s and Services.
Year: 1885

page_text: Water Mains and Services.
I, PHILIP JOHN DAVIES, of 78 Earls Court Road, Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Hydraulic Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAND PIPES OR POSTS, AND FIRE PLUGS, FOR WATER
MAINS AND SERVICES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to that description of stand post or fire plug in which a
water tight joint between the lower end thereof and the interior of the socket
formed on the water-main or pipe is made by compressing or expanding an elastic
packing ring, and it consists of the following arrangements.
The stand pipe or post itself consists of a metal pipe surmounted by a cock or
cocks, and having fixed at its lower end a flange or washer the circumference of
which is intended to fit more or less the socket on the water main. Above this
flange or washer is a ring or cylinder of indiarubber or other elastic material of
any convenient section, and above this ring or cylinder is another flange or washer
attached to the lower end of a length of tube of larger diameter but of less length
than the standpipe or post which latter it surrounds loosely. This outer tube
extends upwards for a convenient distance above the ground when in place, and
the tubes thus disposed are furnished with a suitable arrangement of nuts, screws
or other appliances, whereby the outer tube may be moved end wise on the inner
tube, and the before mentioned flanges or washers be thereby moved towards each
other, so as to compress the elastic ring or cylinder between them, and to expand
the same circumferentially, and thereby form a water tight joint in the socket on
the main, which may be cylindrical or conical at pleasure. When the tubes are
operated so as to move the flanges or washers away from one another the elastic
ring is relaxed, and the stand pipe or post can be withdrawn from the socket.
Instead of the upper flange or washer being carried by an outer tube, it may be
carried by a cage, frame, or series of rods actuated by nuts, screws or other
appliances in the same way as the outer tube abovementioned.
In some cases, and especially where the socket on the main is conical, I employ
the following arrangements: On the lower end of the stand pipe or post I form a
screw thread, above which I attach to the said pipe a conical or other annular
valve face which fits closely on to a corresponding surface on the upper side of a
disc or washer which is fitted loosely on to the pipe. The indiarubber or other
elastic packing ring is then threaded loosely on to the said pipe and is followed by
a disc, nut or washer, which is screwed on to the said pipe, the underside being
adapted to fit the conical or other socket on the main. A inetal or other thimble
or ring is fitted on to the pipe so as to intervene between the screw thread on such
pipe and the india rubber or other elastic compressible packing so that the latter

page_text: shall, when compressed, be protected from the cutting action of the said screw
thread. It will now be understood that when the stand pipe or post is lowered
into position the lowermost disc, nut, or washer, will be held stationary by the
conical socket on the main, and the stand pipe may be rotated so as to be screwed
therein, the packing ring and the uppermost disc or washer also remaining
stationary, a water tight joint being produced by the compression of the packing.
Water is also prevented from leaking past the threads of the screw, and so to the
outside of the stand pipe or post, by means of the before mentioned valve and
valve surface.
I sometimes employ a self acting plug or valve for opening and closing the
orifice of the socket on the main. This self acting plug or valve has a hollow
spindle, one end of which opens into the said socket and is subject to the pressure of
the water in the main. The other end of such hollow spindle opens into a water-
tight chamber, and is attached to, and moves with, a piston or diaphragm working
therein the area of the latter being greater than that of the plug or valve which
closes the socket or orifice in the main. This chambers is provided with a relief
valve or cock which may be operated in any convenient manner. When the relief
valve is closed, water from the main is forced through the hollow spindle into the
said chamber behind the diaphragm or piston, which latter is forced down, and
the plug or valve connected thereto is thereby caused to close the socket or other
orifice from the main. When the relief valve is opened, the water from behind the
piston or diaphragm escapes, and the pressure of water in the main forces open the
plug or valve.
In some cases I employ a strainer at the lower end of the stand pipe or post to
prevent the entrance of dirt or other matter liable to prevent the proper action of
the cocks or valves.
The application of my invention to fire plugs renders their construction
extremely simple. By preference I use a leaden disc or washer into which
I cast or otherwise form a screwed stud. On to this stud I thread the elastic
packing ring and a loose metal disc or washer. I then screw the stud into an
internally screwed length of pipe or otherwise, on to the upper end of which I fit
or form a square for turning the same. When this plug is put into place in the
conical socket, the latter holds the lowermost disc or washer and prevents it from
turning when the pipe or upper part of the plug is rotated, but it will be seen that
the latter will, by screwing on to the said screwed stud, cause the discs or washers
to approach one another, and thereby compress and expand the packing.
It will be seen that by the arrangements above described, the elastic packing is
compressed or expanded by pressure acting perpendicularly thereto, and that all
objectionable torsional strain on such elastic packing is thereby avoided, and
consequently the wear and tear of the same is materially reduced.
In order to prevent the pressure of water in the main from suddenly forcing the
fireplug, stand pipe or post out of the socket or other orifice when the compression
of the packing has been relieved by the slacking back of the screw or other
tightening appliance, I sometimes employ a safety pawl or catch which retains the
fire plug, standpipe or post in the box until the said pawl or catch has been
released by means of a chain, rod, or other suitable appliance.
In order to steady the stand pipe or post, I sometimes employ a collar preferably
of a cone shape on its exterior surface, which slides on the stand pipe or post, and
is made to fit into the top part of the box or surface cover.

