Patent Abstract:
An embodiment wall hydrant includes a reservoir, conduits containing an operating rod assembly and a service rod assembly, and a fluid outlet with a hose connector. The service rod assembly allows water supply to the hydrant to be shut-off from the front of the hydrant which allows servicing of the hydrant without requiring water shut-off to all or a portion of the water supply to the building. Embodiments include a vacuum relief dual check valve assembly at the fluid outlet which prevents backflow of water into the hydrant. Embodiments include a box which protects the hydrant controls.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    This invention relates to hydrants with a valve provided in the liquid flow path which operates in conjunction with an air vent valve. 
         [0002]    The disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,167 are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    Wall hydrants are commonly installed in outside walls and allow access to the water supply inside the building for outside purposes, such as watering a lawn or garden, etc. Such hydrants customarily are protected against unauthorized or vandal use by requiring keys for access, especially for hydrants in commercial buildings. Interruption of water supply for the maintenance of such hydrants raises substantial problems. It is often impractical to provide cut-off valves in the pipe leading to an individual hydrant because of a finished room wall on the interior side of the hydrant, and because of uncertainties in relating the location of a wall hydrant to an interior room. Installation of a cut-off valve at the site of the wall hydrant risks the chance of freeze damage to the cut-off valve. As a consequence, shutting off the water to a wall hydrant customarily involves interruption of the water supply to a large portion or all of the building. Embodiments of the present application are wall hydrants with integrated freeze-protected shut-off valves. 
         [0004]    It is crucially important that a potable water system not be contaminated. A common source of such contamination is water hoses connected to wall hydrants which provide potable water. The water supply within a building normally consists solely of potable water. This water supply also normally is used to provide water for use outside the building through a wall hydrant. Such water is used for watering a lawn, garden, washing a car, etc. using a hose attached to the wall hydrant. 
         [0005]    A threat to the integrity of the potable water supply inside a building is created when a hose is connected to a wall hydrant, the hose is used, and the water supply is turned off at the wall hydrant. Non-potable water from the attached hose presents a potential threat to the potable supply on the other side of the hydrant. Pressure from the water in the hose may flow back through the hydrant into the water supply. In addition, a lowering of pressure inside the building may create a back-siphonage condition which causes non-potable water from the hose to enter the potable water system within the building. Finally, freezing of the hydrant may damage the valve in the hydrant and allow backflow from the hose into the potable water system inside the building. 
         [0006]    None of the discovered prior art hydrants have the advantages of embodiments of the present application, that of having an integrated freeze-protected individual hydrant shut-off valve, of being a freeze protected hydrant, with dual independent check valves with an atmospheric vent. 
         [0007]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0009]    Embodiments include a wall hydrant which comprises a reservoir with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a service port. A service valve casing having a first and a second end, is connected at the second end to the reservoir at the reservoir service port. A service valve assembly is retained within the service valve casing, the service valve to assembly comprises a service valve operator, a service valve rod, and a service valve plunger, The service valve plunger is inserted into the reservoir service port, the service valve plunger is capable of interaction with and closing the reservoir fluid inlet. An operating valve conduit has a first and a second end, the second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with the reservoir fluid outlet, and an operating valve assembly is retained within the operating valve casing. The operating valve assembly comprises an operating valve operator, an operating valve rod, and an actuator cartridge assembly with the actuator cartridge assembly located adjacent to the reservoir fluid outlet. A hydrant body is connected to the first end of the service valve casing and the hydrant body is also connected to and in fluid communication with the first end of the operating valve conduit. The hydrant body has a wall plate which supports the hydrant fluid outlet, the service valve operator and the operating valve operator. 
         [0010]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S). 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment wall hydrant. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment wall hydrant taken at arrow  2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment service valve assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment actuator cartridge valve assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of an embodiment vacuum relief check valve assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an embodiment wall hydrant installed inside a hydrant box. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment hydrant box with the door closed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment wall hydrant. Visible in  FIG. 1  are the wall plate  12 , vacuum relief check valve assembly  20 , hydrant fluid outlet  22 , hydrant body  30 , operating valve conduit  50 , service valve casing  40 , reservoir  34 , and fluid inlet port  32 . In embodiments, the length of the conduits and associated assemblies varies accordingly to the thickness of the wall involved, and in embodiments the distance from the wall plate  12  to the reservoir  34  is from 4 to 25 inches. In embodiments, the wall hydrant is installed with the wall plate  12  flush with an external wall and the reservoir  34  extending from the interior side of the wall. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment wall hydrant taken at arrow  2 . Visible in  FIG. 2  is the hydrant body  30  with an attached wall plate  12  with a body outlet port  31 . Attached to the wall plate  12  is a vacuum relief check valve assembly  20  with an inner cone washer  24 , an outer cone washer  26 , and a hydrant fluid outlet  22 . (For additional details on the vacuum relief check valve assembly see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0020]    Also attached to hydrant body  30  is an operating valve conduit  50 , a tube which contains an operating valve assembly  53  with a first and a second end comprising an operating valve rod  54  with an operating valve operator  52  at the first end and an actuating valve actuator cartridge assembly  56  at the second end. (For additional details on the actuating valve actuator see  FIG. 4 ). The operating valve operator  52  has an operating valve operator flange  55  with holes which align with holes  14  in the body wall  12  when the operating valve operator  52  is in the closed position. Although  FIG. 2  shows the operating valve operator  52  as interacting with a key  51 , other embodiments with an operating knob are specifically contemplated. 
