IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jolin Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRANTS." A communication from abroad by Frederic Reese, of Dortmund,
in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 1st February 1878, and dated the 25th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1877.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS." A communication from abroad by
Frederic Reese, of Dortmund, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to a hydrant with a separate shut-off valve, with a
readily accessible service valve, and with arrangements by which the sudden
rebound of the water during the action of opening and closing of the valve is
counteracted, and the waste water readily drawn off; important objects of the In-
vention being to ensure a more regular working and facilitating the repairing of
hydrants.
The second shut-off valve is situate below the common service valve and put
in motion by and with the same, the said service valve being either at the
lower end of a pipe surrounding it, and tightened against the outer case, or
opening directly into the valve case and being moved by a hand wheel on al
spindle passing through a stuffing box in the stand pipe.
Both valves are maintained in contact with their seats by springs; the waste
water left in the stand pipe after the hydrant is closed flows off through a small
spring valve screwed either into the intermediate pipe which connects the valve
seat and stand pipe, or directly into the outer case.
The hydrant may be constructed with a separate waste pipe connected by a
bayonet joint, or so that the waste water is caused to pass through the case without
a separate pipe for its removal situate between the valve and the outer case.

page_text: The openings of the two valves and the surrounding casing of the same are so
formed that with a uniform up or down motion of the valve spindle the velocity of
the water which passes through the valves gradually increases or diminishes, thus
obviating the injurious effect of the shock or rebound of the water when the valve
is opened or closed quickly.
The stand pipe which is fastened by a bayonet joint contains the valve spindle
at the upper end of which is the hand wheel for operating it. The waste water
valve which is self acting, is so arranged that it is maintained open by a spring
when the hydrant is not in use.
When it is required to repair the hydrant or service valve the screws of the
bayonet ring are loosened, and the valve pipe with the valve removed from the case,
and the valve detached and repaired.
The lower shut-off valve prevents the water from the service pipe from entering
the hydrant.
The valve seat may be open, as before-mentioned, so that the water can imme-
diately enter the case, whereby the intermediate pipe surrounding the valve spindle
is rendered unnecessary, a small wrought-iron pipe being, however, substituted
therefor, by which the valve is fastened and tightened against the case.
Either
india-rubber or metal packing may be employed.
The hydrant complete is enclosed in a cast-iron case, flanged at its lower ex-
tremity to the service pipe.
In applying the Invention to hydrants of the ordinary construction, the hydrant
valve, which in this case closes the opening from above, is in the same manner as
before connected with the valve rod. The closing mechanism in this case is carried
in a bracket provided with a screw thread in its upper part for the reception of a
pressure screw. In the head of a pressure screw there is left an opening, square in
section, and slightly tapering, into which is fitted the head of a cast steel pressure
rod, which effects the opening and closing of the hydrant.
The shut-off valve is so arranged that it is opened to the fullest extent when the
hydrant valve is entirely closed, and vice versa.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
April 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS." A communication from abroad by.
Frederic Reese, of Dortmund, in the Empire of Germany.
The said Invention relates to hydrants for the supply of water for watering streets
or for fire engines or other like purposes, and it consists partly in providing the
hydrant with two valves, an upper and a lower, the upper one of which forms the
normal cut-off valve, being opened and closed by means of a spindle, whilst the
other, which is self-acting, is employed as the cut-off valve when the former valve
is required to be taken out of the hydrant box in order to admit of repairs being
effected, or of the washers of leather or rubber being renewed without closing the
valve of the main pipe.
By a peculiar arrangement and form of the valves, any shock or concussion of
the water is prevented during the action of closing the hydrant, the valves being
made of such a shape that the aperture of the valve is gradually opened, in lieu of
the whole section of the aperture being opened suddenly when the hydrant is
operated.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer
to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figures 1 to 9 are sectional views illustrating various modes of carrying out the
principle.
a
Figure 1 is an hydrant with a separate outlet pipe b enclosed in the hydrant
box a.
This box, of a cylindrical form; is flanged at its lower extremity to the
tube a', which forms a valve box for the valve V. By an intermediate tube a² of
reduced diameter, this valve box is bolted on to the main water pipe from which
the hydrant receives its water. 61, 6', is the hydrant valve herein-after termed the
service valve, having its seat in the lower part of the outlet pipe b.
In the upper
orifice of the valve box a¹ is a ring d', by preference of brass, serving as
seat for the pipe b, a washer f of leather, rubber, soft metal, or other suitable
material being interposed for the purpose of forming a tight joint, and at the same
time providing a seat for the valve b. By introducing the pipe b into the hydrant
box a, and bolting on the piece c by bolts s to the box with the interposition of a
washer; the said pipe is firmly secured in its place. The "service valve is bell
shaped; this form of the valve admits of a gradual opening, since on the shafte being
depressed, the annular opening between the valve and the seat increases very slowly,
as will be readily understood by reference to the Drawing. The shaft e is guided
in a cross stay b³. A spiral spring f¹ is employed in order to press the valve upon
its seat should the pressure of the water be insufficient for the purpose. The vertical
motion of the shaft e is obtained by turning the hand wheel and spindle i, the
motion of which is communicated through the intervention of the spindle / to
the shaft e.
The valve V, herein-after termed the "auxiliary" valve, is in contact with the
"service valve," and as it is pressed upwards by a spring f² and by the water pressure,
it is necessarily opened by opening the "service valve," and closed by the act of
closing the latter; in the latter case it yields to the pressure of the spring and
of the water.
:
Should the hydrant become defective, say for example, during a fire by the failure
of the washers of the "service valve," as frequently occurs, the inner pipe b may be
taken out of the case a simply by loosening the screws 8 at the top of the hydrant
without the necessity for closing the main pipe: The "auxiliary valve" even when