page_text: Water Mains and Services.
I, PHILIP JOHN DAVIES of 78 Earl's Court Road, Kensington in the County of
Middlesex, Hydraulic Engineer, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying three sheets of drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon:-
This invention relates to that description of stand post or fire plug in which a
watertight joint between the lower end thereof and the interior of the socket
formed on the water main or pipe is made by compressing or expanding an elastic
packing ring, and it consists of the following arrangements:-
The stand pipe or post itself consists of a metal pipe A (see Figure 1 of the
drawings, which is a partial vertical section) surmounted by a cock or cocks B, and
having fixed at its lower end a flange or washer C the circumference of which is
intended to fit more or less accurately the socket on the water main. Above this
flange or washer C is a ring or cylinder D of indiarubber or other elastic material
of any convenient section, and above this ring or cylinder is another flange or
washer E attached to the lower end of a length of tube F of larger diameter, but
of less length, than the stand pipe ar post A, which latter it surrounds loosely.
This outer tube F extends upwards for a convenient distance above the ground
when in place, and the tubes thus disposed are furnished with a nut G working on
the screwed part of the tube A, whereby the outer tube F may be moved end wise
on the inner tube A, and the beforementioned flanges or washers C and E be
thereby moved towards each other so as to compress the elastic ring or cylinder D
between them, and to expand the same circumferentially, and thereby form a
watertight joint in the socket on the main, which may be cylindrical or conical at
pleasure. When the tubes are operated so as to move the flanges or washers C
and E away from one another the elastic ring D is released and the stand pipe
or post can be withdrawn from the socket.
Instead of the upper flange or washer E being carried by an outer tube, it may
be carried by a cage, frame or series of rods F¹ (see Figure 2) actuated by a nut G,
or other suitable appliance, in the same way as the outer tube F in Figure 1.
In some cases, and especially where the socket on the main is conical, I employ
the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3. On the lower end of the stand pipe or
post A, I form a screw thread, above which I attach to the said pipe a conical or
other annular valve H, which fits closely on to a corresponding surface or seating
on a disc or washer E, which is fitted loosely on to the pipe A. The indiarubber
or other elastic packing ring D is then threaded loosely on to the said pipe, and is
followed by a disc, nut or washer C, which is screwed on to the said pipe, the lower
edge of such disc, nut or washer C being adapted to fit more or less accurately the
conical or other socket on the main. A metal or other thimble or ring I is fitted
loosely on to the-pipe so as to intervene between the screw thread on such pipe

