US128763A - Improvement in hydrants - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet L J. N SVHTH.

Hydrant.

Patented .luly 9,1872.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LN. SMITH.

Hydrant.

No. 28,763. Patentedjuly 9.18712.

' ngz.

this valve at thetop,

UNITED J NOTTINGHAM SMITH, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO f THE J. NOTTINGHAM SMITH MANUFACTURING COMPANY.77

uwPRovi-:t'lENT` IN HVDRANTS.

" specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,763, dated July 9, 1872. l f

. SPECIFICATION. To all whom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, J. NOTTINGHAM SMITH, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson Vand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrants 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description thereof, reference being had ,to the accompanying drawing, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon. Y

The object of my invention is to produce a hydrant which will neither allow the water to run to waste nr to freeze up so as to stop the iiow of water` during ordinary cold weather 5 and which will, at the same time, be durable, simple in construction, and therefore notliable to easily get out of order, and cheap enough to come within the means of all householders and others likely to require its services. For this purpose my said invention consists of an inlet or supply-tube, which is secured to the lower end of a box or casing, and sunk below the surface of the ground a sufficient distance to protect it from freezing. This supply-tube, projecting upward into the bottom part of nthe said casin g, in the form of a well or curb, to prevent the Vsurface drainings and leakage from coming in contact with the operative parts of the hydrant, is furnished with an opening on which rests an annular or `cylindrical valve. The outerv portion of this valve is formed of India rubber, which permits the valve to be depressed to cause the water to flow. The valveseat is cup-shaped, with the opening downward, its edge or annular rilnfurnishing the bearing-surface or seat for the valve. Upon the outer surface or edge of or upon a flange projecting from the body of the valve, a plunger rests, packing of India rubber, leather, or other suitable substance being interposed to make a water-joint. This plunger serves to depress the valve, and permits, thereby, the water to Ilow upward through the said plunger to be discharged at the nozzle or spout. The plunger is placed in a casing, which is filled with charcoal, or other good non-conducting material, and an India-rubber 'tube is` interposedv between the vertical part of the plunger and the nozzle, to prevent the freezing of the water. An air-space is left between the casin g lirst mentioned and that inclosing the plunger for the. same purpose. The plunger is depressed byl means of -a cam-lever. The valve is held central by a stationary bolt, against which projections on its inner surface bear, and a filter or strainer of wire cloth or other suitable material surrounds the said bolt and rests against the said projections, all of which will more fully and clearly appear on reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Y Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the hydrant passing through the axes of the nozzle and cam-lever fulcrum, as well'as that of the supply-pipe.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal crosssection on the line x a', Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view, in detail, of the valve, and a well in which it is placed. A is the supply-pipe, which is to be connected to the main or other source of supply by any suitable means. It extends into the bottom of the casing B, Where it is expanded into a well or large tubularportion, C, which prevents the 4surface drainage, and the leakage, if any there be, from coming in contact with the valve D, which rests on the bottom of the well C, and closes the opening E, through which the water passes up into the valve D, and Iprevents it from passing into the well C. The valve D consists of a cylindrical portion, a, made preferably of cast-iron, and having an outwardlyprojecting ilange, b, formed upon it near the top, and a small, an- .nular flange, c, projecting upward around the top edge ot' the opening orhole which passes through its center. Upon this cylindrical portion or core a an India-rubber pipe or tube, d, is fitted, its lower end restin g upon the edge .of the opening E, and its upper end receiving' and supporting the ilange b. Upon the top oi' the ilange b a piece of leather 0r India-rubber packing is placed, which forms the active bearing surface of the valve D. The valveseat F is cup shaped, opening downward, and has its lower edge turned off smooth and true if necessary to secure perfect contact. This valve-seat is screwed upon the top of a stationary rod or bolt, G, which is cast into or otherwise firmly secured to the casting at the bottom of the opening E, passing through the openin g in the center of the valve D. In this opening small projecting arms e are projected inwardly from the valve D, and bear against thebolt G, thus securely holding the valve in a central position, at the same time allowing it to freely rise and fall. Below these arms c and supported by them, is a perforated, reticulated, or fibrous strainer, f, which prevents any foreign matter from passing into the opening g in the valve-seat F, and thence to the discharge end of the pipe H. H is a pipe or plunger, enlarged at the lower end and encircling the valve D at h an inwardly-proj ecting shoulder or ledge, i, resting upon the packing j, and making a water-tight joint. The upper V end of the pipe or plunger H is incased in a box, I, which is filled with charcoal to prevent the water in the pipe from freezing. Sawdust, or other good non-conducting substance may be employed, but I prefer charcoal. The nozzle J is or may be cast in one piece with the pipe H, and immediately back of the discharge end of the nozzle or horizontal portion J the bore is enlarged sufficiently to receive a piece of India-rubber tubing, K, the enlarged bore being carried quite through the back wall of the pipe H, to admit more readily the insertion ofthe rubber, and aplug, L, is then screwed, driven, or otherwise secured in the open end, as shown in Fig. l. The inner casin g I is slotted down one side to receive the casting which forms the nozzle J, ange-like projections being formed upon it which fit upon the inner surface of the casing and in the slot itself. A plate, M, preferably of wood, is then slipped on over the tubular portion l of the nozzle J and screwed to the casing I, thus firmly securing all the interior movable parts together. Upon the top of the casing I' a cover or top plate, N, is screwed. This cover is large enough to cover the outer casing B, a downwardly-projecting rim, m, overlapping the upper edge of the casing B and preventing the free circulation or communication between the outer air and that inclosed in the space between the casings B and I. This is a feature of great value, as I secure thereby an annular space surrounding the casing I, of air, which aids materially in preventing the water in the pipe H from freezing. A portion of the casting which forms the horizontal tube and nozzle J is projected upward, filling, except at the bottom, the slot in the casing B, through which the nozzle J is introduced into its place, and also extending outwardly around said slot and over it in close contact with the outer surface of the casing B, thus keeping the cold air from entering the space between the two casings. From the rim, m, a pin, n, projects and enters a cam-groove or slot in the head or upper end of the pendulum-lever O, which is hung on the bolt o as a fulcrum. By swinging this pendulum-lever to either side, the groove into which the pin n enters is so formed as to press down the cover N, and with it the casing I, pipe or plunger H, and valve D, the rubber tube or collar d yielding to permit the descent of the valve. This action opens the valve and permits the water to pass up between the packing J and the valve-seat F into the tube H, and thence out at the nozzle or discharge-end J. Upon releasing the lever O the weight P, at its lower end, causes it to descend, thus allowing the rubber d to expand, closing the valve and shutting oif the water. It will thus be seen that the hydrant closes automatically, is cheap, durable, unw asting, and not liable t0 freeze in any ordinarily-cold weather.

