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7.1.D. - Page 12
<br /> US 6,627,089 B1
<br /> 3 4
<br /> the upper end of the actuator holds the valve closed even if An advantage of the present invention is that it preserves
<br /> water pressure is lost.The upper end of the vertical barrel water.
<br /> includes an internally threaded adapter. The top stock Another advantage of the present invention is that it
<br /> includes a casing which is externally threaded to mate with prevents the dumping of water containing chlorine and other
<br /> the adapter and a second rod which is threaded to male with 5 chemicals, deposits, sediments, and particulates from the
<br /> the actuator rod.The hydrant is assembled by removing the water main into the environment.
<br /> lock nut and screwing the parts together while an operating
<br /> An additional advantage of the present invention is that it
<br /> screw is swung free,then swinging the operating screw into
<br /> engagement with the second rod,A preferred embodiment provides a means for meeting environmental requirements
<br /> permits water samples to be taken from the hydrant, An 10 for periodic flushing of a water supply system.
<br /> alternative embodiment provides automatic draining sys- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
<br /> terns to make the hydrant frost proof. Again, this system
<br /> wastes large quantities of water and dumps water with These and other details of my invention will be described
<br /> chemicals into the environment. in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is
<br /> What is needed is a system for periodically cleaning water 15 furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of
<br /> mains which does not waste water or dump municipal water the invention,and in which drawing:
<br /> containing chemicals and pipe sediments into the environ- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the components
<br /> merit. of the portable re-circulating/filtering/flushing system and
<br /> indicating the flow utilized in the method of the invention,
<br /> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
<br /> An object of the present invention is to provide a system 20 BEST MADE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
<br /> and method for periodically cleaning water mains without INVENTION
<br /> wasting water and without dumping the municipal water In FIG. 1 a portable re-circulating/filtering/flushing sys-
<br /> containing chemicals and pipe deposits and sediments into tern 20 for cleaning water supply systems in an environ-
<br /> the environment. 25 mentally responsible and efficient manner comprises at least
<br /> A related object of the present invention is to utilize an one pump 21, at least one filter 22 and hoses 23 and 24
<br /> enclosed system and method which pumps water out of the forming a closed conduit and filtering system mounted on a
<br /> water main between hydrants at higher flow rates to release truck or other vehicle.
<br /> deposits,particulates and sediment from the water main and The closed conduit and filtering system conducts a flow of
<br /> then pump the water through fillers to clean out the deposits, 30 water(flow direction indicated by arrows)between a first
<br /> particulates and sediment,pumping the cleaned water back point,preferably a hydrant 441A in a water supply system and
<br /> into the water main,thereby not wasting any water and not a second point,preferably another hydrant 4011 in a water
<br /> pumping chlorinated water,deposits,particulates and sedi- supply system with water mains 30,31, and 32 and valves
<br /> merits into the environment. 33 and trunk pipes 41A and 41B connected to the hydrants,
<br /> One more object of the present invention is to provide a 35 The closed system conducts the flow of water out of the
<br /> mobile system mounted on a truck containing the hoses, water supply system at the first point, the hydrant 40A,
<br /> pumps,and filters used for the method of cleaning the water through a hose 23 and returns the flow of water, after
<br /> main one section at a time between hydrants using the closed filtering back into the water supply system at the second
<br /> recirculating pumping,filtering,and flushing method. point, the hydrant 40B.
<br /> In brief, the mobile re-circulating/filtering/flushing 40 At least one pump 21 pumps the flow of water out of the
<br /> machine comprises a large bobtail truck,semi truck/trailer or water supply system from hydrant 40A through the filters 22
<br /> just a trailer.Mounted to the truck/trailer vehicle is a large and back into the water supply system through hydrant 40B.
<br /> multi-media filter system with one to five filter vessels all The pump 21 causes an increased flow rate of the water
<br /> depending on the flow requirements needed to serve a flowing within the water supply system through water main
<br /> particular application.On the inlet side of the filter system 45 30 from the second point, hydrant 40B to the first point,
<br /> is a check valve and a section of clear tube to visually inspect hydrant 40A.The increased flow rate through the water main
<br /> the influent or incoming water.On the outlet side of the filler 30 cleans any undesirable matter, including deposits,
<br /> system is a spring-loaded flapper valve to keep the system sediment, and particulates in the water supply system
<br /> from draining after disconnecting.A recirculating pump is between the two hydrants 40B and 40A.
<br /> installed to move the water in the circuit. Both inlet and 50 Preferably a series of filters 22,but at least one filter,in
<br /> outlet is connected to the hydrant or blow-off with a flexible the closed conduit system receives the flow of water outside
<br /> hose that is rolled up after use.The system further comprises of the water supply system filters out all of the undesirable
<br /> a metering system for rate of flow and a chemical injector for matter from the water outside of the water supply system so
<br /> the addition of chlorine etc.to the water system. that the water supply system is cleaned of all the undesirable
<br /> The method of using the portable re-circulating/filtering/ 5s matter in the water main 30 between the hydrants 40B and
<br /> flushing system comprises circulating the water of a desired 40A.All of the flow of water taken from the water supply
<br /> portion of main(at a flow rate of approximately 5 feet per system is returned to the water supply system free of all the
<br /> second) out of a hydrant or blow-off, through the filter undesirable matter after filtering the water. No water is
<br /> system then back into the water main through another wasted or run off into the environment.
<br /> hydrant or blow-off. This procedure would clean the sedi- to A means of inspecting the quality of the flow of water in
<br /> merit out of the water system while eliminating the need to the closed conduit system comprises at least one portion of
<br /> waste large volumes of water, dechlorinate, deal with the closed conduit system comprising a means for viewing
<br /> NPDES requirements/permits, flooding, private property and visually inspecting the flow of water,such as a check
<br /> damage and traffic problems. valve and a section of clear tube 25A to visually inspect the
<br /> Other applications for this machine and method are tank 65 flow of water coming into the closed conduit system and
<br /> draining,tank cleaning and other uses where wasting water another check valve and a section of clear tube 25B could be
<br /> could cause many problems. provided to inspect the flow of water leaving the filters 22.
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