Improvements in Street Hydrants or Fire-plugs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1894-Accepted 7th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Street Hydrants or Fire-plugs.
I, HUGH THOMSON of "Thornton" Studley Park Road, Kew, near Melbourne
n the Colony of Victoria, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates more particularly to the means employed for supporting
and operating the valves of street hydrants or fire-plugs.
Its object is to provide some simple and efficient means whereby the valves may
be raised or lowered with a positive motion instead of being left free inside the
fire-plug casing, as has usually hitherto been the case.
According to my invention, I form the valves of these street hydrants or fire
plugs with two sided bosses projecting one upwards and the other downwards and I
bore a hole through each of these bosses and continue it nearly to the centre of the
valve, and cut screw-threads in each hole. A cage is fitted inside the casing of the
fire-plug and rests at its lower end. in notches provided inside said casing for that
purpose, whilst its upper end is held down by the pressure of the cover of said
casing upon the ordinary leather or other washer which forms the seating of the
valve. This upper end of said cage may either be fitted with a number of
upwardly projecting studs or points adapted to project into such washer when the
cover of the fire-plug is screwed down tightly or it may be provided around its
upper edge with a few flat projecting lugs made sufficiently thin to fit between the
If preferred, these
upper part of the casing and the lower surface of the washer.
studs or points and the flat lugs may be dispensed with.
Projecting upwards centrally from the bottom of this fixed cage is a screw-
threaded spindle adapted to fit into one or other of the screw-threaded holes in the
valve, so that if said valve be rotated thereon it will be screwed up or down according
to the direction of said rotation, and can therefore either be moved down clear
away from its seating in order to open the hydrant or fire-plug, or it can be
raised into close contact with the washer around the top thereof so as to close
said hydrant or fire-plug, as will be well understood.
It will be obvious that when thus closed the valve will effectually prevent the
entrance of dust or dirt into the main, notwithstanding that the supply of
water inside such main-and therefore the pressure therein-might be entirely
drawn off. The rotation of the valve in order to raise and lower it is accom-
plished by fitting a key over the uppermost of the projecting screw-threaded
bosses, two of which are provided in order that the valve may be reversed when
worn, and thus be made more lasting.
i
The upwardly projecting screw-threaded spindle above referred to may either be
made integral with the cage, or be fitted loosely therein, so as to leave a certain
amount of play if required to enable the valve to adjust itself more perfectly to its
seating..
In cases where the inner diameter of the bottom of the fire-plug casing is larger
than its opening, extension pieces may be mounted upon pins on the lower end of
the cage above referred to, so that they can be turned outwardly to fit notches
provided for them in the fire-plug casing after said cage has been fitted in position
therein.
If preferred, the arrangement above described may be reversed, the screw-
threaded spindle being fitted upon the valve and working within a screw-threaded
hole in a bridge piece on the cage.
The notches in the fire-plug casing may be cut or formed in any convenient

page_text: - manner (as for instance by means of the tool for which I made application for
Letters Patent No. 4016 of even date herewith) or otherwise as will be well
-understood by practical men.
D
Referring to the accompanying drawings,―
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an ordinary street hydrant or fire-plug
casing to which my invention is applied, whilst
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan of the cage, which I fit inside said casing.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the key which I fit upon the lower end of the
ordinary stand pipe spindle to enable my valve to be raised and lowered to and
from its seating.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the ordinary street fire-plug or hydrant
casing on line 5-5 Figure 1, and
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 1, showing a slight modification of the
valve spindle and illustrating the arrangement of cage which I prefer to employ
where the lower end of the fire-plug casing is of larger diameter than the valve
seating.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures.
A represents the valve of the fire-plug, which is according to my invention,
formed with a boss B-B at opposite points, whilst C represents the cage which is
fitted inside the main casing D of the fire-plug, as shown. Holes are bored and
tapped through these two bosses B-B', and continued nearly to the centre of t! e-
valve, as illustrated at a slight partition being left between the ends of the two
screw-threaded holes to prevent any leakage through the valve.
The bosses B-B are both sided on the outside, so that a correspondingly shaped
key, such as is illustrated at 1, in Figure 4, may be fitted over the uppermost of
said bosses, and thereby enable the valve A to be turned round when it is desired
to raise or lower it.
A spindle E projects up from the bottom of the cage C and fits into one of the
screw-threaded holes b. This spindle may either be made integral with said cage,
or it may be fitted with a square or other shoulder e resting in a corresponding
recess in the bridge piece c¹, of the cage C, a stud or lug el projecting from the
lower end of said screw-threaded spindle passing through said bridge piece, as
shown, and being secured by a pin e³, passing through its lower end. By
adjustably connecting the spindle to the cage in this way, it will adjust itself
to suit the position of the valve and thus lessen the wear and strain on the
screw threads.
The screw-threaded holes in the bosses and valve are made sufficiently long to
entirely enclose the screw-threaded part of such spindle at all times, thus the
threads will be protected from injury, and the screws will not become choked.
F represents a small spring guard which may be fitted on the valve and be arranged
to project into the screw-threads of the spindle E so as to prevent grit or dirt passing
up same. represents a plug which is screwed into the upper boss B' in order to
protect the screw-threads inside same by preventing the entrance of grit.
The cage C may be retained in position within the casing of the fire-plug by
clamping it tightly between the ordinary washer G and notches or steps H
formed for the purpose inside the casing D) near the lower end thereof. Pins g
projecting upwardly from said cage are forced into said washer, and thus serve
to retain the whole in position when the ordinary fire-plug cover is bolted down
upon said washer.
If preferred, the spindle E can be secured to the valve A, as illustrated in
Figure 6, and be arranged to work within a screw threaded hole in the bridge
piece c', of the cage C, instead of the other way about. The valve moreover can be
made in various ways, that is, it can be either solid or hollow, and it need not
be made spherical, especially if it is not required to be reversed, but can be of any
suitable shape, as illustrated in said Figure 6, and it may be constructed as therein