page_text: and the indiarubber or other elastic compressible packing D, so that the latter shall,
when compressed, be protected from the cutting action of the said screw thread.
It will now be understood that when the stand pipe or post A is lowered into
position, the lowermost disc, nut or washer C will be held stationary by friction
against the conical socket on the main, and the stand pipe A may be rotated so as
to be screwed therein, the packing ring 1) and the uppermost disc or washer E also
remaining stationary, a watertight joint being produced by the compression of the
packing D. Water is also prevented from leaking past the threads of the screw,
and so to the outside of the stand pipe or post A, by means of the beforementioned
valve H.
Figure 3 represents a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 3, in
which the plate H¹ secured to the pipe A is substituted for the conical valve, and
the elastic packing washer HP makes a watertight joint to prevent leakage between
the pipe A and the disc or washer E.
Figures 4 and 7 represent similar arrangements, except that the elastic packing
washer H in Figure 3A is omitted and the fixed plate H bears directly and water-
tight against the upper surface of the washer E.
Figure 5 shows how a cup leather H2 may be used in place of the valve H in
Figure 3 or the elastic washer H2 in Figure 3A.
Figure 6 illustrates part of a stand pipe or post constructed in a manner similar
to that shown in Figure 1, but instead of the outer tube F being forced down-
wards on the inner pipe A by the nut G, shown in that Figure, the inner pipe A is
drawn upwards in the outer tube F by the socket nut G', the upper side of which
bears against the socket G2 fixed on the upper end of the inner pipe A. The
socket nut G may be made square, hexagonal or other shape suitable for the
application to it of a key or wrench for the purpose of turning it round on
the outer tube F, or it may be made with a boss G³ as shown, to receive the end
of a turning lever or handle G¹.
Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, in
which water can be drawn off from both the inside and outside tubes, the inner
tube being arranged to turn watertight in the stuffing box H2, and to screw through
the disc or washer C, so that on turning the inner tube in one direction the
washer C is drawn up towards the flange E so as to compress the packing D, and
on turning it in the opposite direction the washer C is moved away from the
flange E so as to release the packing D.
In some cases I employ a strainer at the lower end of the stand pipe or post, to
prevent the entrance of dirt or other matter liable to prevent the proper action of
the cocks or valves, as illustrated at J in Figures 3 and 5.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the Figures 1 to 8
inclusive.
I sometimes employ a self acting plug or valve for opening and closing the orifice
of the fire plug socket on the main. This self acting plug or valve is illustrated
in sectional elevation at Figure 9, in which A is a hollow spindle, one end of which
opens into the said socket B, and is subject to the pressure of the water in the
main. The other end of the hollow spindle A opens into a watertight chamber C,
(which may be preferably of cylindrical shape) and is attached to a piston D
working therein, or a flexible diaphragm may be employed instead of a piston if
preferred. The area of the piston D, or of the diaphragm as the case may be, is
greater than that of the plug or valve E which closes the socket or orifice in the
main. This chamber C is provided with a relief valve or cock F. When this
relief valve or cock F is closed, water from the main G is forced through the
hollow spindle A into the chamber C behind the piston D, which being of larger
diameter than the valve E is forced down, pressing the valve E against the upper
edge of the socket B, or the plug into the socket, when a plug is used instead of
the valve E, so as to close the socket or other orifice from the main. When the
relief valve or cock F is opened, the water from behind the piston or diaphragm
escapes, and the pressure above the piston is relieved, and then the pressure of

page_text: water in the main G forces open the plug or the valve E.
The piston with the
valve E may be loaded with a weight, a spring, or other suitable device, to return
them to their normal positions. When the valve E is open, the water from the
main passes through the passage J to the surface box K, as shown by the arrows.
H is a cast iron frame made preferably in two halves bolted together and adapted
to clip the socket, so as to take a bearing below the beading round the outer edge
of the socket. The chamber C is connected to this frame H, so that the latter
receives and resists the upward pressure of the water acting on the valve E, and
the top of the chamber C. I is a plate for preventing dirt which may fall into
the surface box from entering the apparatus.
Figure 10 shows a somewhat similar arrangement but having a plug E attached
to the piston D instead of the valve E as in Figure 11. The plug E is shown
constructed with an elastic packing ring E¹ similar to my improved fireplugs
hereinafter described.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in both figures 9 and 10.
The application of my invention to ordinary fireplugs renders their construction
extremely simple. One method of applying it to this purpose is illustrated in
Figure 11. L is the socket on the main M, C is a leaden disc or washer, into
which I cast, or with which I otherwise form a screwed stud A¹. On to this stud,
(which is preferably of brass or other noncorrodible metal) I thread the elastic
packing ring D, and a loose metal disc or washer E. I then screw the stud A¹ into
an internally screwed length of pipe, or into a socket A2 screwed on to the end of a
length of pipe or rod A, on to the upper end of which I fit or form a square K for
the turncock's key. For this purpose I have found it convenient to flatten the
upper end of the pipe or rod A into an oval form, as shown in Figure 12, (which is
a section on line X X of Figure 11), and to then cast round this flattened part the
square K in cast iron (see also Figure 114) adapted to receive the usual box key or
other suitable turning instrument. Or instead of casting the square K round the
flattened part of the pipe or rod, I sometimes cast the square K with a hole
beginning as a circle, and changing to an oval, or other suitable form, and I then
press the end of the pipe or rod into this hole, so that it takes the form of the
hole and is thereby keyed or fixed therein. When this plug is put into place in
the conical socket L the latter holds the lowermost disc or washer C, and prevents
it from turning when the pipe or upper part A of the plug is rotated, but it will
be seen that the latter will, by screwing on to the screwed stud A', cause the disc
or washer E to approach the disc or washer C, and thereby to compress the
packing D vertically, and expand it horizontally. The disc or washer E may
be provided with claws E¹ (see also Figure 13, which is a sectional plan on
line Y Y of Figure 11) for the purpose of preventing the plug from passing into
the socket L beyond a certain distance.
Figure 14 shows a slightly different arrangement, in which the pipe A screws
direct into the lower disc or washer C, the nut or shoulder A*, fixed on the pipe or
rod A, pressing the washer E against the elastic packing D, so as to cause the
same to expand laterally, the thimble I being interposed between the pipe A and
the elastic packing D to prevent the latter from being injured by the thread on
the pipe or rod A, as before explained in reference to stand pipes or posts.
Figure 15 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 11 but with a
brass bush or nut A* secured inside the pipe A instead of the external socket A'
shown in Figure 11.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 show other modifications of the same arrangements.
In Figure 19 the advance of the washer E towards the washer C is effected by
the square nut G, which is turned by the turncock's key passed over the shackle N.
This shackle N is secured to the screwed stud A¹ and serves for lifting or lowering
the plug out of or into the socket of the main by a hook.
In Figure 20 the screwed stud A¹ is formed with a large square head, or has a
large square head cast round the smaller one, and the shank of the stud is screwed
through the washer C. The stud is turned in either direction by a key applied to

