"carl mciver" wrote:

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...
SNIP|
| I'm trying to understand how that happened; i.e. where all that energy
| was stored, Carl.
|
| The only thing I can come up with is that there must have been a good
| sized air pocket above the valve which got compressed by water pressure
| when the valve was opened and closed, 'cause I don't think just water or
| the hydrant/riser pipe by itself would store enough to do that.
|
| Jeff

I just learned this evening from a local firefighter that the water
system for this town was built to support a number of paper mills, which are
huge users of water. All but one mill is gone now, but the capacity is
still there, and the system at low points is over 120psi, I'm told, and with
that in mind, I likely have about 75 or so. With a standpipe that long, it
is indeed lucky he got away with a busted up leg. At least it stayed
attached!
I honestly don't recall the exact sequence, but I did see the cap blow
off with a large pop and slam into his knee sideways. He went down like
someone pushing the locked knee of someone standing on one leg. Screaming
bloody murder. I always thought those firemen were real men and would never
scream in pain. Guess I was wrong....

I wouldn't mind asking these folks next time I see them about that
incident, but I'm afraid I'd start laughing when I explain it and someone
might get a little upset....

The fireman is lucky that all he got was a broken leg. A guy on a
ship was working on a jammed steering gear. They couldn't get a zerk
to take grease. The zerk was being unscrewed when grease pressure
blew out the zerk and killed the unfortunate crewman.
--
Jim