Hydrant Security System
AssigneeWCM Industries, Inc.
InventorsEric Pilarczyk, William T. Ball, William L. Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A locking system is provided for interconnection to a hydrant. The locking system is generally comprised of a lock body and lock that work in concert to block the operation of hydrant components, namely a control rod and/or a stem screw, that controls fluid flow through the hydrant.
Claims19
A hydrant locking device adapted for interconnection to a hydrant body having an inlet that is associated with a fluid pipe, an outlet, and a fluid control portion that includes a threaded portion that surrounds a stem screw and receives a packing nut, comprising:
- a lock body having a threaded end adapted to interconnect to the threaded portion of the hydrant body, a cavity and an aperture associating said cavity to an outer surface of said lock body;
- a cylindrically-shaped lock having a selectively movable bolt and an outer surface with a groove integrated therein, said lock being selectively positioned within said cavity of said lock body wherein said bolt is selectively positioned within said aperture to fix said lock and said lock body together;
- a cover comprised of a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface that is positionable over said outer surface of said lock body, said cover also including a portion that extends into an internal volume of said cover, said portion having a plurality of fingers that engage said groove to fix said cover to said lock;
- and
- a key that is associated with said lock to selectively move said bolt.
A hydrant locking device adapted for interconnection to a hydrant body having an inlet that is associated with a fluid pipe, an outlet, and a fluid control portion that includes a portion that surrounds a stem screw and receives a packing nut, comprising:
- a lock body adapted to interconnect to the hydrant body;
- and
- a cylindrically-shaped lock having a selectively movable bolt and an outer surface with a groove integrated therein, said lock being selectively positioned within said lock body wherein said bolt selectively interacts with said lock body to fix said lock and said lock body together.
In combination a fluid hydrant and a locking device therefore, comprising:
- a hydrant comprising:
- a pipe with a first end and a second end, said pipe having a longitudinal axis,
- a housing associated with said first end of said pipe,
- an inlet valve associated with said second end of said pipe,
- a rod with a first end and a second end positioned within said pipe,
- a plunger associated said second end of said rod that cooperates with said inlet valve to selectively open and close said inlet valve, wherein rotation of said rod transitions said rod between a first position that closes said inlet valve and a second position that opens said inlet valve,
- a stem screw, and
- a drain valve with a first end operably associated with said stem screw and a second end operatively associated with said first end of said rod, wherein rotation of said stem screw moves said drain valve along said longitudinal axis, said drain valve being associated with said rod whereby said rod is moved between said first position and said second position, wherein said drain valve is substantially prevented from rotating, and wherein said stem screw does not move substantially along said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a lock, comprising:
- a lock body adapted to interconnect to the hydrant body;
- and
- a cylindrically-shaped lock having a selectively movable bolt and an outer surface with a groove integrated therein, said lock being selectively positioned within said lock body wherein said bolt selectively interacts with said lock body to fix said lock and said lock body together.
The system of claim 13, wherein said hydrant body comprises an inlet that is associated with a fluid pipe, an outlet, and a fluid control portion that includes a threaded portion that surrounds a stem screw and receives a packing nut;
- wherein said lock body includes a threaded end adapted to interconnect to the threaded portion of the hydrant body, a cavity and an aperture associating said cavity to an outer surface of said lock body;
- wherein said a lock having a selectively movable bolt and an outer surface with a groove integrated therein, said lock being selectively positioned within said cavity of said lock body wherein said bolt is selectively positioned within said aperture to fix said lock and said lock body together;
- and
- further comprising a cover comprised of a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface that is positionable over said outer surface of said lock body, said cover also including a portion that extends into an internal volume of said cover, said portion having a plurality of fingers that engage said groove to fix said cover to said lock.
The device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of fingers are resiliently deflectable and terminate in a tip that interface with said groove of said lock.
The device of claim 15, wherein said cover is freely rotatable about said lock.
A method of restricting the ability to control the flow of fluid through a hydrant that includes a housing with an inlet pipe, the inlet pipe having a control rod that is associated on one end with a plunger wherein the selective movement thereof allows the flow of fluid through the pipe and on another end with a stem screw that controls the position of the control rod, the stem screw being interconnected with a handle and positioned within a cavity of the hydrant that receives a packing nut that supports the handle, comprising:
- removing said handle;
- removing said packing nut;
- interconnecting a lock body to said hydrant body;
- and
- inserting a lock into said lock body, thereby blocking access to said stem screw.
The method of claim 19, further comprising:
- engaging a cover on top of said lock body that generally prevents rotation thereof, said cover being rotatably engaged onto said lock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.