US131191A - Improvement in hydrants - Google Patents

Description

c. L. STACY.

lmprovement in Hydrants; No. 131,191. Patented Sep.10,1872.

; I I I I I I I I I 7 I ATTES'T T'NVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrrIcE.

CHARLES L. STACY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HVDRANTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,191, dated September 10, 1872; antcdaied September 2,

SPECIFICATION. Be it known that I, OHARLEs L. STACY, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves for Nonasting Hydrants, of which the following is a specification:

N atwe and Objects of the Invention.

The said invention relates to the class known as non-wasting valve-hydrants; and consists in a peculiar arrangement of the leather-cup packings, with reference to the supply-apertures, the exit-passage, and the provision made for the super-waste water.

The object of my improvement is to produce a perfectly air and water tight compartment or chamber for the reception of all the waste water contained in the discharge-pipe, while at the same time provision is made for the accidental leakage which may occur in consequence of the cup-leather packings fitting loosely within the chamber of the valve through want of use or such temporary shrinkage of the cups as might result to stock remaining unsold for a time, which shrinkage is soon obviated after the valve is attached to the supply-main through absorption of water in the pores of the leather.

Another object sought for in my invention is to doaway with the necessity of a seat in the valve to stop the flow of water, and wholly prevent concussion or water hammer in the act of closing, while yet provision is made for any wear of the parts, and all undue friction iseflectually overcome. The peculiar con-' struction and arrangement of the packing in my valve also completely overcome the tendencyof the water pressure to move the plunger from its position as placed when the same is closed or open, the plunger with its cup and leath er-packin gs being perfectly balanced within the chamber at all times without reference to the degree of pressure in the supplymain.

Description of the Drawing.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the plunger and of the chamber in which it works, showing the hydrant open. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the chamber with the plunger in elevation, showing the hydrant closed.

O is the chamber or cylinder of metal with flaring mouth to readily receive the plunger as it is beinginserted. Sis the hollow plunger with broad flan ge f f to protect the cup leather, said plunger being tapped out at its upper end to receive the discharge-pipe and open at the bottom end to communicate with the exhaust-reservoir in the bottom of chamber (J. T and T are spools which operate the three cup-leather packings at the proper distances, and are provided with flanges f f f to both clamp and protect the cups, the whole being slipped over the stem of the plunger S and confined in place by the jam-nut N, which also acts as a support to the lower cup, and is adapted to the screw-threaded end of the plunger S. L L L are three leather packin gs, cup-shaped, the lower two being so placed in relation to each other and the supply-apertures that at whatever position they may be left, the force of water pressure is exerted against and within each cup so as to distcnd them against the sides of the chamber 0 in such a manner that the plunger is perfectly balanced and remains stationary wherever left by the actuating lever at the top of the hydrant while the valve remains closed. V is the exhaust-reservoir provided to receive the waste water which may remain in the discharge-pipes after the flow is stopped and the plunger raised. W is an auxiliary waste-way provided to run 0% any temporary or accidental leakage which may occur, caused by undue dryness or shrinkage of the leather cups. 1? is a screw-threaded shank cast on the bottom of the cylinder 0 to be adapted to the bottom plate of the hydrant-stock in the usual manner. 0 is the primary supply-pipe. a a are a series of small holes drilled around the circumference of the chamber or cylinder 0,

the whole being inclosed within a circumferential hollow jacket, J, by which the said apertures are made to communicate with the supply-main 0, thus permitting the water to flow into the chamber and thence into the discharge-pipe. It R are narrow longitudinal slots cut in the sides of the spool T and pipe S for the escape of water into said pipe.