         [0021]    A tubular service valve casing  40  is mounted on the hydrant body  30  parallel to the operating valve conduit  50 . Contained in the service valve casing  40  is a service valve assembly  41  with a first and a second end comprising a service rod operator  42  at the first end, a service valve rod  44 , and a service valve plunger  46  at the second end. (For additional details on the service rod assembly see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0022]    A reservoir  34  is located at the second ends of the operating valve assembly  53  and the service valve assembly  41 . The reservoir  34  has a reservoir front wall  38  with a fluid inlet port  32  with a fluid inlet port seat  33  located on the reservoir front wall  38 . A reservoir back wall  37  has a reservoir outlet port  35  in fluid communication with the operating valve conduit  50 . Flow from the reservoir  34  into the operating valve conduit  50  is controlled by the actuator cartridge assembly  56 . The reservoir back wall  37  also has a reservoir service port  36  which is located opposite from the fluid inlet port  32 . The service valve plunger  46  interacts with the fluid inlet port seat  33  and closes the fluid inlet port  32  when the service valve plunger  46  is advanced through the reservoir. The service valve plunger  46  seals the reservoir service port  36  and prevents flow of fluid into the service rod casing  40 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment service valve assembly  41 . Visible in  FIG. 3  is the service valve operator  42 , the threads  43  which interact with threads on the hydrant body (not visible in  FIG. 3 ), service valve rod  44 , service valve plunger  46 , service valve O-rings  47 , service valve conical washer  48  and service valve washer screw  49 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment actuator cartridge valve assembly  56 . Visible in  FIG. 4  is a retaining ring  57 , valve body  58 , two adjacent actuator O-rings  59 , valve actuator  60 , nylon thrust washer  61 , rotating ceramic disc  62 , fixed ceramic disc  63 , O-ring  64 , O-ring gasket retainer  65 , and rubber seal  66 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section exploded view of an embodiment vacuum relief check valve assembly  20 . Visible in  FIG. 5  is vacuum relief housing  23  with attached hydrant fluid outlet  22 , spring  21 , outer cone washer  26 , flow diverter  27 , large O-ring  28 , spring  21 , and inner cone washer  24 . Springs  21  are located between the vacuum relief housing  23  and outer cone washer  26 , and large O-ring  28  and inner cone washer  24 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an embodiment wall hydrant installed inside a hydrant box  70  with the door open. Visible in  FIG. 6  is the frame  72 , inner surface of the cover  73 , hinge  76 , and inner view of the latch  77 . Also visible in the hydrant wall plate  12 , vacuum relief check valve assembly  20 , operating valve operator  52 , and service valve operator  42 . In embodiments the service rod operator  42  is a slot which interacts with a screwdriver. Other means for turning the service rod operator, such as a key hole for a key, are specifically contemplated. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment hydrant box with the door closed. Visible in  FIG. 7  is a stainless steel box  70  including a frame  72 , outer surface of the cover  74 , the hinge  76 , and the outer view of the latch  78 . 
         [0028]    Unless otherwise indicated, embodiments are manufactured of suitable hard, non-porous, strong materials such as bronze, steel, stainless steel, and iron. 
         [0029]    In embodiments, when it is desired to shut off the flow of fluid to the wall hydrant for maintenance or any other purpose, a screwdriver is used to rotate clockwise the service rod operator  42  which advances the plunger  46  into the reservoir  34  through the reservoir service port  36  until the fluid inlet port seat  33  (all above in  FIG. 2 ) interacts with and is sealed by the service valve conical washer ( 48  in  FIG. 3 ). After maintenance is performed on the wall hydrant as desired, the service rod operator  42  is rotated counterclockwise, thereby opening the fluid inlet port  32  (in  FIG. 2 ) and restoring water to the wall hydrant. 
         [0030]    In embodiments, flow through the wall hydrant is initiated by rotating counterclockwise the operating valve operator  52  with an operating valve key  51  or a knob, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 . In embodiments V4 turn rotation is sufficient to fully open the valve. The operating valve rod  54  is rotated counterclockwise causing rotation of a rotating ceramic disc  62 , causing the alignment of openings in the rotating ceramic disc  62  and the fixed ceramic disc  62 . Potable water flows from the reservoir outlet port  35  into the operating valve conduit  50  and into the hydrant body  30 . Water flows through the body outlet port  31  and enters the vacuum relief check valve assembly  20 . Water pressure overcomes the bias of the spring  21  and opens the inner cone washer, allowing passage of water through the flow diverter  27  and then the water pressure overcomes the spring  21  which biases the outer cone washer in the closed position, thereby allowing flow of water through the vacuum relief housing  23  and into the hydrant fluid outlet  22 , which in embodiments is a threaded hose connector. Flow from the hydrant is stopped by rotating the operating valve operator  52  in the clockwise direction which turns the rotating ceramic disc  62  so its holes are not aligned with holes in the fixed ceramic disc  63 . In addition, rotation of the operating valve operator  52  into the closed position also causes alignment of holes in the operating valve operator  52  with holes in the wall plate  12 , allowing water to drain from the operating valve conduit  50  and from the hydrant body  30 , thereby providing freeze protection for the wall hydrant. Freeze protection for water in the reservoir is provided by the building heating system. 
         [0031]    Although the present disclosure discusses only water as a fluid, the use of embodiments with other fluids, such as ethanol, other organic solvents, oil, petroleum products, air and other gases, is specifically contemplated. 
         [0032]    The vacuum relief check valve assembly  20  provides two independent check valves, the inner cone washer  24 , and the outer cone washer  26 , each of which prevents the backflow of water from an attached hose into the hydrant body. In addition, atmospheric vents located between the two check valves in the vacuum relief housing act as a vacuum relief to further reduce the likelihood of backflow. 
         [0033]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. The applicant or applicants have attempted to disclose all the embodiments of the invention that could be reasonably foreseen. There may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8