IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HYDRANTS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Inglis Ross at the Office of the
Commissioners. of Patents on the 24th March 1879.
_INGLIS ROSS, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HYDRANTS."
.
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction and
combination of the parts of hydrants or water service valve chests with discharge
branches for attaching hose or other pipes for extinguishing fires, or for other useful
purposes, which hydrants will be more efficient and durable, and give a more free
and unobstructive delivery of the water, with less loss of pressure from that in the
main pipe by friction in passing through the valve chest, than has been the case
with the ordinary hydrants, or those as heretofore constructed.
And the nature and novelty of this Invention consist in forming the upper part
of the valve chest of a D-shape in horizontal section, converging in a hollow curved
or conoidal manner to the inlet round branch at bottom, where it is formed with a
large flange or other equivalent for securing it by screw bolts to the service branch
of the main or supply water pressure pipe. The top or cover of this valve chest is
made separate and detachable, preferably of brass, and secured fluid pressure tight by
snugs and screw bolts, jointing its under faced surface on that of the upper edge of
the valve chamber below it; while it is formed with the delivery valve orifice
through it, and the short vertical branch formed on the upper outer surface, and to
which the hose or other temporary delivery pipe is attached by any ordinary screw
or coupling connection used therefor, all in a vertical line over the inlet branch or
orifice, so as to give a free passage of the water upwards when the valve is open.
The valve seat is formed in an improved manner by a vulcanized india-rubber ring,
sunk or forged into a hollow undercut groove formed for it all round the lower
inner edge of the said delivery orifice and branch, all so that the bearing face
(preferably bevilled or conical) of a flat form of hinged lever valve when closed
bears fluid pressure tight horizontally up against the india-rubber ring, and prevents
all escape of the liquid by its pressure acting upwards on its inner or back surface;
this valve lid being hinged by a strong spindle formed on it at one side strengthened
by feathers, and working in a pivot bearing at one end, and by its long actuating
lever spindle at the other, working in and passed out through a stuffing-box formed
near the upper rectangular side of the D part of the valve chest, which allows the
valve when opened to hang vertically down quite out of the straight upward flow

page_text: of the water from the inlet branch out through the outlet valve seat and discharge
branch. The valve is opened and closed by a hand lever fixed on the end of its
spindle projecting out through its stuffing box at the side of the valve chest, so as
to be pressed down and opened against the pressure of the water by a vertical
hand screw passed down through a screwed eye or snug formed or secured on the
side of the chest cover, over and so that the point of the screw presses down the
lever, and thus opens the valve sufficiently to nearly equalize the pressure on its
upper and lower faces, when it can at once be fully opened down by the hand arm
of the lever to allow the free escape of the water as before stated, and closed also
at once by the hand lever, after the hand screw has been raised the few turns out
of the way it was screwed down to open the valve; the pressure of the water
within always keeping the valve close when once shut by hand, all as before
described, the hand screw and lever being easily reached from the top surface box
enclosing and protecting the hydrants. The valve or lid is enabled to be inade in
one piece or solid with its lever spindle, and inserted in working position when
the cover of the valve chest is off by making the inner end of the stuffing box large
enough for the collar of the spindle to pass in sufficiently for its point or pivot to
enter its bearing, when the inner bush or bearing ring of the stuffing box may
then be inserted from the outside, and its packing and outer bearing cover screwed
up to maintain the valve in proper swivelling position, all liquid pressure tight.
The india-rubber ring forming the liquid-tight joint at the bearing faces of the
valve, though described as fixed in a groove in the seat, may be sprung on a groove
on the inner closing edge of the valve lid, so as to close up on the plain or counter-
sunk bearing face of the valve seat, and in either case maintain a perfectly tight
joint for a very long time, and be easily renewed in a few minutes by unscrewing
the cover, and inserting a new rubber ring when required.