Im- PROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS AND FIRE COCKS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Blakeborough, of Brighouse, in the '
County of York, and John Beck, of Pemberton Row, Great New
Street, in the City of London, Engineers, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS AND FIRE COCKS,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Blakeborough
and John Beck at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 21st January 1875.
We, ROBERT BLAKEBOROUGH, of Brighouse, in the County of York,
and JOHN BECK, of Pemberton Row, Great New Street, in the City of
London, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANTS AND FIRE-COCKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar combinations and arrange-
ments of valves for hydrants and fire-cocks, and has for its object as
regards hydrants the affording facility for shutting off any single
hydrant from the main in case of repairs to such hydrant being required
without interfering with the free supply to any other hydrant in con-
nection with the same main.

page_text: In carrying out this part of our Invention we combine together two
distinct valves, either contained in one and the same casting or in
separate castings, the additional valve serving to shut off the body of
the hydrant from the main in case of repairs, whilst the other valve is
used as an ordinary hydrant valve. By closing the first mentioned valve
it is obvious that the supply from the main will be shut off from that
particular hydrant without interfering with the supply to any other
hydrant in connection with the same main, and without the necessity
for emptying the main, as is the case with the existing arrangements of
hydrants. These double valved hydrants may have their valves arranged
together in various ways, according to special requirements, for example,
they may have their valves disposed either parallel to each other at right
angles, or at any other desired angle.
As regards fire-cocks our Invention has for its object the dispensing
with the separate branches from the supply pipe for carrying the cocks,
whereby we obtain a more compact arrangement.
According to this
part of our Invention we cast a hollow belt round that portion of the
supply pipe where the cock"
is to be fitted, the valve seat being formed
directly on the surface of the pipe inside the belt. This hollow belt
communicates at any convenient angle with the outlet nozzle or branch
which is secured thereto.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Robert Blakeborough and John Beck in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
BLAKEBOROUGH, of Brighouse, in the County of York, and JOHN BECK,
of Pemberton Row, Great New Street, in the City of London, Engineers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Robert Blakeborough and John Beck,
Her special license, that we, the said Robert Blakeborough and John

page_text: Beck, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,;
the said Robert Blakeborough and John Beck, our executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN
HYDRANTS
AND FIRE COCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Robert Blakeborough and John Beck, our executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Blakeborough and John
Beck, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:--
Our said Invention relates to certain peculiar combinations and
arrangements of valves for hydrants and fire-cocks, and has for its object
as regards hydrants the affording facility for shutting off any single
hydrant from the main, in case of repairs to such hydrant being required,
without interfering with the free supply to any other hydrant in con-
nection with the same main.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we combine together two
distinct valves, either contained in one and the same casting or in
separate castings, the additional valve serving to shut off the body of the
hydrant from the main, in case of repairs, whilst the other valve is used
as an ordinary hydrant valve. By closing the additional valve it is
obvious that the supply from the main will be shut off from that par-
ticular hydrant without interfering with the supply to any other hydrant
in connection with the same main, and without the necessity for
emptying the main, as is the case with the existing arrangements of
hydrants. These double valved hydrants may have their valves arranged

page_text: together in various ways, according to special requirements, for example,
they may have their valves disposed either parallel to each other, at
right angles, or at any other desired angle, and he actuated either by
separate and independent spindles or by a single spindle common to both
valves.
As regards fire-cocks our Invention has for its object the dispensing
with the separate branches from the supply pipe for carrying the cocks,
whereby we obtain a more compact arrangement. According to this
part of our Invention we cast a hollow belt round that portion of the
supply pipe where the "cock" is to be fitted, the valve seat being
formed directly on the surface of the pipe inside the belt. This hollow
belt communicates at any convenient angle with one or more outlet
nozzles or branches, which is or are secured thereto or formed thereon.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of our Drawings represents a vertical section of
one mode of carrying out our Invention as applied to a hydrant. A is
the shell or main body of the hydrant, which is here shown as cast in
one piece; B is the hydrant valve for ordinary use; and C is the
additional valve, which we combine with the hydrant valve for the
purpose of shutting off the hydrant from the main for the purposes of
repair, or for any other reason. Both these valves may be of any well
known or other suitable construction, or arranged in any convenient
manner which will readily admit of either or both of the valves being
opened or closed as required. In this Figure we have illustrated two
ordinary disc valves faced with leather, soft metal, or other suitable
material, and provided each with a brass or other metal seating D;
E, the said valves, being each actuated independently by the action of a
short screw spindle F and G attached to or formed on the back of each
valve and engaging into the corresponding internally screwed hollow
stems H and I. The valves and their screws are prevented from turning
in any well known manner, for example, lugs or projections a, b, may be
employed, which slide in guides (one of which is shown at c) cast in the
interior of the shell or casing A. Stuffing boxes K and L are provided
for the reception of the hollow stems H, I, to prevent leakage, and the

