SYSTEM WITH SENSOR AND ACTUATED PURGE VALVE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to sensors in a utility system. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the coupling of a sensor into a utility system, such as a water utility.

BACKGROUND

A municipal utility system (e.g., a water system) can comprise various complex components designed to collect, treat, and distribute water to residences, businesses, and/or other facilities, e.g., within a city or town. The water utility must be sourced, cleaned, and distributed to each facility, usually through piping components. The quality and quantity of the source water can significantly impact the operation of the municipal water system. Regular inspections and system maintenance can ensure that the structure is safe and efficiently providing residents with potable drinking water. Since each component of the utility system plays a crucial role in delivering a safe, reliable water supply, the system should be carefully managed and maintained to protect public health, support economic activity, and/or safeguard the environment.

One method of managing and inspecting a utility system involves a sensor, such as a microphone adapted to function in a liquid environment. Such microphone sensors are typically referred to as hydrophones. A sensor, such as a hydrophone, is a type of microphone specifically designed to be used underwater to record and/or listen to underwater sounds. Many sensors of this type (comprising hydrophones) utilize a piezoelectric transducer that generates an electric potential when subjected to a pressure change, such as an underwater sound wave. The sensor can detect leaks by listening to the sounds generated by escaping water or gas. In some examples, hydrophones can pinpoint the leak location along a pipeline, which can be especially useful for large-scale infrastructure like water mains or oil and gas pipelines, where leaks can lead to significant economic and environmental damage.

Sensors such as hydrophones can also be used to monitor the integrity of the pipeline. For example, sounds made by a pipeline can give clues to its overall health. Changes in the usual noise level can indicate a problem with the pipeline's operation, a blockage, and/or an improperly functioning purge valve. In some cases, hydrophones and other sensors can monitor pipelines for signs of tampering and/or unauthorized activity. For example, the hydrophone system could detect the sound of drilling or other mechanical work. Fluid sensors and hydrophones can benefit research and development testing of plumbing systems or technologies, for example, to study the effects of different flow rates or pressures on the noise produced by a system. In addition, when air (or other compressible fluid) builds up, it dampens the signal obtained by the sensor.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and to exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

In one aspect, disclosed is a sensor assembly that can include a housing; a sensor mounted within the housing and configured to measure a parameter; a purge valve extending through the housing, the purge valve configured to selectively move between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and an actuator coupled to the purge valve and configured to selectively move the purge valve from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

In a further aspect, disclosed is a system that can include a housing coupled to a piping component configured to contain a fluid; a sensor mounted within the housing and configured to measure a parameter of the fluid; an actuator coupled to the housing; and a purge valve mounted in the housing and selectively movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

In yet another aspect, disclosed is a method that can include coupling a sensor assembly to a piping component, the sensor assembly comprising a housing supporting a sensor, an actuator, and a purge valve within the housing; and automatically activating the actuator to move the purge valve from a closed configuration to an open configuration and to selectively purge a fluid through the purge valve.

Various implementations described in the present disclosure may comprise additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the systems, methods, and/or features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain various principles of the disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire hydrant assembly in accordance with one aspect of the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the lower barrel and shoe with an actuator assembly extending through a valve plate assembly.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing another portion of the actuator assembly extending through the valve plate assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sensor assembly and the actuator assembly taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; the actuator assembly is shown in a closed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor assembly and actuator assembly taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 in an open configuration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another aspect of an actuator assembly.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 7 in a closed configuration taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator assembly of FIG. 7 in an open configuration taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of detail 10 in FIG. 8 showing the closed portion of the purge valve in the closed configuration.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of detail 11 in FIG. 9 showing the open portion of the purge valve in the open configuration.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the purge valve of FIG. 7, comprising a curvilinear gasket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

Linear actuator and sensor assemblies can be designed to measure various parameters in a utility system. The sensor assembly can monitor parameters with a sensor housed within a structure of the utility system. The linear actuator can comprise a purge valve and an actuator. The actuator can comprise an electric actuation to translate a stem to facilitate the intermittent movement of the purge valve between open and closed configurations. The sensor can comprise one or more types, like piezoelectric, hydrophone, and vibration sensors, and can be configured to capture the fluid parameters in the utility system. The purge valve features a stem that can translate and/or rotate a hinge mechanism to remove or purge compressible fluid to maintain the sensor in the incompressible fluid. The actuator can be positioned and/or configured to control the incompressible/compressible fluid boundary across the system to maintain the sensor components effectively submerged in incompressible fluid and obtain more accurate measurements from the sensors submerged in the incompressible fluid.