page_text: not completely water-tight, admits of the repairs of the service valve being effected
in this manner.
After the use of the hydrant, the water contained in the pipe 6 escapes by a
small valve k, shewn detached in Figure 3, which is held open-by a spring k¹ when
there is no pressure in the pipe. During the service of the hydrant it is pressed
upon its seat at 2 by the inner pressure of the water, and maintained closed. The
water escaping from the valve k is discharged through an aperture o, and sinks
into the earth.
Figure 2 illustrates another modification based upon the same principle, the inner
pipe b is here reduced to the least possible dimensions, serving merely for a guide to
the valve spindle e, and for holding the seat of the service valve b¹, which latter is'
in this case provided with guiding ribs; the auxiliary valve V is constructed similar
to that shewn in Figure 1.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 shews a modification in the construction of the two valves.
In order to allow the water to flow freely and with the least possible restriction
through the valve openings, the two seats are arranged in close proximity to each
other; the auxiliary valve a guided on the pin k¹ is pressed by a spring d прод its
conical seat; provided in the hydrant box a¹ is the service valve; the inner pipe
is tightened in the same manner as the pipe b, shewn in Figure 1.
It will be observed from an inspection of the Drawing that the water is unim-
peded in its passage. The enlargement underneath the auxiliary valve admits of
the water entering the conically shaped opening without sudden curvatures, so that
loss of pressure is reduced to a minimum.
Figure 5 shews an arrangement similar to that of Figure 4, but still more adapted
for the prevention of shocks or concussions of the water, as the two valves a, a¹, are
made bell shaped, and being brought together by a conical butt joint form one pear-
shaped body, around which the water passes unimpeded by obstacles, such for
example as ribs, suddenly projecting surfaces, and the like. Both valves are held
together by a spring d. When the inner pipe h is drawn out, the auxiliary valve a
closes against the conical seat at 64.
.. J
Figure 6 illustrates another modification, in which the auxiliary valve a consists
of a ball of rubber, the weight of which is such as to cause it to float upon the
water. This ball lies freely in the box of the hydrant, and when the water enters
it is pressed into the cavity of the service valve a'. During the use of the latter, it
is held in this cavity by the equal pressure of the water. When the inner pipe is
removed this rubber ball closes the outlet of the water.
Figure 7 illustrates a further modification, in which the auxiliary valve a and the
service valve a¹ are made of such a shape that the lower one enters a cavity
formed in the under side of the upper valve, the two valves together forming a
pear-shaped body.
As there are neither ribs nor projecting surfaces, the restriction of the water is
reduced to a minimum.
Figure 8 illustrates the most simple and perfect construction for carrying out the
principle of the said Invention. In this case the two valves are united and form
one body a, the two seats lie nearly in the same conical surface, the upper seat
being conical like the under one. When this hydrant is required to be repaired,
the valve cannot be drawn out, but as the valve, being a conoidal body without
ribs or projections, is never damaged, no necessity can exist for removing it from
the box.
The inner pipe h may, however, be withdrawn, and when this has been effected
the pressure of the water holds the valve in its seat, closing the aperture and pre-
venting the egress of the water.
Figure 9 represents the simplest mode of constructing the hydrant, but although
based upon the same principle as the arrangements herein-before described, it is not
the most perfect method of carrying out the principle. V is the auxiliary valve,
and b is the service valve, which latter is attached to the shaft e. This shaft is

page_text: provided on its upper end with a screw thread which works in a nut or internal
screw formed in the cross stay m.
In the top of the shaft is provided a square hole for the reception of the key
which is inclosed in the stand pipe, as in the arrangement shewn in Figure 1.
In order to ensure the emptying of the hydrant box after having used the
hydrant, it is provided in all these modifications, Figures 1 to 9, with a valve k,
Figure 3, herein-before described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,--
First. Constructing hydrants with a second or auxiliary cut-off valve situate
below the ordinary cut-off or service valve, and operating in unison with the same,
the two valves being arranged and combined together and with the other parts, for
the purpose of ensuring a more regular working of the hydrant, and facilitating
repairs without shutting off the main pipe, substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Second. The service valve constructed of a bell shape, for the purpose of ensuring
during its opening er gradually increasing section of orifice for the outlet of the
water, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the First day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.