Operation. When it is desired to open the valve, the

plunger S is depressed by means of the actuating lever (not shown) until the middle cuppacking passes just below the openings act, when the water at once begins to flow into the discharge-pipe S through the opening at It It, while at the same time all the waste water which remained in the chamber at V is forced up and out through the opening at the bottom of discharge-pipe S. In the act of closing the valve, the plunger S is raised until the lower edge of the middle cup-packing just passes above the openings at a, when the flow of water at once ceases, and the elevation of the plunger being continued, a vacuum is formed in the lower part of the chamber at V, and all the water remaining in the discharge-pipe rushes down and occupies the space formed by the withdrawal of the plunger, thus completely emptying the same. When the plunger is thus lifted to its fullest extent, the lower edge of the upper cup-packing is just above the auxiliary waste-way W, which being now uncovered permits of the escape of any temporary or accidental leakage which may occur in consequence of the dryness or shrinkage ofthe leather packin gs. It is obvious that at whatever position the plunger may be left when closed or open the pressure of the fluid is against the cups and in opposite directions, so that no automatic displacement can possibly occur.

The following are some of the advantages of my improved valves: The construction is simple, durable, and exempt from liability to derangement. The plnngerrod with its connections can at all times be readily withdrawn from the chamber for inspection or repairs, without the necessity of removing the hydrant from the ground. The peculiar construction and arrangement of the packings are such that all unnecessary friction is dispensed with, and the flexibility of the cups insures a tight joint at all times and exemption from leakage,

as the greater the pressure brought to bear the more the cups will be crowded against the walls of the chamber. There being no seat for the valve, no arbitrary position of the plunger is required to insure either the opening or the closing of the valve after the middle cup once passes the discharge-openings. The stoppage of the water in the act of closing the valve being gradual, the concussion usually produced in valves of the ordinary construction is avoided, thusinsuring a greater durability of the working parts. The lower cup being placed with its convex side down no difficulty arises in the insertion of the plunger withinthe chamber, as usually occurs when the cups are placed with the concave side down, this latter construction rendering the same liable to be reversed, or more or less displaced by striking against the sides or edges of the chamber in the act of inserting. The arrangement of the auxiliary waste-way shown in the drawing overcomes a serious defect heretofore existing in all non-wasting hydrants, namely,

that when the flow is in some cases supposed to be stopped, a gradual fillin gup of the dischargepipe will often occur through some defect or temporary leakage, and in freezing weather the water thus left standing in the discharge. pipe congeals and a rupture of the pipe is fre quently the result, but in valves of my construction, should any such leakage as has been described happen, the water finds free vent out of the waste-way and damage from the effects of frost is avoided. The waste-way W is, however, not essential to the operation of the balanced plunger, but it forms a valuable auxiliary thereto.

I am aware that non-wasting valves for hydrants have been constructed with cup-leather packings, but I know of no instance where the lower or first cup has been placed so as to have its convex side down for its ready entrance into the mouth of the chamber. Nor am I aware that plungers for non-wasting hydrants have ever been constructed so as to have the pressure of the water between the cups, always in opposite directions, thus insuring a perfect balance of the plunger at whatever position it may be placed. The plunger being thus balanced the exertion required to open or close the valve is the same in either case and much less than in the old method, and that, too, without reference to the degree of water pressure within the main pipe. I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement indicated by the drawing so long as I attain the same result by means substantially equivalent.

Claims.

I claim as new herein, and of my invention--- 1. The arrangement and combination of the two cup-packings L L in relation to the in duction 0 a so as to insure the balancing of the plunger at any point while the valve is closed, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The arrangement and combination of the upper cup-leather packing L and the middle cup-leather L, and discharge-apertures R It, in relation to the supply-openings a a, so as to insure the balancing of the plunger at any point while the valve is open.

3. In a hydrant I further claim the auxiliary waste-way W, arranged in relation to the cup-leathers L L to permit the escape of any surplus leakage as described.

4. The chamber or cylinder 0 constructed with a flaringmoutli to permit the more ready insertion of the piston or cup-leather L when. the latter is arranged with its convex side downward, as described.

5. The combination of the cup-leathers L L L, supply-opening a a, circumferential jacket J, discharge-opening R R, vacuum chamber V, and auxiliary waste-way W, arranged snbstantially as and for the purpose described.

' CHARLES L. STACY.

W'Vitnesscsz J. F. BALDWIN, JOHN Bonn.

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