In a broader system, this assembly can be integrated into piping components containing fluids, wherein it measures fluid parameters and manages fluid flow using the purge valve and actuator. The system's design can also allow integration with fire hydrants, where the sensor can be installed within the hydrant's valve structure. The method of operation can involve coupling this assembly to piping systems and using the actuator to control the purge valve's position, thereby regulating fluid flow.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydrant assembly 100, e.g., a dry-barrel fire hydrant, in accordance with one aspect of the current disclosure. The hydrant assembly 100 can be a wet barrel fire hydrant in various aspects of the current disclosure. The hydrant assembly 100 can comprise a shoe 108, an upper barrel portion 104, and a lower barrel 106. Hydrant assembly 100 can comprise water in the shoe and/or barrel, or hydrant assembly 100 can comprise a valve that separates the incompressible fluid (e.g., water) from the compressible fluid (e.g., air) in the shoe and/or barrel. A dry barrel fire hydrant is a hydrant that separates the incompressible fluid from the compressible fluid in the barrel and/or shoe. The hydrant assembly 100 can comprise a hydrant 102, an upper barrel portion 104 comprising a bonnet 128, a lower barrel 106, and a hydrant shoe 108. An operating nut 110 can move a valve (such as a valve plate assembly 200, seen with reference to FIG. 2) in the hydrant shoe 108 by turning the operating nut 110, such as with a wrench, thereby filling the hydrant 102 of the hydrant assembly 100 with pressurized water.

When not in use, the valve assembly 200 can prevent water from the piping system from accessing the lower barrel 106 and/or hydrant 102. Maintaining a dry lower barrel 106 and hydrant 102 can be important in cold winter months, e.g., when trapped water inside the hydrant assembly 100 can freeze and/or cause damage. The operating nut 110 can facilitate actuation of the valve assembly 200 to permit water access for use when needed and maintain dryness within the hydrant assembly when not in use, to protect hydrant assembly 100. Operating nut 110 can reduce maintenance and/or facilitate the quick operation of hydrant 102, e.g., in an emergency response to a fire or for system maintenance. The central axis 150 extends centrally through the hydrant assembly 100 and forms a radial coordinate system for the components within the hydrant assembly 100.

Hydrant 102 can receive emergency equipment attached to a pump nozzle cap 112 and/or a hose nozzle cap 114 of the hydrant 102. One or more of the pump nozzle cap 112 and/or the hose nozzle cap 114 can be configured to couple to emergency equipment. When the emergency equipment is attached to hydrant 102, an operating nut 110 can be rotated to move the valve assembly 200 and charge the lower barrel 106 of hydrant 102. When the hydrant is charged, the attached equipment can respond to an emergency, e.g., to put out a fire. When the operating nut 100 is actuated to close the valve assembly 200, and the emergency equipment is removed, the water in the lower barrel 106 of hydrant 102 can drain out of a gap 132 between 120, a lower barrel flange 120, and a shoe flange 122.

In addition, upper barrel flange 116 on the hydrant 102 and/or upper barrel portion 104 can be coupled to a flange 130 on the lower barrel 106 with various flange fasteners 118 to join flanges 116, 130 to create a fluid-tight seal that can deliver water from the lower barrel 106 to the hydrant 102. Similarly, the lower barrel 106 can extend from flange 130 to a lower barrel flange 120 coupled to a shoe flange 122 of the hydrant shoe 108 with one or more shoe fasteners 124. The gap 132 can exist between the lower barrel flange 120 and shoe flange 122. A supply flange 126 can interconnect hydrant shoe 108 to a stub and/or directly to the utility, e.g., a water supply line.

FIG. 2 illustrates the valve plate assembly 200 installed within a portion of the lower barrel 106 and the hydrant shoe 108. The valve plate assembly 200 can occupy the gap 132 in various aspects. The valve plate assembly 200 can comprise an actuator assembly 250 installed in one or more components of the valve plate assembly 200. In various aspects, the actuator assembly 250 can be a linear translation and/or a revolving rotational configuration. Actuator assembly 250 can comprise an actuator 255 (e.g., linear and/or rotary actuator) and/or a stem 260.

