Improvements in Hose Hydrants.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hose Hydrants.
I, HENRY MAX KUNZ, residing at 484 Belmont Ave., Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to hose hydrants of that class which are adapted to be
used as fire plugs, and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved
hydrant of this character which will provide an effective closure for the hose
connection, and which will comprise in one mechanism means for opening said
closure and conjointly opening the valve.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improve-
ments are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and in
which:-
Fig. 1, is a vertical transverse sectional view of a hose hydrant embodying my
improvements.
Fig. 2, is an elevation of the front of the upper part of the same; and,
Fig. 3, is an elevation of the upper part of the hydrant, the casing being broken
away to show the interior of the construction.
In the drawing forming part of this Specification A designates a casing, which
is preferably of cylindrical construction and embodies a top portion adapted to
project above the ground g, and a lower portion extending beneath the ground.
The casing may be in the main of any suitable or adapted contour, and is pro-
vided with a top or cap a, serving to close the top opening and with a closed
bottom, as shown at a'. Exteriorly upon the casing, may be provided an annular
shoulder or flange as at a², adapted to rest upon the ground g and support the
easing in position.
B designates the feed pipe, which enters the lower portion of the casing
laterally, near the bottom, and extends upwardly therein to a point opposite a
mouth or opening a³, locating at a convenient point in the upper part of the
casing. The top end of the upwardly projecting or vertical portion of the feed
pipe may be turned outwardly or horizontally as at b, so that it faces or registers
with the mouth or opening a³, and this top end may be exteriorly threaded, as
shown at b, to provide for the convenient attachment of the hose connection.
The top or cap a of the casing is preferably of concavo-convex contour, and is
provided with a central opening a5, in its dome.
C designates a slide, which is adapted to normally close the mouth or opening a³.
This slide preferably comprises a plate of sufficient area to fully cover or close
the opening a³ and embodies a top carrying arm, as at C, projecting inwardly
and carried upon a tubular rotatable plug D, which corresponds to and is fitted
in the opening as in the cap a and has an exteriorly projecting top end d, which
is adapted to be engaged by a suitable key or handle in the operation of the
hydrant. This exteriorly projecting end d is preferably of angular contour,

page_text: adapted to be engaged by a corresponding angular socket in an operating key
or handle, and embodies an annular shoulder, at its base.
E designates a rotary valve stem which extends vertically and longitudinally
within the casing A, and has its top end received by the tubular plug D. The
plug is provided at its base with a flange d, and upon the valve stem, at a
suitable distance below the plug, is mounted a coiled spring F. The top end e¹
of the valve stem is adapted to engage or interlock with the end, of the bore or
longitudinal recess of the tubular plug D, when the latter is depressed against
the tension of the spring F, and for the purposes of this engagement the top e' of
the valve stem may be of angular construction adapted to engage the corre-
sponding angular terminal recess at the end of the bore of the plug.
Interiorly within the casing A, and at the bottom and one side of the mouth
or opening a³, is provided a flange or projection, as at a', which serves as a limiting
guide in the return of the closure slide or plate C to normal position.
The top portion of the feed pipe B, below the horizontal outlet end b, is prefer-
ably flattened or contracted, as shown at b, and said flattened and contracted top
portion may also be flared or widened laterally, in approximately fan shape as
shown at 2, Fig. 3, the purpose of this constructed and widened end portion being
to concentrate the jet of water flowing from the pipe and secure greater force
or power as with a nozzle.
The vertical rotary valve stem E carries upon its lower end a rotary valve H,
of any suitable or adapted construction, operating in the horizontal or base portion
of the feed pipe B, and this valve is provided with an extended bottom end, as at h,
projecting through an opening in the closed bottom a¹ of the casing and into the
top end of a waste pipe, I, extending from said opening. The valve is provided
in its exterior surface with a vertical groove, h¹, adapted to communicate with the
feed pipe B and with the waste pipe I.
The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.
When the mechanism is in normal position, the mouth or opening a³ is securely
closed by the slide or plate C, and the inlet valve H is also closed. When thus
in normal position, the plug D cannot be depressed, to interlock the valve stem E
and effect the turning of the same, by reason of the fact that the closure plate C,
which is fixed to said plug, engages the bottom portion of the interior limiting
flange a*.
When it is desired to open the hydrant to enable the attachment of the hose
to the outlet end of the feed pipe, it is only necessary to engage the projecting
top end of the plug 1 with any adapted key or handle and turn the plug
sufficiently to throw the closure plate C, away from the mouth or opening a³ (the
relative construction and arrangement being preferably such that a one fourth
part turn of the plug will accomplish this result), when the closure plate will be
free from engagement with the bottom portion of the interior flange a. The
plug can then be depressed by engagement of the key or handle upon the
shoulder d, the downward movement of the closure plate carried by said plug
being now permitted, to interlock the top end el of the valve stem with the end d³
of the bore of the plug, when said plug may be further turned by means of the
key or handle. (The arrangement being preferably such that another quarter
turn will be sufficient to open the valve H and permit the flow of the water through
the feed pipe B. The depression of the plug D is against the tension of the
spring F, which latter will serve to disconnect the interlocking end of the valve
stem with said plug D as soon as the pressure upon the latter is released. A
reverse movement will serve to return the operative parts to normal position.
When the hydrant mechanism is turned to normal position with the mouth or
opening a closed by the slide or plate C and the valve H also closed, the groove h
will then be in operative position to act as a drain by which the water in the
upwardly projecting portion of the feed pipe will be drawn off through the valve
to the waste pipe I.
It will be noted that in the improved construction and arrangement as embodied

