What's On Your Engine #18 - More About the Keystone Valve
 
By President Mark Davis
July 11, 2024
 

Following up on last week's News Story, here is a "Keystone" style valve on a front mount pumper. As we noted last week, the butterfly valve was once very popular in the rural American fire service and slowly got replaced by more "fire-service" designed valves. The use of a suction inlet control is still very important today regardless of type and location (internal/external). In the photos shown in this News Story from our 2010 seminar in Marion, Kansas, the butterfly valve on this intake allows the pump operator to easily switch between drafting and onboard tank water if needed. Does this valve have an air bleeder? No. Does it have a relief valve? No. Can it make a huge difference in water supply operations when drafting - heck yes!