Hydrant.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
Hydrant.
We, JOHN GREENAWALT, and EDWIN GREENAWALT, both of Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Gentlemen, 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 to improvements in hydrants employed in the dispensation
of water from distributing-mains in which the water is kept under pressure, and
has for its object to provide an exceedingly cheap and strong hydrant, all the
working and wearing parts of which may be readily taken out for repairs or
renewal without the necessity of digging up the whole casing and uncoupling the
service-pipe.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section through a hydrant constructed in accordance with
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of a modified form of valve-rod.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the upper part of the pump.
Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
In the class of hydrants to which the invention relates, it is found necessary to
make provision for clearing the eduction-pipe of water after the hydrant has been
in use, in order to prevent the same from freezing, and to do this the water-supply
has to be cut off beneath the surface of the earth and, preferably, below the frost-
line, at which point a drain or drip-opening is provided for draining off the water
from said pipe. This construction of course makes it necessary to place the valves
and other working and wearing parts below the ground, and should the same get
out of order, in a large proportion of the hydrants now in use the whole casing has
to be dug up to get at the injured or defective part.
In a hydrant constructed in accordance with my present invention these difficulties
are overcome by connecting the service-pipe A. with the base B, which constitutes
what may, for convenience, be termed a receiving-chamber," having a scat or
bearing in the upper part thereof and connected rigidly by screw-threads or
otherwise with the tubular casing C, which extends up above the surface of the
ground, and inserting the eduction-pipe D within the casing and causing it or a
chamber thereon to seat on the bearing, the eduction-pipe being held to its seat
by accessible devices at the top of the casing, the valve and its operating rod being
inserted with the eduction-pipe and adapted to seat and close the entrance to the
eduction-pipe.
The eduction-pipe D shown in the drawings consists of ordinary tubing, pre-
ferably divided at the centre and screwed into a T-fitting, the branch of which
serves for the attachment of the spout H, and at the bottom is adapted to seat on
the rounded upper end of a fitting M, which has an annular bearing in the
receiving chamber. Then, when the eduction-pipe is forced down, the water passing
into the chamber flows up through the central opening in the fitting and into the
eduction-pipe at the bottom. The fitting is provided with a downwardly-extending
annular-valve-seat n and an outer casing or cage N extending some distance below
the valve-seat and closed by a plug or other suitable means to prevent the entrance
of water at the bottom, but provided with entrance-openings n' at a point near
the top.
The valve O, which in effect performs the double function of the valve and
piston to prevent water-pound, works in the cage N below the openings
and is connected to the tubular valve-stem or lower terminal o of the valve-rod,
which works through the fitting and is provided with perforations o¹ at top

page_text: and bottom, those at the top being adapted to slide in the fitting and be closed
thereby.
The valve-rod E in this instance has a plug inserted above the upper perforations
to prevent the upward passage of water, and which rod passes straight up the
eduction-pipe through a plug c, having a packing-box therein, if desired, and
through the cap G. Cap G is secured on the top of the casing and bears on the
upper end of the eduction-pipe to force the same down and make the necessary
water-tight joints at the bottom. A drip-opening is provided in the casing and
a corresponding opening m² in the fitting M, which when the valve is depressed is
closed by the collar or flange o² on the valve-stem, but is open when the valve is
raised or closed.
In operation, the water entering the receiving-chamber passes into the cage N
above the piston or valve therein; but said valve is fitted loose enough to allow
the water to leak past and fill the space below the piston, and it will be seen at a
glance that when the valve is depressed there will be a direct flow of water through
the apertures o' up the eduction-pipe and out through the spout; but when the
valve is released the pressure of the water which gradually leaks past the piston or
valve into the space below the same will elevate and close the valve slowly, the
leakage being insufficient to permit or cause a quick movement and consequent
water-pound as the valve closes.
It is not essential that the specific form of valve and connections just described
be employed, as other well known mechanism may be substituted, or the construction
shown in Fig. 2 may be employed, wherein it will be seen that the eduction-
pipe carries at the bottom a chamber D¹ of frusto-conical shape, closed by a
diaphragm d screwed into the lower end and provided with a scat for co-operating
with the seat in the receiving-chamber.
The valve-rod E passes down through the eduction-pipe and is connected to a
valve-steme working through the diaphragm, by a coupling E jointed to the rod
and stem, respectively, by bolts e'. On the lower portion of the valve-stem is a
support or spider e², which carries the washer or block e³, constituting the valve
proper, which fits over and closes openings d¹ in the diaphragm d, said valve being
held up to its place by the pressure of the water, or by a spring d² interposed
between the same and the bottom of the receiving-chamber. Any leakage into the
casing at once runs off through the drip-opening provided therefor, and the
eduction-pipe is emptied through the same opening by means of an opening d³ in
the diaphragm d leading from a point near the valve-stem to the opening b.
When the valve-rod is pushed down, it will be seen that the valve e³ is unseated
and the water at once rushes up through the apertures and out of the spout H,
the escape of any of the same through orifice d³ being prevented by the lower end
of the coupling E¹ which comes down over the mouth of said orifice and closes it
whenever the valve is depressed, but it opens whenever the valve is closed and
allows all the water in the eduction-pipe to run out. In either instance any of the
ordinary means may be employed to depress the valve-rod and valve; but I have
devised and prefer to employ a mechanism whereby the same may be depressed
either by direct pressure downward or by turning the same horizontally, such
mechanism being as follows: The cap G, which may be of any desired ornamental
design, is provided with a central aperture having a screw-thread of considerable
pitch, and fitting within this aperture is an annular nut or block having screw-
threads co-operating with those in the cap, thus making the block adjustable
vertically, and as the valve-rod passes through the same and is provided with a
collar H on which the block comes to a bearing, it will be seen at a glance that
when the block is turned in the proper direction the valve-rod will be depressed
and the valves opened. The valve-rod passes on through the block and is provided
with suitable means for depressing it by a direct pressure, as a knob or handle P
which has a flange or overhanging lip, which protects the bearings at the top of
the casing and excludes snow, dust, etc. The valve-rod is further provided with
means whereby when it is turned it will also turn the plug g as a groove or pin