page_text: shown with a conical rubber or other packing ring fitting on to a tapering
metal valve body and held down by washers thereon. This construction dispenses.
with the necessity for turning the valve and at the same time enables a fresh.
wearing surface to be substituted for the old one whenever it becomes worn by
simply renewing the packing ring.
The spindle is adjustably secured to the valve by being formed with a sided
heade fitting into a corresponding hole in said valve, thus enabling it to adjust
itself to suit the various positions of the valve without straining or unduly wearing
the threads.
at
in
The cage C, instead of having pins projecting upwardly, as illustrated at
Figure 1, may be provided with outwardly projecting thin lugs, as illustrated
in Figure 6, said thin lugs resting between the usual washer G of the
fire-plug and the upper edge of its casing, or under some circumstances as above
mentioned, these pins and lugs may be dispensed with.
on
In the event of the inside diameter of the lower part of the fire-plug casing.
being larger than at its upper end, it is necessary to fit projecting feet
pins h', projecting from the bottom of the cage, said feet being fitted each with.
a projecting feather ', for locking said feet in their projecting positions.
Any suitable mears may be employed for cutting out the notches H on the inside-
of the casing D, but as a matter of convenience I prefer to use the tool described
in the Specification accompanying an application for British Letters Patent
No. 4016 of even date herewith as above mentioned.
With my invention a great saving of water by leakage will be effected, and the-
expense of replacing the ordinary floating balls at present in use will be avoided..
The entrance of sewage into the water mains from the streets will be prevented,.
because the valve is screwed into its open and closed positions, and therefore
moves with a positive motion. The rubber rings will not be damaged so much as is
the case when replacing the ordinary valves, and the improvements can easily be
applied to existing fire-plugs. Moreover, owing to the screw threaded part of the
spindle upon which the valve works being always enclosed, the screw cannot become
choked, and the threads will not be liable to be injured by the action of grit or
other substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
First. In a street, hydrant or fire-plug, a reversible valve (such as A) having
oppositely projecting bosses, one on each side, together with screwed holes passing
through said bosses, and continuing nearly to the centre of the valve, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 1
of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In street. hydrants or fire-plugs, the combination with a valve, having a
screw-threaded hole (such as b) of a correspondingly threaded spindle projecting
up from the bottom of a cage or other support (such as C) inside the fire-plug
casing, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a street hydrant or fire-plug a cage (such as C) resting at its lower
end in notches or recesses (such as H) cut or otherwise formed for the purpose on
the inside of the casing of the street fire-plug, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug, a casing having notches or recesses
(such as H) cut or otherwise formed on the inside, and near the bottom thereof
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as.
illustrated in Figures 1, 5, and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug, a cage (such as C) adapted to rest
against the lower end of the fire-plug casing and having upwardly projecting pins.

page_text: or spikes (such as g) adapted to be forced into the usual washer between the cover
and casing of said fire-plug, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug a cage (such as C) having outwardly
projecting feet (such as h) on its lower end, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Seventh. In a street hydrant or fire-plug a cage (such as C) having thin
outwardly projecting lugs (such as g) fitting between the usual washer and the
top of the fire-plug casing substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug, a valve (such as A) having a screw-
threaded spindle (such as E) fitted loosely into it, and working within a
correspondingly screw-threaded hole in a cage or other support (such as C) such
hole being closed at its lower end, and entirely enclosing the screw threaded part
of such spindle, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained
and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Ninth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug, a spring guard (such as F) secured to the
valve and projecting into the threads on the spindle upon which such valve works,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Tenth. In a street hydrant or fire-plug, the combination of a screw-threaded
spindle (such as E) adjustably connected to a fixed cage, bridge piece or other
support, with a valve having a screw-threaded hole in which it works, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 1
of the accompanying drawings.
Eleventh. In a street hydrant or fire-plug a valve having a conical rubber or
other packing ring fitting on to a tapering metal valve body and held down by
washers thereon the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-four.
ninеLV-1Our.
HUGH THOMSON.
.:G. F. Redfern & Co.,.'
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.