To render the casings B and I more durable, I dip them, after they are completed, in hot pitch, to which I add about one-eighth, in bulk, of dry mineral or earthy matter, whereby a much thicker and denser coating of the wood is obtained, and, at the same time, its power of penetration is not diminished.

The downwardly-proj ecting portion h of the pipe or tube H, it will be observed, encircles the India rubber d and fits snugly over it, making a water-tight joint and preventing the water which may be in the opening g from escaping into the Well C when the shoulder 11 is' lifted off from the packing 7'. It also supports the upper edge of the rubber and prevents its spreading. The plunger and all the parts attached thereto may readily be withdrawn for cleaning or repairs. B and S are air-chambers, B being for the purpose of insuring the delivery of the water from the nozzle J and S being for the purpose of forming a cushion to prevent the shock or blow which would otherwise the lower portions of the hydrant by the sudden cutting off of the water at the valve.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claiml. In a non-wastin g selfclosing hydrant, constructed substantially as described, the casin g I, inclosing the discharge-pipe or plunger H, which has a vertical movement to open and close the valve D, (the 'said casing I being packed with any suitable non-conducting material,) in combination with the outer casing B, and the inclosed air-space between the said case B and the case I, substantially as and for the purpose hereinabove set forth.

2. In a hydrant, constructed substantially as described, the combination, with the valve D and arms e, of the strainer f, arranged below the said arms and supported by them, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hydrant, constructed substantially as described, the combination, with the valve D and the stationary rod or bolt G, of the inwardly-projecting arms e, for centering the said valve D, substantially as hereinabove specified.

4. In a hydrant, constructed substantially be communicated to y as set forth, the downwardly-projecting por- 6. In a hydrant, constructed substantially tion h of the tube H encircling and inclosing as described, the combination, with the plungthe end of the India-rubber tube d to prevent er H, valve D, and casing B, of the self-acting its spreading and to form a Water-tight joint, pendulum-lever O, substantially as set forth.

y substantially as specified. J. NOTTINGHAM SMITH.

5. In a hydrant, constructed substantially Y as described, the combination with the nozzle- Witnesses.: casting J, casing B, and casing I, the locking- H. J AMES WESTON, plate M, substantially as described. I D. W. HENDERsoN.`

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