Fire hydrant repair tool, and systems and methods of using same
OwnerJames Haldemaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fire hydrant repair tool is provided for removing a main valve of a fire hydrant, wherein the main valve has a pair of ring tabs extending upwardly therefrom. The fire hydrant repair tool can include a valve key having a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to receive, respectively, the first and second ring tabs. Each of the first and second receptacles can define a first face that is configured to bias against the first side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs, and a second face that is configured to bias against the second side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs. A shaft can be coupled to the valve key.
Claims20
A fire hydrant repair tool for removing a main valve of a fire hydrant, the main valve having a central rotational axis, an upper surface, a first ring tab extending upwardly from the upper surface, and a second ring tab extending upwardly from the upper surface opposite the first ring tab relative to a radial axis that is perpendicular to the rotational axis, wherein each of the first and second ring tabs have a first side and a second side, the fire hydrant repair tool comprising:
- a valve key comprising:
- a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to receive, respectively, the first and second ring tabs, wherein each of the first and second receptacles defines:
- a first face that is configured to bias against the first side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs, and
- a second face that is configured to bias against the second side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs;
- and
- a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end that is spaced from the first end relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first end of the shaft is coupled to the valve key.
A method comprising:
- coupling a valve key to a shaft to form a valve key and shaft assembly, wherein the valve key defines:
- a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to receive, respectively, first and second seat ring tabs of a main valve of a fire hydrant, each the first and second ring tabs having a first side and a second side, wherein each of the first and second receptacles defines:
- a first face that is configured to bias against the first side of a respective seat ring tab of the first and second seat ring tabs the main valve, and
- a second face that is configured to bias against the second side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs;
- lowering the valve key into the fire hydrant until the first and second ring tabs of the fire hydrant are received within the first and second receptacles of the valve key;
- and
- applying a torque to the shaft to decouple the main valve from a body of the fire hydrant.
A kit comprising:
- a shaft;
- and
- a plurality of valve keys, each valve key comprising:
- a first receptacle and a second receptacle that are configured to receive, respectively, first and second ring tabs of a particular fire hydrant main valve, wherein each of the first and second receptacles defines:
- a first face that is configured to bias against the first side of a respective ring tab of the first and second ring tabs, and
- a second face that is configured to bias against the second side of a respective
- ring tab of the first and second ring tabs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.