IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE-COCKS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Suffield, of East Lane, Bermondsey, in the County
of Surrey, and William Edward Hollands, of Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE-COCKS."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 26th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Suffield and William
Edward Hollands at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th
January 1878.
THOMAS SUFFIELD, of East Lane, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, and
WILLIAM EDWARD HOLLANDS, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex.
MENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE-COCKS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to improvements in hydrants or fire-cocks, whereby
greater facilities are afforded for removing the valve for repairs or renewals, and
for packing the seating, than by those at present constructed; also to an elastic
cushion as a compensation in times of frost.
In constructing our hydrants we form a barrel with a bottom passage leading
from the main supply, and with one or more branches or upper passages as outlets,
these having threaded ends for the attachment of the hose in the ordinary
manner.
The upper end of the inlet passage has a recess, in which a leather or other
packing is fitted for the valve to bear upon, when the stem which is fitted loosely
to it is screwed down.
The upper part of the valve has a shoulder or lip with a slot to permit of a flange
on the lower end of the stem being slipped in, and to hold the valve to it, the valve
thereby lifting loosely without being turned. The stem, which is screw-threaded,
passes through a threaded cap, whose upper end has a square for a spanner or
wrench to take over when the cap and valve have to be removed for any cause.

page_text: The top and exposed part of the stem may also have a square for the spanner or
wrench to fit for operating the valve when desired.
Within the barrel, and encircling the part of the stem when the valve is down,
is a shaped elastic piece of tubing, one end of which bears upon the valve, and the
other end against the under face of the cap, thereby forming a water-tight joint
between the working parts of the apparatus and the barrel. This elastic tube is
in the up travel of the valve expanded or bulged outwards by the ends being
caused to approach, and it lengthens itself again when the valve is screwed down.
The elastic tube prevents the entry of frost to the working parts, and serves as a
compensator or cushion to the action of ice that may form, should any water remain
in the barrel after the valve is closed.
The diameter of the cap is slightly larger than that of the valve, so that by
unscrewing it the whole of the working parts can be easily removed; also, the
seating of the inlet passage without breaking the flange joint to the water
main.
In some cases the elastic tube may be dispensed with, and then a collar on the
valve makes the water-tight joint to the screw cap.
In large size barrels the cap may have a flange, by which it can be secured to
another flange of the barrel.
By arranging the valve in the manner described, a free and uninterrupted
passage of water from the main to the outlet or outlets is ensured, there being no
cross piece, centre piece, or web in the passage.
The valve seating may be inserted into the barrel from above, or from the under
side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Suffield and William Edward Hollands in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th July 1878.
THOMAS SUFFIELD, of East Lane, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, and
WILLIAM EDWARD HOLLANDS, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE-COCKS.'
This Invention relates to improvements in hydrants or fire-cocks, whereby
greater facilities are afforded for removing the valve for repairs or renewals, and
for packing the seating, than by those at present constructed; also, to an elastic
cushion as a compensator in times of frost.
In constructing our hydrants we form a barrel with a bottom passage leading
from the main supply, and with one or more branches or upper passages as outlets,
these having threaded ends for the attachment of the hose in the ordinary
manner.
The upper end of the inlet passage has a recess, in which a leather or other
packing is fitted for the valve to bear upon when the stem which is fitted loosely
to it is screwed down.
The upper part of the valve has a shoulder or lip with a slot to permit of a flange
on the lower end of the stem being slipped in, and to hold the valve to it, the valve
thereby lifting loosely without being turned. The stem, which is screw-threaded,
passes through a threaded cap, whose upper end has a square for a spanner or
wrench to take over when the cap and valve have to be removed for any cause.
The top and exposed part of the stem may also have a square for the spanner
or wrench to fit for operating the valve when desired.
Within the barrel, and encircling part of the stem when the valve is down, is a
shaped elastic piece of tubing, one end of which bears upon the valve, and the other
end against the under face of the cap, thereby forming a water-tight joint between
the working parts of the apparatus and the barrel. This elastic tube is in the up
travel of the valve expanded or bulged outwards by the ends being caused to
approach, and it lengthens itself again when the valve is screwed down.
The elastic tube prevents the entry of frost to the working parts, and serves as
a compensator or cushion to the action of ice that may form should any water
remain in the barrel after the valve is closed.
The diameter of the cap is slightly larger than that of the valve, so that by
unscrewing it the whole of the working parts can be easily removed; also the
seating of the inlet passage without breaking the flange joint to the water
main.
In some cases the elastic tube may be dispensed with, and then a collar on the
valve makes the water-tight joint to the screw cap.
In large size barrels the cap may have a flange, by which it can be secured to
another flange of the barrel.
By arranging the valve in the manner described, a free and uninterrupted passage
of water from the main to the outlet or outlets is ensured, there being no cross
piece, centre piece, or web in the passage.
The valve seating may be inserted into the barrel from above, or from the under
side.
Our Invention is clearly represented in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1
represents a single hydrant or fire-cock, as before explained; and Figure 2, a
sectional view of the same.
A is the barrel, and B, the foot or base, by which the apparatus can be secured
to the flange of a main supply branch in the usual manner; C is the outlet branch
whose upper end has a nose piece D upon it, this being threaded for the reception
of the cap E, which can be removed by unscrewing it, when one end of any ordinary
fire-hose can be screwed on.

page_text: The upper part of the barrel A has a cap F, which when screwed home is pre-
vented turning loose by means of the set screw G. The centre portion of the cap F
is threaded, and a screw stem H of the valve I moves up or down in it, when
turned in the desired direction.
The stem H, whose upper end projects beyond the top of the cap F, is made to
receive a socket or key J, whose upper end is square for a spanner or other tool to
be placed over, by which to turn it, to raise or lower the valve, which is attached
to the lower end of the stem, that it may not turn when the pressure or bite is
applied the valve being in a piece with a channelled block L, which can be slipped
over a projection M of the stem H.
The diameter of the valve and its attachments is smaller than that of the opening
in which the cap F is fitted, so that it may leave the barrel A in an easy manner
should it be necessary.
Figure 3 is a view of a single barrel A with two branch outlets C, C, to each of
which a hose can be attached or to one only, by removing the cap or caps. The
valve in this case is fitted to close the inlet passage from the main by which both
branches can be supplied.
N is a bellied piece of elastic flexible tubing resting upon a flange or groove, on
the upper part of the valve block L, and against the under face of the cap F to
prevent the contact of water with the threaded portion of the stem H, thereby
preserving it against rust, and also in times of frost to act as a compensator on the
formation of ice, should there be any water left in the barrel after the valve is
closed.
The annexed Drawings illustrate sufficient of our Invention to make it under-
stood, it being observed by the section, Figure 2, that a free passage of water can
take place, there being no centre rib, web, or internal wings to interfere there-
with.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
The improvements in hydrants or fire-cocks shown in the annexed Drawings,
consisting of a barrel having no internal wings, webs, or projections, and with
one or more loose fitting valves on threaded stems working within removeable caps,
the whole acting as and for the purposes described.
Secondly. We claim the employment of a bellied-shaped piece of elastic flexible
tubing over a threaded stem of a hydrant valve, as and for the purposes described,
and as shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Hollands, for myself and on
behalf of the said Thomas Suffield, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness to the signature of
William Edward Hollands,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet Street,
London.
WILLIAM ED. HOLLANDS. (L.S.)