page_text: its head, and either the head of the stud, or the inside of the key, or both, are
tapered, so that when the key is driven on to the head it will hold thereto with
sufficient friction to enable the plug to be withdrawn from the socket along with
the key after the stud A' has been unscrewed sufficiently to release the elastic
packing D from the sides of the socket.
In Figure 21 the stud A¹ is screwed and rivetted into the disc or washer C, and
the elastic packing D is covered with thin lead or tinfoil D¹, or other suitable
protecting material, to protect it from the chemical action of the water and iron.
In Figure 22, the screwed stud A¹ is carried up to near the ground line and a
loose piece of pipe F serves as a distance piece for transmitting the pressure of the
bush or nut A to the upper disc or washer E; the turning square K may be
provided with a broad flange K' to prevent the entrance of dirt into the plug box
or case.
Figure 24 shows a similar arrangement, but with a simple nut A' for applying
the pressure to the packing D, instead of the square K, and bush or nut A' as
shown in Figure 22.
In Figure 23 the screwed stud A¹ is secured into the lower end of a pipe A, and
screws into a nut A³, round which the disc or washer C is cast. The upper end of
the pipe A is flattened to provide means of turning it with a suitable key.
In Figure 25 the screwed stud A' is screwed and rivetted at its lower end into
the disc or washer C, and at its upper end into a reducing socket or nut A³ secured
on to the lower end of the pipe A.
In Figure 26 the screwed stud A¹ is not secured in the disc or washer C, but
consists of a plain bolt the square head of which is let into a corresponding recess
in the under side of the disc or washer C and the shank of the stud screws into
the tapped lower end of a suitably prepared pipe A.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the Figures 11 to 26
inclusive.
It will be seen that by the arrangements above described the elastic packing in
both stand pipes or posts and fireplugs, is compressed vertically and expanded
laterally by pressure acting perpendiculary thereto, and that all objectionable
torsional strain on such elastic packing is thereby avoided, and consequently the
wear and tear of the same is materially reduced.
In order to prevent the pressure of water in the main from suddenly forcing the
fireplug, standpipe, or post out of the socket, or other orifice, when the compression
of the packing has been relieved by the slacking back of the screw or other
tightening appliance, I sometimes employ a safety pawl or catch, which retains the
fireplug, standpipe or post in the box, until the said pawl or catch has been
released by means of a chain, a rod, or other suitable appliance.
In order to steady the standpipe or post I sometimes employ a collar, preferably
of a cone shape on its exterior surface, (such as that shown at P in Figures 3 and 6)
which is adjustable by a set screw on the stand pipe or post, and is made to fit into
the top part of the box or surface cover.
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 :-
First. The various constructions of stand pipe or post, whereby the elastic
packing ring intended to make a watertight joint between the said stand pipe or
post and the interior of the socket on the water main, is compressed vertically, and
expanded laterally, by pressure acting perpendicularly to such elastic packing ring,
whereby objectionable torsional strain on such elastic packing ring is avoided,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 of the
drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The self acting plug or valve, having a watertight chamber containing
a piston or diaphragm, which actuates a valve or plug for opening or closing the
orifice of the fireplug socket on the water-main, arranged, combined and operating

page_text: substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the
drawings hereto annexed.
Third. The various constructions of fireplug whereby the elastic packing ring
intended to make a watertight joint between the said fireplug and the interior of
the socket on the water main, are compressed vertically and expanded laterally by
pressure acting perpendicularly to such elastic packing ring, substantially as
herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 11 to 20 of the drawings hereto
annexed.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of fireplugs provided with elastic
packing compressed by a screw or other instrument which can be actuated by the
ordinary turncock's key, or the equivalent thereof, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 11 114, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the
drawings hereto annexed.