US 11,946,233 B2
Hydrant monitoring system
Timofey Sitnikov, McDonald, TN (US); Paul S. Gifford, Chattanooga, TN (US); and Carlos Stephen Moreno, Chattanooga, TN (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/828,998.
Application 17/828,998 is a continuation of application No. 17/104,637, filed on Nov. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,591,778.
Application 17/104,637 is a continuation of application No. 16/435,339, filed on Jun. 7, 2019, granted, now 10,941,545, issued on Mar. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290416 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E03B 9/04 (2006.01); G01L 19/08 (2006.01)
CPC E03B 9/04 (2013.01) [G01L 19/086 (2013.01); Y10T 137/5456 (2015.04)] 40 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fire hydrant comprising:
an upper barrel defining a cavity for fluid flow;
a lower barrel connected to a bottom of the upper barrel and defining a cavity in fluid communication with the cavity of the upper barrel;
a valve plate located in sealing communication with a lower end of the lower barrel;
a stem mechanically connected to the valve plate and configured to allow opening and closing of the valve plate, a top end of a lower stem of the stem comprising a sealing cap; and
a sensing assembly located within at least one of the cavity of the lower barrel and the cavity of the upper barrel, the sensing assembly comprising:
a sensor;
at least one battery in electrical communication with the sensor; and
an antenna in electrical communication with the sensor via a wire received within an interior cavity of the stem, the wire extending through the interior cavity from the sensor to the sealing cap, the antenna located inside the cavity of one of the upper barrel and the lower barrel and coupled to the sealing cap.