In various aspects, valve plate assembly 200 can comprise actuator assembly 250 extending through the stem 212 and/or extending through a portion of the valve plate assembly 200 off center from the stem 212. Various aspects of the placement and/or modification of valve plate assembly 200 to comprise actuator assembly 250 can be found in related U.S. Patent Application of Gibson, et al., filed on Aug. 14, 2024, and bearing application Ser. No. 18/804,548, which incorporates U.S. Patent Application of Choi, et al., bearing Publication Number 2023/0399826, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 9,664,297 to Sliger, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 10,968,609 to Sitnikov, et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 3 shows another portion of the linear actuator assembly 250 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and extending through the valve plate assembly 200. Concerning FIGS. 2 and 3, valve plate assembly 200 can comprise an upper valve plate 202, a sealing disc 204, and/or a lower valve plate 206. As described above, the lower barrel 106 can be coupled to the hydrant shoe 108 with one or more shoe fasteners 124. For example, a sleeve 208 can be threadedly engaged with a locking arm 210 captured within the gap 132 by one or more shoe fasteners 124 in a portion of the sleeve 208. A shaft 212 can extend from valve plate assembly 200 to operating nut 110 (seen with reference to FIG. 1) to couple the movement of operating nut 110 with the opening/closing of the valve plate assembly 200. Shaft 212 can comprise a nub 214 and a nut 216 that capture valve plate assembly 200. For example, valve plate assembly 200 can be interposed between nub 214 and nut 216, and nut 216 can be tightened to secure valve plate assembly 200 against nub 214. In this way, nut 216 can be tightened to secure upper valve plate 202, sealing disc 204, and/or lower valve plate 206 relative to one another to ensure that sealing disc 204 can form a fluid-tight seal against sleeve 208.

In various aspects, as shown in FIG. 2, sealing disc 204 can comprise a rubber exterior 218 and a metal interior 220. For example, the rubber exterior 218 can comprise a plastic, rubber, or vulcanized rubber to promote a watertight seal against sleeve 208, and/or the metal interior 220 can comprise steel or other similarly rigid materials known in the field, such as stainless and/or cast steel, to form a structural sealing disc 204 that can resist deformation under pressure and/or during opening/closing cycles.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of actuator assembly 250 comprising actuator 255. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view that shows the actuator assembly 250 with the actuator 255 in a closed configuration 500. FIG. 6 is a similar cross-section as FIG. 5 but shows the actuator assembly 250 in an open configuration 600.

Concerning FIGS. 4-6, in the closed configuration 500, a purge valve 550 can block fluid escape, and in the open configuration 600, purge valve 550 can move to facilitate the escape and purging of trapped compressible fluid in the system. In various aspects, purge valve 550 can be mounted in housing 402 and selectively movable (e.g., translated and/or rotated) from the closed configuration 500 to the open configuration 600.

Actuator assembly 250 can comprise a sensor assembly 400 and a housing 402. Sensor assembly 400 can comprise cable 420 and/or a sensor 520 that can be configured to measure parameters of the incompressible fluid. For example, cable 420 can extend through a top surface 424 of housing 402 to electronically interconnect cable 420 with sensor 520. Similarly, actuator 255 and/or stem 260 can extend through top surface 424 to mechanically couple actuator 255 to purge valve 550. Housing 402 can be coupled to actuator 255, e.g., a linear, translating, and/or rotational actuator configured to move, translate, and/or rotate stem 260. As illustrated, actuator 255 can linearly translate stem 260 to move purge valve 550 from closed configuration 500 to open configuration 600.

Actuator assembly 250 can comprise a joint 502 and various gaskets 504. Joint 502 can mechanically couple actuator 255 to stem 260, for example, so that when actuator 255 translates stem 260, purge valve 550 can move from closed configuration 500 to open configuration 600. Various gaskets 504 can be positioned with fittings 506. For example, an upper gasket 504a can be captured by an upper fitting 506a at an upper end of stem 260 on the purge valve 550, and a lower gasket 504b can be captured by a lower fitting 506b at a lower end of stem 260 of the purge valve 550. Translating the lower gasket 504b captured by lower fitting 506b can facilitate opening a passageway 650 comprising a stem passageway portion 630 defined about the stem 260 and a housing passageway portion 640 defined in housing 402 and extending through a top or side surface 610 of housing 402 and out an exit 620 defined in the side surface 610 of the housing 402 in the open configuration 600. In various aspects, passageway 650 can comprise only one of the stem passageway portion 630 or the housing passageway portion 640. In aspects as shown in FIG. 6, passageway 650 can comprise both the stem passageway portion 630 extending about stem 260 and the housing passageway portion 640 extending from an interior surface 840 (FIG. 8) or an interior portion of housing 402, like stem passageway portion 630 and extend to an exterior of housing 402.

