation riser stub when said hydrant assembly is mounted to the irrigation riser stub.