page_text: said stems are formed with the usual square heads & and e for the
reception of the key employed in opening and closing the valves; M is
the outlet orifice of the hydrant; and N is the inlet orifice which opens
into the main. As here represented the hydrant valve B is shut and
the main valve C open, so as to afford a ready supply of water when
required, this being the normal condition of the said valves in this and
similar arrangements. But should it be rendered necessary to shut off
the hydrant from the main for repairs or any other purpose, then it is
simply requisite to close the valve C, this operation in no wise interfering
with the supply to the other hydrants in connection with the same
main.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a similar arrangement of valves B
and C, adapted to a hydrant cast in two separate parts A and A'.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a hydrant with the shell or case A
cast in one piece, and with the two valves B and C disposed obliquely
at right angles to one another in lieu of being parallel and horizontal, as
in the two preceeding examples; the outlet branch or orifice M more-
over is shown in a vertical position in lieu of horizontal.
Figure 4 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of a hydrant
cast in two parts A and A', and having the inlet branch N disposed
horizontally for attachment to the side of the main. The two valves B
and C are also here disposed at right angles to one another, the hydrant
valve B having its seat disposed horizontally, whilst the main valve C
has its seat in a vertical position.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a hydrant, wherein the two valves B
and C are disposed horizontally one above the other, the said valves
bearing against opposite sides of the double seating D situate between
them. The inlet branch Ń froin the side of the main communicates with
the space contained between the two valves when the main valve C is
open, as shown in Figure 5; but when this valve is closed by raising it
against the under face of the seating D the main will be completely
shut off. The lower valve C is here shown as being formed with a
hollow stém I screwed internally, within which works a screw spindle
turned by a key or wrench applied from below.
'
Figure 6 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of a modified
arrangement of the two valves B and C. The hydrant valve B is only
partially seen, it being fully open. The main valve C, which is here

page_text: shown as closed, is a slide valve disposed horizontally and actuated by a
worm G engaging into rack teeth formed on the back of the valve. O is
the valve chamber, and e the square head on the spindle of the worm G
for the reception of a key or wrench for opening or closing the valve C.
The hydrant valve B is opened and closed in the same manner as in the
previously described modifications.
Figure 7 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation and partial section of another
modification of our improved hydrant, wherein we confine the additional
main valve C with the ordinary spherical hydrant valve B, which is kept
closed by the water pressure and opened by the act of attaching or
fixing the stand pipe to the hydrant, as is well understood. The main
valve C may be of any convenient construction and operated in any
suitable manner.
Figure 8 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of an arrange-
ment of hydrant, wherein the two valves B and C in lieu of being
situate near to each other, and contained in one and the same casting,
or in two castings bolted together, are disposed in separate castings or
shells A and A' connected together by any desired length of intermediate
pipe A", it being quite immaterial how far apart the said two valves B
and C are disposed. The main valve C is represented as shut and the
hydrant valve B open.
Figure 9 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of a hydrant,
wherein the said two valves B and C consist of ordinary sluice valves
worked by screw spindles in the well known manner, or otherwise
actuated. The hydrant valve B is shown closed and the main valve C
open.
Figure 10 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of a stand
post hydrant suitable for general use in towns for extinguishing fires
and for watering streets, to which we have adapted our arrangement of
double valves, whereby any one or more of the said posts, like the
hydrants already described, can be shut off from the main for repairs or
other purpose without interfering with the rest or necessitating the
emptying of the main; P is the stand pipe or hydrant enclosed in the
post or pillar Q and having branches with screwed nozzles M, M¹, and
caps projecting outside the post. This pipe communicates by two
independent valves situate at B and C, and arranged and actuated as in
Figure 1 (Sheet 1), with the inlet pipe N, which is in direct communi-

page_text: cation with the main.
The valve at C serves to shut off the stand
pipe P and its valve B from the main for the purposes of repair or other-
wise, and is actuated as herein-before described by a key applied to the
square head e of the valve stem or spindle, the said head e being by
preference sunk some distance below the surface to distinguish it from
the head d of the hydrant valve stem or spindle, which is also turned by
a key f, as shown in the Drawing. A third valve at S serves to open
and close the communication with the main through the branch T, which
is connected to a meter, and is intended to be used more particularly orf
road watering; U is a frost cock worked by a key or wrench applied
to the square head in the side of the pillar at g.
Figure 11 is a partial side elevation and vertical section of a stand
post hydrant also fitted with our combination of two valves, the hydrant
valve at B, which opens or closes the communication with the outlet
pipe or nozzle M as required, being of any well known or suitable con-
struction and actuated by the spindle h. This spindle passes down the
interior of the pillar Q and has a square head at d beneath or within a
hole in the top of the pillar for the application of a key or wrench for
opening and closing the hydrant valve. The main valve C is here
represented as an ordinary sluice valve, but any other suitable or well
known form of valve may be employed, the same being actuated
independently by a key, as shown, or otherwise, for the purpose of
shutting off the hydrant from the main when found requisite without
interfering with the supply to any of the other hydrants on the same
main.
its own,
In the various arrangements of double valved hydrants herein-before
described and illustrated by our Drawings it will be observed that each
of the two valves B and C is opened and closed by a separate spindle of
there being two valve spindles for opening and closing the two
valves separately and independently; but in the modifications illustrated
by Figures 10 and 11" on Sheet 3 of our Drawings, we have represented
the two valves B and C as being both actuated or opened and closed by
one actuating spindle common to the two valves. In these Figures the
parts which correspond to similar parts in the previously described
arrangements are indicated by the same reference letters and need not
therefore be further alluded to.
In Figure 10 (Sheet 3) the hydrant valve B is represented as a disc
valve, and the additional or main valve C as a spherical valve, but other