Cable 420 can extend through housing 402 to electronically connect sensor 520 mounted inside to a network and/or operating system. Sensor 520 can be a piezoelectric sensor configured to transform a parameter into an electronic signal. For example, sensor 520 can transmit electronic signals along cable 420 to communicate measured parameters of the incompressible fluid trapped within housing 402. Cable 420 can extend from housing 402 externally and/or can extend within housing 402. In various aspects, sensor 520 can transmit electronic signals and/or communicate measured parameters without cable 420, e.g., using standard wireless frequencies and standards, such as Bluetooth, cellular, wifi, mesh nodes, etc.

Sensor assembly 400 can support sensor 520. Sensor 520 can be configured to measure a parameter of the system, e.g., a parameter in the water supply line. In various aspects, actuator 255 can be an electric linear actuator and/or can comprise a purge valve 550 extending through the housing 402 that can move between a closed configuration 500 and an open configuration 600. Actuator 255 can be coupled to purge valve 550 to facilitate movement and indirectly open/close the purge valve 550. In various aspects, actuator 255 can be coupled directly to purge valve 550. Actuator 255 can be electric and/or linear. Actuator 255 can be configured to automatically and/or periodically move purge valve 550, which can return to the closed configuration 500 when the actuator 255 is inactive. Stated differently, the default configuration of actuator 255 can be orienting the actuator 255 in the closed configuration 500.

In various aspects, actuator 255 and/or actuator assembly 250 can function automatically. As used herein, “automatically” means operation without human input. For example, actuator 255 can be configured to purge periodically (e.g., automatically) to maintain a low volume of compressible fluid (e.g., gas or air) in the system. In various aspects, actuator 255 can operate in response to a parameter sensed by sensor 520, after the operation of hydrant 102 (e.g., immediately or after a drainage time), and/or a combination of the factors listed above. The actuator assembly 250 can be configured to automatically operate actuator 255, e.g., without human user or operator input, to remove compressible fluids from the system and maintain the sensor 520 submerged in an incompressible fluid.

Sensor 520 can be selected from a group of one or more types of sensors, including but not limited to piezoelectric and acoustic sensors. For example, sensor 520 can be selected from various piezoelectric/acoustic options comprising a hydrophone, a vibration sensor, a pressure transducer, a flow meter, an acoustic emission sensor, a pH sensor, a chemical sensor, a temperature sensor, a strain gauge, a noise logger, and/or a remote field eddy current sensor.

Housing 402 can be threadedly coupled to a modular connector 408. Housing 402 can comprise a tool landing surface 410, and modular connector 408 can comprise a modular tool surface 412 configured to allow a tool to engage the modular connector 408 to join modular connector 408 to housing 402 threadedly. For example, modular connector 408 can join a female end of housing 402 to another female joint in the utility system. Modular connector 408 can comprise threads 414 on a male end of modular connector 408 configured to rotate modular connector 408 into a female end of housing 402 configured to receive the modular connector 408 male end. Stated differently, modular connector 408 can be interposed between a female end of housing 402 and another female end of the utility system.

A cylindrical sleeve 416 on housing 402 can support actuator 255 and facilitate the linear translation of stem 260. In aspects, cable 420 can comprise internal threads configured to receive a fastener 418 and/or threads 406 of actuator 255.

The system can connect housing 402 to a piping component, or pipe, containing an incompressible fluid. Sensor 520 can be disposed within housing 402 to measure one or more fluid parameters. The actuator 255 and purge valve 550 can move between the closed configuration 500 and the open configuration 600. Actuator 255 can be linear (e.g., translate linearly along a central axis of stem 260) and/or electronic, e.g., powered by cable 420. Actuator 255 can automatically and/or periodically adjust the purge valve 550 to open and close. Actuator 255 can extend through the top surface 424 of housing 402 to form passageway 650 through exit 620 on the side surface 610. The purge valve 550 can comprise stem 260, defining the passageway 650 and/or a biased elastomer to bias and maintain the open configuration 600. The system can alternatively integrate within the valve and shoe 108, wherein the sensor 520 can be installed on the valve plate assembly 200 within the hydrant shoe 108 of the hydrant assembly 100. For example, actuator 255 can be installed parallel to and/or radially separated from the central axis 150 of shaft 212. Stated differently, the valve plate assembly 200 defines the central axis 150, and the actuator 255 and/or sensor 520 can be installed through the valve plate assembly 200 in a direction parallel to the central axis 150 and radially separated from the central axis 150.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another aspect of an actuator assembly 700 and can be substantially similar to the actuator assembly 250. The mechanism of opening and closing the actuator assembly 700 can reverse the movement of actuator 255 to save power and reduce the force actuator 255 exerts to move the purge valve 550 from the closed configuration 500 to the open configuration 600. Similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of actuator 255 in the closed configuration 500, and analogous to FIG. 6, FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the actuator 255 in the open configuration 600.

