US171228A

US171228A - Improvement in preventing hydrants from freezing

Info

Publication number: US171228A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1875-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1892-12-21

Description

B. KENT.

PREVENTING HYDRANTS FROM FREEZING.

No.171,228. Patented Dec. 21,1875.

Fig. 2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRAZILLA KENT, oEBINGEAMToN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREVENT ING HYDRANTS FROM FREEZING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 1715228, dated December 21, 1875; application filed March 1, 1,875.

sides and at the top, and extends below the, surface of the ground, where it is connected with a warm-air pit, in such manner that there may be a circulation of air produced by the temperature of the air or the ground which surrounds the upper portion of the inclosing shell falling below the temperature of the air in the bottom of the warm-air pit.

Figure l in the accompaying drawingsis a viewof a hydrant embodying my invention, showing the excavation under the supplementary pipe. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, showing the water-pipe incased in the supplementary tube and their connections. l

A is the shell of the hydrant, which is similar in form to others now in use, and constitutes a casing for the elevated end of the water-pipe B. The top of the shell A has a screw-cap, a, which has a'hole in the top for the stem of the discharge-vatveC to workin.

The projecting end of this stem is squared for the purpose of operating the valve with the ordinary wrench. The seat of the valve (3 is in the lower end of the upright section of the water-pipe B, and; the two parts are connected in the usual manner, so that the dischargevalve 0 may be readily removed forexamination or repairs without disturbing the shell A. Near the upper end of the vertical section'ot' the pipe B there is a screw opening for the spout D, which is'entered through an orifice in the shell A. Just above the valveU there is a drip-hole, b, for the discharge of the standing water above the valve. E is the supplementary pipe, which incases the water-pipe B from the hydrant to the main. This pipe is of sufficient size to leavea chamber, 0, around the pipe B, and has an opening, (1, from the under side of the pipe into the chamber 61, for the discharge of the drip water, and the reception of warm air from the ground, when the temperature is low "above the surface. For this purpose an excavation is made at a suitable point under the supplementary pipe E, as shown by Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings.

1 Should the water in the pipe B freeze from undue exposure to frost, it may. be readily thawed out by simply removing the cap a and. introducing through the shell A hot water or steam into the chamber 0 in the supplementary pipe E, the condensed steam and Water passingoft through the opening 01 into the excavation below.

From an examination of the drawings, it will be readily seen that whenever the temperature of any portion of the hydrant-pipe or its inclosing-shell becomes reduced to such an extent that the air within the shell is rendered colder than. theair in the warm-air pit or chamber 01, such cold air will pass downward through the aperture a, the warm air from the chamber rising and taking its place. When such cold air reaches chamber (1 it will be warmed by its contact with the walls of the chamber, and will, in turn, be displaced by air which has been cooled by contact with the water-pipe or the shell A. Thus a continuous ascending current of warm air will be maintained, there being no outlet at the upper part of shell A, and the hydrant will be kept from freezing.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to' s'cure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the inclosing-shell A, which is closed at the upper end and is provided with an opening, d, of the warm -air chamber d, substantially as set forth.

BRAZILLA KENT. Witnesses: Y

' PERRY P. ROGERS,

J OHN P. WORTHING.