Nozzle cap assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11527821-B2
Application number	US-202117245181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Feb 12, 2016
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A nozzle cap assembly includes a body with a first curved side wall, the body defining a top end and a bottom end positioned opposite from the top end; a nut, the top end of the body positioned between the nut and the bottom end of the body; a spacer comprising a hollow body, the hollow body defining a curved outer surface, the spacer positioned between the nut and the bottom end of the body; and an antenna assembly coupled to the curved outer surface.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A nozzle cap assembly comprising:
a nozzle cap body defining a top end and a bottom end, the nozzle cap body defining a base positioned at the top end and a curved side wall extend from the base down to the bottom end, the nozzle cap body defining internal threading at the bottom end, the internal threading configured to receive and threadedly engage with a nozzle of a fire hydrant to couple the nozzle cap body to the nozzle;
an enclosure coupled to the top end, the enclosure at least partially defining an enclosure cavity;
an antenna assembly mounted to the enclosure; and
a nut base positioned opposite from the nozzle cap body, the enclosure and the antenna assembly positioned between the nut base and the base, the nut base being rotationally fixed relative to the nozzle cap body.

2. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna assembly comprises at least one antenna structure and a cover layer, and wherein the cover layer covers the at least one antenna structure.

3. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure defines a curved wall extending between the nozzle cap body and the nut base, and wherein the antenna assembly is curved and mounted to the curved wall.

4. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure defines a curved wall extending between the nozzle cap body and the nut base, and wherein the antenna assembly is positioned outward from the curved wall.

5. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 4 , wherein the curved wall is at least partially cylindrical.

6. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the antenna assembly comprises a first printed circuit board; and
the antenna assembly is coupled in electrical communication with a second printed circuit board positioned within the enclosure cavity.

7. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein a modem is coupled in electrical communication with the antenna assembly, and wherein the modem is positioned within the enclosure cavity between the nut base and the base.

8. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein a power source is coupled in electrical communication with the antenna assembly, and wherein the power source is positioned within the enclosure cavity between the nut base and the base.

9. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the nozzle cap body defines a nozzle cavity extending into the nozzle cap body from the bottom end towards the base;
the internal threading is disposed within the nozzle cavity;
the nozzle cavity is configured to receive the nozzle of the fire hydrant to seal the nozzle;
a vibration sensor is positioned at least partially within the enclosure cavity; and
the vibration sensor is configured to detect vibrations passing through the fire hydrant when the nozzle cap body is coupled to the fire hydrant.

10. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 9 , wherein the vibration sensor is mounted to the nozzle cap body.

11. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the enclosure comprises an enclosure base, a curved side wall, and a plate;
the curved side wall extends between the enclosure base and the plate; and
the enclosure base and the plate are positioned between the nut base and the base of the nozzle cap body.

12. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plate mounted within the enclosure between the nut base and the base, a modem mounted to the plate and coupled in electrical communication with the antenna assembly.

13. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the nozzle cap body defines an alignment groove; and
the alignment groove receives a curved side wall of the enclosure.

14. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline connected to a fire hydrant, the method comprising:
securing a nozzle cap assembly to a nozzle of the fire hydrant comprising engaging internal threading of the nozzle cap assembly with external threading of the nozzle, the nozzle cap assembly comprising:
a nozzle cap body defining a top end and a bottom end, the nozzle cap body defining a base positioned at the top end and a curved side wall extend from the base down to the bottom end, a nozzle cavity extending into the nozzle cap body from the bottom end towards the base, the curved side wall defining the internal threading within the nozzle cavity, the nozzle cavity receiving an end of the nozzle, the nozzle defining the external threading at the end;
an enclosure coupled to the top end, the enclosure at least partially defining an enclosure cavity;
an antenna assembly mounted to the enclosure;
a vibration sensor coupled in electrical communication with the antenna assembly; and
a nut base positioned opposite from the nozzle cap body, the enclosure and the antenna assembly positioned between the nut base and the base, the nut base being rotationally fixed relative to the nozzle cap body; and

detecting a vibration travelling through the fire hydrant with the vibration sensor, the vibration caused by the leak in the pipeline.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the antenna assembly comprises at least one antenna structure and a cover layer, and wherein the at least one antenna structure positioned between the enclosure and the cover layer.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antenna assembly is coupled to a curved side wall of the enclosure, and wherein the at least one antenna structure is positioned between the curved side wall and the cover layer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein an outer surface of the curved side wall of the nozzle cap body is positioned flush with an outer surface of the curved side wall of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the antenna assembly is positioned outward from a curved side wall of the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the curved side wall of the enclosure is substantially cylindrical.

20. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 11 , wherein the curved side wall of the enclosure is substantially cylindrical.

21. The nozzle cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is rotationally fixed relative to the nozzle cap body.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the enclosure is rotationally fixed relative to the nozzle cap body.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Ortiz Jorge Isaac
• Dunn David James Carlos
• Li Yanlong
• Faunce Jesse Alvin

Classifications

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/38 Primary

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/42 Primary

  Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome · CPC title

• H01Q21/205

  providing an omnidirectional coverage (turnstile aerials H01Q21/26) · CPC title