CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS AND STAND PIPES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Chidley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
JAMES CHIDLEY, of Cutsdean, in the County of Worcester, Builder and
Contractor. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS AND STAND PIPES, PARTS
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The object of this my said Invention consists in the construction, combination or
arrangement of parts of hydrants or stand pipes, whereby they are rendered
non-refrigerating, thus producing a continuous supply of water during the most*
inclement weather; it is applicable to all situations where there is a supply of
water under pressure, and is at all times capable of being used in the same manner
as an ordinary hydrant applicable to similar situations, and in addition it possesses
the special advantage of resisting frost, the water being always in a liquid state,
and thereby dispensing with the necessity of fires or gas jets which now have to be
applied to hydrants in exposed situations during frost.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention as applied to what I term or
designate a frost resisting hydrant, which consists substantially of an upright
casing of cast iron or other suitablo material. This casing may be square, circular,
or any other suitable shape in horizontal section, but by preference I make it
octagonal. This casing is made in two parts bolted together for convenience in
manufacture; it is closed at the bottom and covered by a cap in one piece, bolted on
by a flange at the top. Within this external casing and at the lower part
thereof is a closed vessel, which I term the water chamber. This water chamber.
has an aperture of circular or other suitable form; on the top and over this aperture,
and through it communicating to the water chamber, is another vessel reaching
nearly to the top of the inside of the hydrant, or if desirable made of shorter length
and closed at the top. This I term the upper water chamber. The closure of the
top of this chamber is effected by a suitable cap bolted on. The water is admitted to
the interior of this upper water chamber by a suitable pipe, which discharges into
its highest portion, and which is always in communication with the main water
supply. In the water chamber there is a screen, which serves the purpose of keeping
the water from impinging with violence on the float hereafter described. In the

page_text: lower part of this screen is an opening of semicircular shape to permit the passage
of the water through it. Attached to the screen is a shield or mud collector, and a
suitable opening closed by a screwed plug is provided, through which sediment may
be expelled from time to time. On the top of the water chamber and in front of
the upper water chamber is the valve chamber; this is bolted to the water chamber
and is a casing of cast iron or other suitable material, square, circular, or of other
suitable shape in cross section taken horizontally; it is closed at the upper end, and
has a small circular aperture in the top, through which passes the valve spindle. At
the bottom there is a large aperture made of a required shape to form a double
seating for the valve, and conical for the efficient discharge of the water through it.
In the front of the valve chamber is an outlet for the water. Passing through the
centre of the valve chamber vertically is a spindle, which carries a valve described
more particularly below. At the lower end of this spindle and secured to it is a
float, which I make by preference a hollow copper ball, though I do not limit
myself to that form. On the upper part of the spindle but within the valve
chamber is a shield. The spindle passes through the cover of the valve chamber,
and is armed at the top with a fork secured to it, and having below it a washer of
gutta percha or other similar material. The valve consists of a hollow conical plug
having apertures in it for the water; below this there are two rings of vulcanized
india rubber or like material, secured to the spindle by screwed caps of cast iron or
other metal. The fork end of the spindle engages a short lever which is moved by
a plunger rod, which is guided so as to move in a vertical direction only, and
which is provided with a suitable knob on its upper end which projects, above
the cap of the hydrant. The lever engages with a wheel, which is supported by an
axle carried by suitable brackets attached to the inside of the outer casing, A pitch
chain passes over this wheel, and is attached at the inner end to it; the other end of
this chain is attached to a heavy sliding door or valve, by which communication is
effected between the outlet of the valve chamber and the spout. This sliding door
is provided on the inside with a thick piece of vulcanized india rubber or other
similar material, which makes a thoroughly water tight joint when the sliding door
is closed. The upper end of this sliding door is provided with a spring brake, the
object of which is to prevent the descent of the sliding door becoming too rapid.
This spring brake bears against the surfaces of a guide which is bolted to the
interior of the outer casing. In the centre of the hydrant and dividing it into
two equal parts, is a vertical plate or diaphragm. The space between this
diaphragm and the upper water chamber, also the space between both the water
chambers and the other casing, both at the sides and below, also the space
around the valve chamber is packed with saw dust or other non refrigerating
compound which is conveniently applicable to the purpose.
Having now described the several parts of my Invention, I will proceed to its
action. Starting with the apparatus in its normal condition the water chambers
are full of water, and the plunger in its highest position. On the plunger being
depressed a short distance, the short lever engaging with the wheel draws partially
round, and by means of the pitch chain raises the sliding door a little, enough to
begin to open communication between the interior of the hydrant and the outside
air. On further continuing the motion of the plunger in a downward direction, the
wheel is still further rotated and the sliding door opened wider; the valve is now
opened, owing to the descent of the valve spindle, which is caused by any downward
pressure on the plunger after the short lever has been brought to a position at right
angles with it. The water rushes past the two india rubber valve rings, through
the openings of the hollow conical plug, up through this plug into the valve
chamber, thence through the outlet under the sliding door, and out finally through
the spout. The flow of water continues so long as the plunger is kept in this
depressed position, but upon the pressure being removed the float attached to the
lower end of the valve spindle causes the valve to rise and close, and the sliding
door to fall by its own weight, the rapidity of its fall being however checked by

page_text: the action of the spring brake, so as to give time for all the water which has
passed through the valve to flow away.
I claim as my Invention,―
1. The arrangement of water chambers surrounded by sawdust or other
nonrefrigerating compound as described.
2. The combination of plunger rod, valve spindle, pitch chain, with wheel and
sliding door as described.
3. The spring brake on the sliding door.