Improved Appliances for Preventing Noxious Matter from Gaining Access to Water Mains through Ball Hydrants.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr.,
1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN TREVOR-JONES, of 137, Elizabeth Street,
Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, Civil Engineer.]
Improved Appliances for Preventing Noxious Matter from Gaining
Access to Water Mains through Ball Hydrants.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6, Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 is a simple attachment to ball hydrants used in connection with
water mains, and is intended to prevent the noxious matter that collects in the
surface boxes from gaining admission to the water main through the hydrant, and
thus contaminating the water that is contained in the main. This is effected by
employing dirt caps that are provided with special appliances whereby the same
may be locked on the hydrant, and the latter sealed against the entrance of noxious
matter from without.
But in order that the invention may be thoroughly understood, reference will be
made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one mode of effecting my object.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section, the section being taken on the line 1, 2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of an alternative mode of locking the dirt cap on to the
hydrant.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.
Referring particularly now to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the top of a ball hydrant,
B B' the lugs projecting therefrom. C is the dirt cap, from the centre of which
projects vertically a pin D, which carries a transverse piece, or cross head E, that
is capable of being rotated freely upon the pin D. Between the top of the cap C
and the cross piece E, is placed a spring F, the function of which is to form an
elastic bearing upon the cap C for the cross head E. The pin D is pierced for the
reception of a split pin d, which prevents the spring F from forcing the cross head E
off the pin D. The cap C is provided with a soft washer G, which forms a close
joint between the hydrant seat and the cap C. The action is as follows:-The
cap C is placed in position upon the hydrant seat; the cross head E is pressed down
(thus compressing the spring F), and partially rotated, the ends of the cross head E
taking under the lugs B B', the compressed spring F causing the cap C to remain
firmly seated.
In this instance the elasticity of the spring F allows of air being expelled from
the main while the latter is being filled with water.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, which show a modification of the locking appliances,
the dirt cap C is provided with two radial lugs H H', which project upwards (see
Fig. 4). The upper surfaces of these lugs HH' are formed as inclined planes, the
plane on one lug being inclined in the opposite direction to that on the other lug.
When placed in position on the hydrant seat, the cap C is rotated, the lower
edges of the inclined planes taking under the lugs B B₁; upon further rotating
the cap C, the inclined planes will force the cap C firmly upon its seat.
The cap C may be rotated so as to bring the lugs H H under the hydrant
lugs B B, and thus wedge down the cap C on to its seat by means of a square
head J, which will receive a box spanner or key; or the same result may be arrived
at by means of a horizontal bar placed between the lugs H H', whereby the cap
may be manipulated and rotated by the turncock.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. A dirt cap provided with locking appliances whereby the cap may be forced
down and secured on to its seat, for the purpose of excluding noxious matter from
the interior of ball hydrants, as herein set forth.
2. A dirt cap provided with locking appliances whereby the cap may be forced
down and secured on to its seat, for the purpose of excluding noxious matter from
the interior of the ball hydrant, the locking appliance being provided with a spring
(as may be seen in Fig. 2) for the purpose of allowing the cap to lift when subjected
to internal pressure, as herein set forth.
Dated this 17th day March 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.