AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING WATER IN PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Farrand Clarke, of Moorgate Street, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR
DISTRIBUTING WATER IN PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES."
Sealed the 2nd August 1878, and dated the 8th February 1878.
..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Farrand Clarke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1878.
JOHN FARRAND CLARKE, of Moorgate Street, in the City of London.
"AN
IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING WATER IN PUBLIC THOROUGH-
FARES."
My Invention relates to an improvement in hydrants or portable stand pipes for
supplying water in public thoroughfares and other places, similar to that described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date July 30th,
1874, No. 2660.
:
My present Invention consists in the employment of a screw down valve con-
structed and applied, as hereafter described, for controlling the delivery of the water,
and especially for preventing the leakage to which such stand pipes or hydrants
have hitherto been liable.
The valve is fitted to work in a shell or box placed in a well below the surface
of the ground and communicating with the water main, as usual, and the valve
consists of a hollow or tubular plug of slightly conical form, or having a slightly
inclined face, which comes down against a corresponding inclined seat and closes
the inlet orifice from the water main. This valve is fitted to work up and down
vertical guides which prevent it turning, and is rigidly attached to a female screw
ring or collar which screws upon a male screw of rapid pitch, cut upon the lower
part of a vertical tube that rises through a stuffing box and gland in the cover of
the valve box or shell. This tubular screw is formed with a collar or shoulder
upon it that is retained between the said cover and a guiding ring supported
within the box or shell, so that the tubular screw stem is incapable of any vertical

page_text: movement but may be rotated by turning the stand pipe. The latter has a socket
at the lower end which fits on the upper end of the screw tube, and is connected
thereto by a bayonet joint or other suitable fastening, the stand pipe forming a
continuation of the screw tube and both being of about the same bore for the
passage of the water.
At the bottom of the valve box there is a small spring waste water valve for the
escape of any water remaining in the valve box after the hydrant has been used.
This escape valve is pressed on and opened by the main valve or plug when the
latter is closed, and closed by its spring when the main valve is opened.
The main valve or plug is opened and closed by turning the stand pipe round
and with it the tubular screw, whereby the female screw that works upon it and is
prevented from turning is drawn up or down together with the plug or valve,
which is of sufficient internal diameter to pass freely over the screwed tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Farrand Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
August 1878.
"
AN
JOHN FARRAND CLARKE, of Moorgate Street, in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING WATER IN PUBLIC THOROUGH-
FARES."
My Invention relates to an improvement in hydrants or portable stand pipes for
supplying water in public thoroughfares and other places, similar to that described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date July 30th,
1874, No. 2660.
My present Invention consists in the employment of a screw down valve con-
structed and applied, as herein-after described, for controlling the delivery of the
water, and especially for preventing the leakage to which these stand pipes or
hydrants have hitherto been liable.
The valve is fitted to work in a shell or box placed in a well below the surface
of the ground and communicating with the water main, as usual, and the valve
consists of a hollow or tubular plug of slightly conical form, or having a slightly
inclined lateral face, which comes against a corresponding inclined lateral seat and
closes the inlet orifice from the water main. This valve is fitted to work up and
down in vertical guides which prevent it turning, and has a female screw attached
to it, through which screws a male screw of rapid pitch cut upon the lower part of
a vertical tube that rises through a stuffing box and gland in the cover of the
valve box or shell. This tubular screw has formed upon it a collar or shoulder that
is retained between the said cover and a guiding ring supported within the box or
shell, so that the tubular screw stem is incapable of any vertical movement, but
may be rotated by turning the stand pipe applied to it. The latter has a socket at
'the lower end which fits on the upper end of the screw tube and is connected

page_text: thereto by a bayonet joint or other suitable [fastening, the stand pipe forming a
continuation of the screw tube and having about the same sized bore for the passage
of the water.
The valve or plug is opened and closed by turning the stand pipe round, and
with it the tubular screw, whereby the female screw that works upon it and is
prevented from turning is drawn up or down together with the plug or valve,
which is of sufficient internal diameter to pass freely over the screwed tube.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my improved hydrant.
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of the valve alone.
A is the valve fitted in a cast-iron box B, connected at C to the water main.
The valve A is a tubular plug furnished with a flat brass or copper face a, which
fits accurately against a similar face or seat c around the inlet C. This face a and
seat c are not quite parallel with the vertical axis of the valve A but are slightly
inclined outwards at the upper part. The opposite side of the valve is similarly
inclined, so that the valve is wedge shaped, and when lowered to the closed position
shown it will fit. tightly between the seat c and the opposite side of box B; D is a
square nut fixed in grooves d at the upper end of valve A; E is a tubular screw
of rapid pitch working through nut D, so that when rotated in one direction it
will draw the valve up to the dotted position, and when rotated in the opposite
direction lower it to the full line position, Figure 1; 6 are vertical ribs cast on the
side of the box B by which the valve is guided and prevented from rotating. The
lower half only of the tube E is screw threaded, the remainder being plain and
passing through a stuffing box and gland F fixed on the cover of the box B; e is a
collar fixed on the tube E just above the screw thread, and G is a plate supported
on ledges 9 cast on the inside of the box B, and provided with an aperture through
which the tube E passes. The collar e is confined between plate G and the top of
the box so as to prevent the screw E moving up or down.
H is the portable stand pipe of the usual construction, provided with a socket
at the lower end which fits on the top of tube E and is connected thereto by a
projecting lug h on the latter entering a bayonet slot in the socket, in which it is
locked by a sliding rod I fitted in staples on the stand pipe. By turning the latter
the screw E is rotated and the valve A moved up or down. When raised the
orifice of the inlet C is unclosed and the water passes through the hollow valve A,
tubular screw E, and stand pipe H to the delivery hose or pipe attached thereto.
The hydrant may be provided with a second delivery outlet K, closed by a
screw cap when not in use; and in this case the back of the valve is provided with
a second face a¹ closing against a corresponding seat c³ round the orifice of the said
delivery outlet K.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, a street hydrant constructed with a tubular valve
closing against a lateral seat, and a tubular screw fitted in the valve box and
traversing a nut on said valve to operate the valve and give passage to the water,
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Farrand Clarke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
J. F. CLARKE. (LS.)