Valve system and method for reducing water hammer effect
AssigneeHydrant Guard LLC
InventorsMelvin D. Plummer, Niklas Seyferth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A break away check valve that minimizes water hammer effect while closing and for use with a wet barrel fire hydrant and water main is provided. The valve includes a controllable resistance system that applies a desired resistance (dampening) to the valve's valve plates as the valve plates translate from an open position to a closed position. The resistance system includes a hydraulic piston with a tapered end that moves through an orifice filled with oil. As the increasing diameter of the piston moves into and passes through the orifice, the resistance to the piston increases. With the piston physically engaged with the valve plates, the valve plates are dampened accordingly.
Claims16
A valve system comprising:
- a valve plate coupled to a rotatable hub wherein rotational movement of the hub causes the valve plate to translate from a first position to a second position;
- a variable resistance mechanism physically engaged with the hub to provide a resistance to a rotational movement of the hub, the variable resistance mechanism including an orifice filled with a fluid and a first piston within a first cavity, the first piston including a first piston first end and a first piston second end;
- wherein rotational movement of the hub causes the first piston to pass within the orifice, thereby providing resistance to the movement of the first piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.