Abstract: A delay valve is attached to a fire hydrant and interposed between the hydrant and the hose and restricts the otherwise high flow and high pressure of the hydrant to a small fraction of the normal flow and pressure until the hose is filled up, at which point the valve opens fully so that the hose and hydrant are fully operational.

Abstract: An automatic hose clamp is provided particularly for use with fire hoses, and is manually engaged on a fire hose which is subsequently attached to a fire hydrant, there being a trickle flow allowed past the clamp so that the downstream end of the hose, if unconnected to anything, will dissipate this trickle, but upon being connected to the fire truck pumping unit the downstream end fills and exerts back pressure on a specially oriented plate in the clamp, finally resulting in the popping free of the clamp due to the expansion of the hose against the plate so that water is free to flow at this point unobstructed by the clamp. Previously a manually operated clamp was used requiring the presence of a fireman to turn a wheel or otherwise operate the valve actuator to release the clamp once the hose had been connected to the main pump.

Abstract: The invention is a flow delay valve to be used in conjunction with fire fighting and attaches to the fire hydrant so that as the fire truck proceeds to unroll hose on the way to the fire site the hose is filled slowly due to the action of the delay valve, permitting the fire truck to proceed unhindered by full hose pressure but without requiring the stationing of a fireman at the hydrant to turn the hydrant on after the fire truck has arrived at the site as the valve fully opens automatically upon the hose becoming filled to permit unobstructed water flow.

Abstract: A rupturable disc shaped capsule replaceably installed in a fire hose coupling, the capsule having a small central bore therethrough to permit the initial limited flow of water, there being one or more regions of the downstream end wall of the capsule which are rupturable by water pressure when the hose fills by virtue of air pockets disposed within the capsule causing the wall to collapse from external pressure there being water-erodible support structure within the capsule which disintegrates upon the rupturing of the capsule wall and entry of water causing the entire capsule assembly to be destroyed and finally blown out the end of the hose.

Abstract: The invention is a delayed release valve for a fire hydrant which permits the fireman to couple a fire hose with the valve in place to a fire hydrant, the valve being released subsequent to the coupling operation either by a timer which is set at the time the hose is attached, or by a radio-controlled servo mechanism so that the fireman who makes the hose attachment may proceed to the site of the fire and need not wait at the hydrant until on-site firemen are ready for water.