page_text: connection g', as shown in Fig. 1, or the upper end of the valve-rod may be squared,
as shown in Fig. 3.
It will be noted that when the valve is opened by turning the block it will remain
open until closed by hand, but when opened by a direct pressure on the lever it
closes automatically.
By removing the cap and spout it will be seen that the eduction-pipe may be
casily taken out and the whole of the working parts removed. including both faces
of the valve, and in fact all wearing parts, and when replaced a water-tight joint
may be easily made between the bottom of the eduction-pipe and receiving box by
screwing down the cap until the desired end is accomplished, there being little or
no danger of the joint leaking, as the contacting faces are not moved with relation
to each other after the parts are adjusted.
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-
1. In a bydrant, the combination, with the eduction-pipe having the fitting at
the lower end with the annular downwardly-projecting valve-seat, and the sur-
rounding cage having the bottom closed and the entrance ports at the top above the
level of the valve-seat, of the piston-valve working in said cage below the valve-seat,
substantially as described.
2. In a hydrant, the combination, with the eduction-pipe having the fitting at the
lower end with the valve-seat and the surrounding cage having the bottom closed
and the entrance ports at the top, of the perforated tubular valve-stem working
through the fitting and the piston-valve on said stem, working in the cage below the
entrance ports, substantially as described.
3. In a hydrant, the combination, with the eduction-pipe having the fitting
at the lower end with the valve-seat, and surrounding cage having the bottom
closed and entrance-ports at the top, and the drip opening in the top of the
fitting, of the perforated tubular valve-stem working though the fitting, the
piston-valve on said stem, working in the cage below the entrance ports, and
the ring or collar above the fitting for closing the drip-opening, substantially as
described.
4. In a hydrant, the combination, with the casing having the incline or
screw-thread on the top of the valve adapted to be opened by a vertical
movement, the valve-rod engaging the valve and mounted in bearings to
move vertically without rotating, and a member connected to the rod and
engaging the incline or screw-thread on the top, whereby the valve may be
opened by a direct vertical pressure on the rod or by rotating the same, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a hydrant, the combination, with the casing and valve adapted to be opened
by a vertical movement, of the vertically-movable valve-rod, a block mounted on
and adapted to rotate with the rod, but to permit the same to move longitudinally
without rotating, a screw-thread or incline on the casing with which said block
engages to depress the rod when rotated, and a handle on the rod, substantially as
described.
6. In a hydrant, such as described, the combination, with the casing and valve-
rod, of the cap having the screw-threaded aperture therein, the block fitting in
said aperture and bearing on a projection on the valve-rod, whereby the valve-rod
may be depressed either by a direct pressure on the same or by turning the screw-
block, substantially as described.
7. In a hydrant such as described, the combination, with the casing, valve-rod,
and cap having the screw-threaded aperture therein, of the block fitting in said
aperture and bearing on a projection on the valve-rod, said valve-rod and plug being
connected to rotate in unison but permit of an independent longitudinal movement,
substantially as described.

page_text: 8. In a hydrant, the combination, with the casing, receiving-chamber, eduction-
pipe seating over the receiving-chamber, the spout connecting to the eduction-pipe,
and the screw-top resting on said pipe to hold the same in place, of the packing
located in said pipe below the top thereof, the valve-rod working through said
packing, the screw-plug surrounding the valve-rod and bearing on a collar on the
same below the top and above the packing, and connections between said plug and
rod to cause them to rotate in unison, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of December 1891.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicants.