Improvements relating to Hydrants.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
Improvements relating to Hydrants.
I, EDWARD LEWIS of Salisbury Buildings Bourke Street, Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I employ mechanical means to effectively close the valve of hydrants or fire
plugs to ensure that no offensive liquids such as street drainage or the like can
pass into the hydrant.
One form of the mechanical means consists in a novel combination of a valve, a
screw spindle, for same and a supporting nut and easing for the spindle and valve.
The spindle has a projecting head or stem at its top by which it can be screwed
downwards to open the valve or screwed upwards to close it against its seat. From
the foregoing it will be obvious that in this form of valve I do not depend on the
pressure of liquids within the hydrant for closing it and consequently it is quite
immaterial what pressure is within as if the valve be screwed up it is necessarily
closed.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew this improved hydrant valve.
A being the valve, B its spindle, and C the nut for lower screwed portion of
spindle the upper end of which has a steel pin or stem 13' driven and held firmly in
it, with the portion above the crown of valve made preferably of a triangular
section although it may be square or of any shape to suit the box key at lower end
of portable stand pipe rod. Valve A is bored to neatly fit upon the upper part
of valve spindle which has a tapered shoulder or valve face at A2 and the valve is
held on the spindle by a coupling or nut D the crew of which is a reverse hand to
that on the valve spindle. Nut C is formed at the centre of arms or brackets C¹
descending from a ring C2 that is fitted in a recess in hydrant face and the space
between arins C allow sufficient area or water way for the volume of liquids that
can pass from the hydrant when its valve is open. The parts C, C', and C² form
a cage or casing within which the valve is supported. A is a valve seat preferably
of leather. F the hydrant and Fits cover flange.
Fig. 3 shews a second form of my invention A being a ball valve enclosed in and
an easy fit within a cage or casing B made of copper or other metal and having
apertures or ports B The cage is suspended by its top flange B2 being fitted
A volute steel spring or
between the turned faces of the hydrant and its cover.
compressor C resting on the internal casing flange B³ presses on the under side of
ball valve to force it up against its seat.
Fig. 4 shews an alternative form of valve and cage the latter being cast in and
having a broad internal flange B to receive an india rubber cup shaped com-
pressor D while the cage is bored to receive the valve E made of any suitable hard
metal or other substance, a brass liner E being inserted to ensure a smooth surface
to the valve. F are ports or apertures.
When either valve A, or E as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 is opened or pressed down
from its scat A by the presser rod attached to a stand pipe as used for fire hose or
street watering purposes the apertures or ports in the cage give the requisite dis-
charge area. Again to effectually prevent the formation of a vacuum in the
hydrant under either of the valves when mains are being discharged for repairs or
making connections a small pipe G fitted with a valve G' leads thereinto. Such
valve opens and admits the atmosphere immediately the pressure within falls below
atmospheric pressure and consequently the hydrani valve will always be held up

page_text: by its spring or compressor. Gis a tap to be used when necessary although it is
kept open when the hydrant is in use and mains charged.
This invention is to be known as the "Hygienie Hydrant."
Datel this 19th of Nil 18.1
EDWARD LEWIS,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Hydrants.
1. EDWARD LEWIS of Salisbury Buildings, Bourke Street, Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
I employ mechanical means to effectively close the valve of hydrants or fire plugs
to ensure that no offensive liquids such as street drainage or the like can pass into
the hydrant.
One form of the mechanical means consists in a novel combination of a valve,
a screw spindle for same and a supporting nut and casing for the spindle and
valve. The spindle has a projecting head or stem at its top by which it can be
screwed downwards to open the valve or screwed upwards to close it against its
seat. From the foregoing it will be obvious that in this form of valve I do not
depend on the pressure of liquids within the hydrant for closing it and consequently
it is quite immaterial what pressure is within as if the valve be screwed up it is
necessarily closed.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew this improved hydrant valve. A is the valve, B its spindle,
and C the nut for the lower screwed portion of the spindle, the upper end of which
has a steel pin or stem B driven and held firmly in it, with the portion above the
crown of valve made preferably of a triangular section although it may be square
or of any shape to suit the box key at lower end of portable stand pipe rod.
Valve A is hored to neatly fit upon the upper part of valve spindle which has a
tapered shoulder or valve face at A2 and the valve is held on the spindle by a
coupling or nut D the screw of which is a reverse hand to that on the valve spindle.
Nut C is formed at the centre of arms or brackets C descending from a ring C
that is fitted in a recess in hydrant face and the spaces between arms C allow of
sufficient area or water way for the volume of liquids that can pass from the
hydrant when its valve is open. The parts C, C, and C form a cage or casing
within which the valve is supported. A is a valve seat preferably of leather.
F the hydrant and Fits cover flange.
Fig. 3 shews a second form of my invention A being a ball valve enclosed in
and an easy fit within a cage or casing B made of copper or other metal and having
apertures or ports B. The cage is suspended by its top flange B32 being fitted
between the turned faces of the hydrant and its cover. A volute steel spring or
compressor (resting on the internal casing flange B³ presses on the under side of
the ball valve to force it up against its sat Ai
Fig. 4 shows an alternative form of valve and cage the latter being cast in and
having a broad internal flange B to receive an india rubber cup-shaped com-
pressor D while the cage is borel to receive the valve E made of any suitable
fard metal or other substaner, a brass liner E being inserted to ensure a smooth
surface to the valve. Fare ports or apertures.
When either valve A, or E as shown in Fig. 3 and 4, is opened or pressed down
from its sent by the presser rod attached to a stand pipe as used for fire hose
or street watering purposes the apertures or ports in the cage give the requisite
discharge area. Again to effectually prevent the formation of a vacuum in the
hydrant under either of the valves when mans are being discharged for repairs
or making connections a small pipe G fitted with a valve G' leads thereinto.

page_text: Such valve opens and admits the atmosphere immediately the pre--ure therein
falls below atmospheric pressure and consequently the hydrant valve will always
be held up by its spring or compressor.
G' is a tap to be used when necessary although it is kept open when the
hydrant is in use and mains charged.
"
This invention is to be known as the Hygienic Hydrant."
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. My improved valve for hydrants having a screwed spindle or rod by means of
which the valve is opened or closed substantially as herein described and as
illustrated in my drawings.
2. The combination of valve A, spindle B, B¹ coupling nut D, and the nut and
easing C, C, and C as and for the purposes described and as illustrated in my
drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement in a hydrant of the ball valve A, cage B
provided with ports B' and the spring C as described and illustrated.
4. The combination and arrangement in a hydrant having its cage or casing
with ports east or formed in it of the valve E and rubber spring compressor Das
described and illustrated.
5. The combination and arrangement with a hydrant of a pipe G furnished with
a valve as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 13th day of June 1891.
EDWARD LEWIS,
By L. W., per F. B.