Similar to the aspects above, purge valve 550 can feature stem 260 extending through housing 402. Movement of stem 260 can open passageway 650, defined in housing 402, to purge the compressible fluids from the system out of exit 620. In various aspects, stem 260 can comprise a hinge assembly 800 comprising a hinge 810 configured to rotate a bracket 820 and a gasket 830 to cover exit 620 of passageway 650. For example, gasket 830 can fluidly seal hinge assembly 800 on an interior surface 840 of housing 402 to cover passageway 650. In various aspects, interior surface 840 can define a cavity 850 within housing 402, comprising incompressible and/or compressible fluid. The compressible fluid trapped in cavity 850 can be purged to an external environment 860 outside of housing 402. In the closed configuration 500, the stem 260 can secure the hinge assembly 800 over the passageway 650 along interior surface 840 to block compressible fluids (e.g., air) from escaping through the passageway 650. In the open configuration 600, stem 260 can move upwards within housing 402 and away from the hinge assembly 800. The stem 260 can release contact with a backside of bracket 820 to permit rotation of bracket 820 and gasket 830 at hinge 810. The translating motion of stem 260 can transition actuator assembly 700 between the closed configuration 500 and the open configuration 600. An exit port or passageway 650 from the interior surface 840 to exit 620 can extend along a portion of the stem and/or housing. Passageway 650 can be partially defined through housing 402, stem 260, side surface 610, interior surface 840, and/or exit 620.

In various aspects, a spring material can bias the hinge 810 of the hinge assembly 800. For example, the spring can be an elastomeric material for gasket 830. The elastomer can bias hinge assembly 800 into the open configuration 600 when the stem 260 releases from bracket 820 of the hinge assembly 800. The biased configuration of the elastomer, e.g., within gasket 830, can reduce the force used by the actuator 255—positioned above the top surface 424 of the housing 402—to control (e.g., open and close) the purge valve 550. Specifically, stem 260 can extend through the top surface 424 to create an exit port (e.g., passageway 650) that directs escaping fluid (e.g., air) along stem 260 and/or transversely to stem 260 and out a side of housing 402.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are detailed views of details 10 and 11 (in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively), showing the portion of the purge valve 550 in the closed configuration 500 and open configuration 600, respectively. Concerning FIGS. 10 and 11, stem 260 can restrain the hinge assembly 800 movements in the closed configuration 500, e.g., by pressing against the bracket 820 and/or gasket 830 to keep hinge assembly 800 compressed against the interior surface 840 of housing 402. In the open configuration 600, stem 260 can be moved away from bracket 820 and/or gasket 830 of the hinge assembly 800, and a biasing element in gasket 830 (e.g., an elastomer, rubber, polymer, vulcanized rubber, and/or shaped spring). Gasket 830 can bias hinge assembly 800 from the closed configuration 500 and into the open configuration 600. The bias element (e.g., gasket 830) can thus reduce the force exerted by actuator 255, thereby reducing the maintenance and enhancing the longevity of actuator 255.

FIG. 12 is another detailed view of the linear actuator of FIG. 7, which can comprise a curvilinear gasket 1200. Curvilinear gasket 1200 can be substantially the same as gasket 830, except the shape of curvilinear gasket 1200 can provide an increased biasing force on hinge assembly 800 when the stem 260 is moved along bracket 820 and/or curvilinear gasket 1200. Further, the curvilinear gasket 1200 can enhance any effect of fluids captured between curvilinear gasket 1200 and a curvilinear inner surface 1210 of the housing 402 to reduce the work and/or force exerted from actuator 255 to move the stem 260 from closed configuration 500 to open configuration 600. As illustrated, curvilinear gasket 1200 can be convex, and curvilinear inner surface 1210 can be concave. However, other configurations of non-linear and/or curvilinear gasket 1200 and/or curvilinear inner surface 1210 are contemplated in various aspects.

