IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Chrimes, of Rotherham, in the County
of York, for the Invention of
COCKS."
66 IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS OR FIRE-
Sealed the 30th July 1875, and dated the 4th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Chrimes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th June 1875.
I, RICHARD CHRIMES, of Rotherham, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRANTS OR FIRE-COCKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improved constructions and arrangements of
bydrants or fire-cocks, and has for its object enabling the working valve
to be repaired without shutting off the water from the main.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention I employ two valves, one of which
(termed the working valve) is used during the normal operation of the
apparatus, and the other (which is designated the repairing valve) is
brought into use when it is required to repair the working valve.
According to one modification the two valves are combined and
arranged in such a manner that one screw spindle operates upon both
valves, but that the repairing valve cannot be closed in its normal
condition. The repairing valve may however be allowed to close by the
removal of the stuffing box bolts of the hydrant, and the further
unscrewing of the screw spindle when the working valve becomes
removable at pleasure. In this arrangement a ball valve is employed
as the repairing valve and an ordinary leather seated valve as the
working valve.
According to another modification the working valve consists of a ball
valve which is closed by its own specific gravity and the pressure to
which it is exposed, and is opened by an independent apparatus, termed
a movable stand pipe, in which there is provision for forcing down the
ball against the pressure so as to allow the water to flow. The repairing
valve consists of an ordinary leather seated valve operated upon by its
own independent screw spindle; this valve in its normal condition is
always fully open, it being only brought into use by closing it when the
working valve requires repairing.
1
According to a further modification the working valve consists of an
ordinary leather seated valve opened and closed by its own independent
screw spindle, and the repairing valve consists of a sliding valve which
is opened and closed by a lever; the latter valve in its normal condition
is always open, it being only closed when the working valve requires
repairing.
1
According to another mode of arranging the apparatus the working
valve is the same as that last herein-before described, and the repairing
valve consists of an ordinary leather seated valve attached to one arm of
a quadrant or quadrangular lever, the other arm of which extends
outside in such a manner that by turning the quadrant in one direction
the valve is opened, and by turning it in the opposite direction the valve
is closed. The repairing valve in its normal condition is always open,
when however the working valve requires repairs the repairing valve is
closed, the precaution being first taken both in this and in the preceding

page_text: arrangement to close the working valve so as to prevent any undue
shock consequent upon closing the repairing valve too suddenly.
As a further modification the working valve is constructed and
arranged as in the two preceding modifications, and the repairing valve
consists of an ordinary leather seated valve opened and closed by its own
independent screw spindle, the head of which is inside the outlet arm of
the hydrant. The repairing valve in its normal condition is always open;
when however the working valve requires repairs the former is closed
by the act of turning the screw spindle by means of a portable key from
the outside.