page_text: in my invention and herein described the plug D serves the conjoint office of an
opening device for the closed mouth of the hydrant and a valve opener, these
movements being accomplished in a relatively successive manner simply operating
the plug as above set forth. It will also be noted that without operation of the
rotary and vertically moving controlling plug D by means of its key or handle,
the mechanism is protected against unauthorized or accidental opening of the
hydrant or opening of the valve mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a mouth or opening, a slide or plate
adapted to close the same, and a rotary plug carrying said slide or plate and
having an exteriorly projecting operating end adapted to be engaged by a key or
handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing having a mouth or opening
and provided interiorly with limiting shoulders or flanges arranged with respect
to said mouth or opening, a slide or plate adapted to close the opening and
operating with respect to said interior flange so that it engages the same when
in normal position, and an operating plug carrying said slide or plate and pro-
vided with an exteriorly projecting operating end adapted to be engaged by a
key or handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing carrying a feed pipe
mechanism provided with an inlet valve a rotary stem connected with said valve
and extending vertically within the casing, and a rotary depressible plug adapted
to engage the valve stem and provided with an exteriorly projecting operating
end adapted to be engaged by a key or handle, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing provided with feed pipe
mechanism having an inlet valve a valve stem connected with said valve and
extending vertically within the casing, a rotary and vertically slidable operating
plug adapted to engage the end of the valve stem and having an operating end
exteriorly projecting from the casing and adapted to be engaged by a key or
handle and a spring mechanism for governing the connection of said operating
plug with the valve stem substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing provided with a feed pipe
having an inlet valve, a valve stem connected with said valve and extending
vertically within the casing, and a tubular operating plug receiving the top end
of said valve stem and adapted to engage the same, said plug being rotatable
and depressible with respect to the valve stem and provided with a projecting
end adapted to be engaged by operating devices, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing provided with a feed pipe
having an inlet valve, a valve stem connected with said valve and extending
vertically within the casing, a tubular operating plug receiving the top end of said
valve stem and adapted to engage the same said plug being rotatable and de-
pressible with respect to said valve stem and provided with an operating end pro-
jecting exteriorly from the casing and adapted to be engaged by an operating
device, and a governing coiled spring arranged between the valve stem and said
operating plug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing having a mouth or opening
and provided with water feed mechanism having an inlet valve, a valve stem
connected with said valve and extending within said casing, a rotatable and de-
pressible operating plug adapted to engage a valve stem, and a slide or plate
adapted to close the mouth or opening in the casing and carried by said operating
plug, sustantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing having a mouth or opening

page_text: and provided with water feed mechanism having an inlet valve, a valve stem
connected with said valve and extending within the casing, a rotatable and de-
pressible plug adapted to engage the valve stem and provided with an operating
end extending exteriorly from the casing and adapted to be engaged by an
operating key or handle, a slide or plate adapted to close the mouth or opening
and carried by said rotable plug, and spring mechanism for governing the con-
nection between the plug and valve stem, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing having a mouth or opening
and provided with water feed mechanism having an inlet valve, a valve stem
connected with said valve and projecting vertically within the casing, a tubular
operating plug receiving the top end of said valve stem and adapted to engage
the same and provided with an end projecting exteriorly from the casing and
adapted to be engaged by an operating key or handle, a slide or plate adapted
to close the mouth or opening in the casing and carried by said operating plug,
the operating plug being rotatable and depressible with relation to the valve stem,
and a coiled spring arranged between the valve stem and plug and adapted to
control the relation of said parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a hose hydrant comprising a casing having a mouth or opening at
the bottom of which is arranged an interior flange or limiting device and having
a stem extending from inlet valve mechanism, a depressible and rotatable plug
adapted to engage said valve stem when the plug is depressed, and a slide or
plate adapted to close the mouth or opening and carried by said plug whereby
the closure plate permits depression of the plug only when said plate is beyond
the mouth or opening and out of engagement with the interior limiting flange
devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a hose hydrant comprising a casing having a closed bottom from which
extends a waste pipe, an inlet pipe extending within said casing and provided
with a rotary valve projecting with relation to said waste pipe and having an
exterior groove adapted to form an outlet between the inlet pipe and waste pipe,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. An improved hose hydrant, comprising a casing and provided with water
feed mechanism having an inlet valve, a valve stem extending from said valve,
and a rotatable and depressible operating plug adapted to engage said valve stem
and carrying a slide or plate adapted to close the mouth or opening of the casing
whereby said plug serves the conjoint office of opening or closing the hydrant and
opening or closing the valve substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 28th day of December 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.