Remote fire hydrant actuator
OwnerWilliam Jackmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for attaching a fire hose to a fire hydrant and for facilitating remote operation of the hydrant actuator stem. A water supply module containing a length of conduit is coupled between a hydrant port and a fire hose. An articulated boom supports an upper motor assembly coupled to the actuator stem of the hydrant. A remote transmitter can be used to broadcast control signals to the water supply module to operate the motor assembly. The motor assembly rotates the actuator stem of the hydrant between fully closed and fully open positions. The apparatus frees a fire fighter normally stationed at the hydrant, permitting the fire fighter to engage in the initial fire fighting activities at the scene of a fire.
Claims13
An apparatus for controlling operation of a fire hydrant having a side port and a top mounted mechanical valve actuator stem, comprising:
- a rigid water supply module;
- hydrant coupler means movably mounted on said water supply module selectively fixing it to a side port of a fire hydrant;
- hose coupler means on said water supply module for attachment to a fire hose;
- conduit means on said water supply module in open communication between said hydrant coupler means and said hose coupler means for directing water from a fire hydrant to an attached fire hose;
- a boom movably mounted to said water supply module;
- motor assembly means movably mounted on said boom for drivingly engaging the valve actuator stem on a fire hydrant to which the water supply module is fixed;
- and
- control means operably connected to said motor assembly means for selectively causing it to rotate the valve actuator stem to control flow of water from the fire hydrant to an attached fire hose.
An apparatus for controlling operation of a fire hydrant having a side port and a top mounted mechanical valve actuator stem, comprising;
- a portable water supply module adapted to be hand supported at the side of a fire hydrant with which it is to be used;
- a length of water conduit on said water supply module;
- a hydrant coupler at one end of the length of conduit, said hydrant coupler being adapted to fix the water supply module to a fire hydrant by attachment of the hydrant coupler to an open side port;
- hose coupler means at the remaining end of the length of conduit for attachment to a fire hose;
- an articulated boom movably mounted to the water supply module about a first transverse axis;
- a motor assembly pivotably mounted to said articulated boom about a second transverse axis parallel to said first axis, said motor assembly having a reversible rotatable drive shaft;
- a socket on the motor assembly drive shaft adapted to engage the valve actuator stem of a fire hydrant;
- and control means operably connected to a motor assembly for selectively rotating its drive shaft to successively move an engaged valve actuator stem between fully closed and fully open conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.