page_text: forms of valves may be used if preferred. The valve B, which is here
shown open, is attached to the lower end of the screw spindle F working
through a nut and passing through the stuffing box K and provided
with a square head d, as herein-before described, for opening and closing
the two valves. The valve B when closed rests upon or against the
seat D. The main or additional valve C (of spherical form) is also
shown open, it being held down clear of its seating E against the
pressure of the water by the hollow or dish-shaped head h¹ on the end
of the spindle i, which is screwed into the centre of the valve B. This
spindle should, project sufliciently below the valve B to allow the said
valve to be fully opened without necessarily involving the closing of the
main valve C against its seating E.
When the hydrant valve B is to be opened the screw spindle F is
turned in the direction required until the shoulder or collar & comes in
contact with the removeable stop bar or bridle. 2, thereby indicating that
the hydrant valve is fully open and in free communication with the
main. Should it be found requisite for the purposes of repair, or for any
other cause, to shut off this particular hydrant from the main, this can
be readily accomplished without interfering with the supply to the other
hydrants by simply removing the stop bar and turning the screw
spindle F in the nut f' until it has been sufficiently raised to allow the
spherical or main valve C to take its bearing against the seat E, thus
effectually shutting off the main. The cover and stuffing box of the
hydrant having been then removed the spindles F and with the
hydrant valve B can be taken out.
Figure 11 (Sheet 3) is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of
another mode of working the two valves B and C from one and the
same spindle. In this Figure we have shown both valves shut, but
have indicated their respective positions when fully open by dotted lines.
Both the valves B and C are prevented from turning by any suitable or
well known arrangement of guides or feathers. The stem or hollow boss
of the valve B has an internal screw thread formed therein, which
works like a travellin nut along the screw spindle. F when the said
spindle is turned by a ey, or otherwise, the said screw spindle although
free to be rotated being prevented from moving longitudinally, as is
well understood. The lower portion of the spindle F is made hollow or
tubular, and has an internal screw thread formed therein, which works
on the screw spindle G secured to the main valve C. As the screws

page_text: F and G are of the same pitch, and are respectively left and right handed
screws, it follows that on turning the spindle F in the proper direction
for opening the hydrant valve B the main valve C will be simultaneously
opened to a corresponding extent, and vice versa; the main valve C
being always closed when the hydrant valve is shut.
Figure 12 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation and partial section of our
improved arrangement of fire-cock for use in the interior of buildings
or other places; and Figure 13 is a corresponding plan of the same.
A is the supply pipe, in which there is screwed a short length or
section A having a hollow belt or chamber B cast or otherwise formed
round the same. In this part A of the supply pipe there is provided
an opening with a valve seat a for the reception of the stop valve V,
which may be of any suitable or well known construction, and may be
actuated in any convenient manner from outside the hollow belt or
chamber B. In our Drawings we have shown an ordiny disc valve
worked by a screw spindle D passing through a stuffing Eox E formed
on the said belt or chamber B, the said spindle being provided with a
square head for the reception of a key or wrench; F, F', are outlet
branch nozzles leading from the interior of the hollow belt or chamber B,
any number of such nozzles being employed according to the particular
requirements of the case. These nozzles are screwed for the reception
of hose or other pipes when required. On opening the valve V water
will enter the hollow belt or chambér B, and will flow thence through
one or more of the said nozzles, as the case may be, those not required
for use being closed by screw caps, as is well understood. The closing
of the valve V whilst shutting off the supply from the corresponding
hollow belt and its nozzles will in nowise interfere with the free passage
of the water along the supply pipe to any other sets of nozzles in con-
nection with the same pipe.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, we would observe in conclus that what we consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction and use of hydrants having two valves
arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein-beforę
described.

page_text: Second. The interposing an additional valve in hydrants between the
nsual hydrant valve or valves and the main for the purpose herein-before
described.
Third. The combination of the valves B and C, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by
our Drawings.
Fourth. The hollow belt or chamber B with internal stop valve V
and external branches or outlet nozzles, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 12 and 13 of
our Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Beck, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Robert Blakeborough, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.