The Gimmicks and Gadgets Award entries were solicited by the Water Treatment Practices Committee

and judged on the basis of simplicity, use, originality, and application to the water industry.

Richard Hardin is a water service worker with the Department of Public Works, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Because fire hydrants have offset nozzles and no handles, they are awkward to lift and maneuver. The Fire Hydrant Lift remedies this problem and can be used by one or two people to lift a hydrant's upper barrel, and bonnet.

Using this tool, workers will have a firm hold on the hydrant, and, because the entire weight of the hydrant is beneath the tool, stability is also insured.

CONSTRUCTION

All construction materials, with the exception of a fabricated washer, are inexpensive, easily obtained, off-the-shelf parts.

Assembly takes only a few minutes using two pipe wrenches. First, thread the 12-in. pipe sections into opposite ends of the cross connector, and thread the nipple into one of the other holes. Slide the hold-down nut (top side first) and then the fabricated washer onto the nipple. Thread the coupling onto the nipple and tighten everything with the pipe wrenches. When assembly is complete, the hold-down nut should spin freely.

We use two different brands of hydrants, so I put a hold-down nut from one manufacturer on one side of the cross connector and a nut from the other manufacture on the other side. This allows us to use one Fire Hydrant Lift for both brands. Because the device is hollow, operators can look through the top to easily align the stem and bonnet.

When you're ready to use the lifter, simply remove the hold-down nut and operating nut from the bonnet of the hydrant to be lifted, and thread the nut on the lifter into the bonnet.

BENEFITS

Field crews really appreciate this tool because fingers are not placed between pinch points and dropping the hydrant is less likely, saving toes. In addition, the Fire Hydrant Lift can most likely be customized to accommodate any make of hydrant.

MATERIALS

2 1¼-in. black pipe nipples, 12 in. long $ 6

1 1¼-in. black pipe nipple, 3?4 in. long $ 1

1 1¼-in. cross connector $ 6

1 1¼-in. coupling $ 2

1 hold-down nut from appropriate hydrant $ 25

(salvaged is zero cost)

1 washer made from pipe stock?1¾-in. inside $ 1

diameter and 2¼-in. outside diameter?

cut to ½-in. length