AN IMPROVED FIRE HYDRANT
Year: 1884

page_text: We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the County of
Kent, Engineer & CHRISTOPHER John Wallace JAKEMAN of Greenwich Road S.E.
in the county of Kent, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention.
for AN IMPROVED FIRE HYDRANT to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for extinguishing fire by
the use of water & consists of an improved form of hydrant valve constructed as
follows: A circular flat faced slide valve is arranged to cover an opening in the
front plate of the valve box, and is actuated by a crank lover, the spindle
(preferably made solid with the crank lever) passes through the front plate in
which it fits water-tight by means of a cone without packing, & is operated from
the outside front of the plate by means of a lever, this lever may be made fast on
the spindle or to unship as required. The valve is connected to the crank lever by
a contral pin so that it is free to rotate on its axis as well as slide over the
opening.
A square hole or recess is provided on the front of the slide valve so that by the
application of a suitable instrument through the outlet the valve may be ground
onto its face under pressure, that is, without stopping the supply of water; in
some cases we form the box containing the slide valve in one piece with the main
pipe so that the projection from the face of the wall is reduced to a minimum.
The front plate is provided with a suitable nozzle for attaching fire hose. To
prevent the hose from kinking when pulled tight in a lateral direction from the
hydrant & thus stopping the supply of water or bursting the hose, we provide to
the outlet of the hydrant a short length of flexible pipe enclosing a wire spiral so
that an easy flow is given to the water in any direction from the hydrant.
advantages we claim for this form of hydrant are as follows.
1. A perfectly unobstructed & direct passage when the valve is open.
2. Ease & certainty of manipulation.
The
3. Prevention of scoring or cutting in the case of grit getting under the valve as
it rotates on its axis & clears itself.
4.-Facility for grinding in under pressure.
5. Compactness owing to its small projection from the main to which it is

page_text: 6. No loose cover, gland, leather or rubber washers liable to be blown out under
a strong pressure.
7. Will not jam on its seat.
8. Can be made to open in both directions & therefore cannot be turned the
wrong way in a hurry as with a wheel valve. In cases where the water supply is
not under sufficient. pressure for fire extinguishing purposes, we provide an
apparatus which we call an Augmenter" increasing the pressure by manual
labour when required. The apparatus we prefer to make in one piece with the
front plate of the hydrant described but it may be made separately & connected to
any form of bydrant, & consists essentially of a pump so arranged & constructed
that when not in use the flow of water from the hydrant is not interfered with &
. that it may be ready for use to augment the pressure by applying the necessary
power.

page_text: We, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S. E. in the county of
Kent, Engineer & CHRISTOPHER JOHN WALLACE JAKEMAN of Greenwich Road S.E.
in the county of Kent Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for AN IMPROVED FIRE HYDRANT 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 to improvements in extinguishing fire by the use of water
and consists of an improved form of hydrant valve constructed as follows.
A circular flat faced valve A (figs. 1 & 2) is arranged to cover an opening in the
front plate B, of the valve box and is actuated by a crank lever C, the spindle
(preferably made solid with the crank lever) passes through the front plate in
which it fits watertight by means of a cone D without packing & is operated
from the outside front of the plate by means of a lever E-this lever may be
permanently secured to the spindle or may be made detachable as required.
The valve is connected to the crank & lever by a central pin F so that it is free
to rotate on its axis, as well as slide over the opening; a hole of square or other
suitable shape Q is provided on the front of the slide valve, so that by the
application of a suitable instrument through the outlet the valve may be ground
onto its face under pressure, that is without stopping the supply of water.
The front plate B may be screwed or bolted to the body of the valve.
. In some cases as shewn in fig. 2 we form the box G containing the slide valve, in
one piece with the mainpipe so that the projection from the face of the wall is
reduced to a minimum; or the box G may be cast separately and bolted or screwed
to the pipe. To prevent the hose from kinking when pulled tight in a lateral
direction from the hydrant and thus stopping the supply or bursting the hose, in
some cases we provide to the outlet of the hydrant a short length of flexible pipe
enclosing a wire spiral so that an easy flow is given to the water in any direction
from the hydrant.
In cases where the water supply is not under sufficient pressure for fire-
extinguishing purposes, we attach to the hydrant an apparatus, which we call a
Pressure Augmenter, increasing the pressure by manual labour when required.
The apparatus we prefer to make in one piece with the front plate of the hydrant
described, but it may be made separately as shewn in figs. 2 & 3, & it may be
connected to any form of hydrant. It consists essentially of a pump barrel H in
which work two pistons J J fitted with valves. By means of a lever K attached
to the spindle L these pistons are caused to alternately approach & recede from
each other through the medium of the cranks M & the links N, thus pumping the
water through the air vessel O to the outlet P. When the pressure in the main is so
great as to render the use of the Augmenter unnecessary, the water passes through
the valves and the flow is not interfered with.
When the hydrant is fixed in such a position that it would not be convenient to
work the Augmenter if attached thereto, we place the Augmenter on the ground
or the floor or wall of the building and connect it to the hydrant by means of a
flexible or other tube.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The use of a circular slide valve rotating on an axis in combination with a
crank handle, substantially as & for the purposes set forth.
2. The use of a hole or recess of square or other suitable shape in the valve, sub-
stantially as & for the purposes set forth.
;
3. The form of valve box by means of which the valve may be opened by turning
the handle in either direction.
4. The use of a pump called a "Pressure Augmenter," substantially as & for the
purpose set forth.