The curvilinear inner surface 1210 can be configured to receive curvilinear gasket 1200. In the closed configuration 500, the curvilinear inner surface 1210 can stabilize the fluid-tight seal formed by the curvilinear gasket 1200. The curvilinear inner surface 1210 can reduce the force used to move stem 260 from closed configuration 500 to open configuration 600 to allow access to passageway 650 through housing 402.

As described above, the purge valve 550 can feature stem 260 extending through housing 402 to define at least a portion of passageway 650. Additionally, purge valve 550 can comprise stem 260 and/or hinge assembly 800 to cover a portion of passageway 650, impeding and/or occluding fluid from exit 620. In some aspects, in the closed configuration 500, the stem 260 can secure the hinge assembly 800 over a portion of the passageway 650 and occlude exit 620. In the open configuration 600, the stem 260 moves away from the hinge 810 and allows bracket 820 and/or gasket 830 to move away from the passageway 650 and permit fluid to flow through the exit 620. In this way, rotation about hinge 810 can selectively define a fluid port (e.g., through passageway 650) out exit 620.

An elastomer and/or rubber-like material can be used in gasket 830 to bias the hinge assembly 800 into the open configuration 600 when the stem 260 is translated away from bracket 820. Actuator 255 can be positioned above the top surface 424 of housing 402 and be configured to control purge valve 550. Purge valve 550 can extend through various surfaces of housing 402 (e.g., top surface 424, side surface 610, and/or interior surface 840) to create the passageway 650 that directs escaping fluid (e.g., air) transversely relative to the central axis of the stem 260 and out of the purge valve 550 and exit 620.

In some aspects, a method involves installing the sensor assembly 400 and/or actuator assembly 250 to housing 402 and/or coupling housing 402 to a piping component, such as a pipe. For example, the method can comprise coupling the sensor 520 and/or actuator 255 on or within housing 402 to form purge valve 550 that maintains (e.g., periodically and/or automatically) the sensor 520 in incompressible fluid and purges compressible fluids from the pipe. When housing 402 is coupled to the pipe, activating the actuator 255 can open/close the purge valve 550 and selectively purge compressible fluid from an incompressible system (e.g., purge air from a water utility system). If the actuator 255 is an electric linear type, it can move the stem 260 away from the hinge 810 to open the actuator 255. This method can also apply to hydrant 102 and/or another fire piping setup, where the sensor assembly 400 is connected to the valve plate assembly 200, e.g., in the hydrant shoe 108.

The description is provided as an enabling teaching of the present devices, systems, and/or methods in their best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible, can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.

As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a quantity of one of a particular element can comprise two or more such elements unless the context indicates otherwise. In addition, any of the elements described herein can be a first such element, a second such element, and so forth (e.g., a first widget and a second widget, even if only a “widget” is referenced).

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect comprises from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about” or “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

For purposes of the current disclosure, a material property or dimension measuring about X or substantially X on a particular measurement scale measures within a range between X plus an industry-standard upper tolerance for the specified measurement and X minus an industry-standard lower tolerance for the specified measurement. Because tolerances can vary between different materials, processes and between different models, the tolerance for a particular measurement of a particular component can fall within a range of tolerances.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur and that the description comprises instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also comprises any combination of members of that list. The phrase “at least one of A and B,” as used herein, means “only A, only B, or both A and B,” while the phrase “one of A and B” means “A or B.”

As used herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term “monolithic” in the description of a component means that the component is formed as a singular component that constitutes a single material without joints or seams.

To simplify the description of various elements disclosed herein, the conventions of “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inside,” “outside,” “inboard,” “outboard,” “horizontal,” and/or “vertical” may be referenced. Unless stated otherwise, “front” describes that end of the seat nearest to and occupied by a user of a seat; “rear” is that end of the seat that is opposite or distal the front; “left” is that which is to the left of or facing left from a person sitting in the seat and facing towards the front; and “right” is that which is to the right of or facing right from that same person while sitting in the seat and facing towards the front. “Horizontal” or “horizontal orientation” describes that which is in a plane extending from left to right and aligned with the horizon. “Vertical” or “vertical orientation” describes that which is in a plane angled at 90 degrees to the horizontal.

One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular aspects or that one or more particular aspects necessarily comprise logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular aspect.

It should be emphasized that the above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code that comprise one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included in which functions may not be included or executed at all, may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described aspect(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.