US2580199A - Nonfreezing hydrant - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1951 Filed April 4, 1947 J. H. SCHMID NONFREEZING HYDRANT 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES NON FREEZING HYDRANT John H. Schmid, Erie, Pa., assignor to J. A.-Zurn Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., 21. corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,423

.12 Claims.

Hydrants made according to the teachings of j the 'prior art, and with which I am familiar; have provided openings in the water line below the frost-line of the earth to provide for drainage of liquid but these'openings have permitted seepage of deleterious matter from the earth and in many cases there was-a cross connection with a sewer line which contaminated the water. Non-freezing hydrants having an ejector in the surge tank became flooded when the hose leading from the hydrant was kinked or when it was shut off at the nozzle thereby permitting water to stand in the water pipe above the frost line of the'earth which froze and caused bursting of the waterline. I

' It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in nonobjectof my invention to provide a non-freezing hydrant which is simple in construction, economical in cost, efficient in operation, and easy surge tank thereof below the frost line of the earth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a non-freezing hydrant having a liquid receiving container adapted to be disposed below the frost line of the earth with means associated therewith for emptying the container upon normal flow of tainer when the line above the container is restricted or shut off, and means for receiving freezable liquid from above the frost line when normal flow of fluid is shut off.

Another object of my invention is to provide anovel ejector-type surge tank having a bellows-operated check valve associated therewith to prevent'flooding of the'surge tank when the water is shut off above the surface of the earth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spring urged check valve in association with freezing hydrants and it is more particularly an 'fluid, means for preventing flooding of the conan ejector inthe'surge tank of a non-freezin hydrant to prevent flooding of the surge tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a surge tank adapted to be disposed below the surface of the earth in a non-freezing hydrant hav- "ing a plurality of check valves associated therewith to prevent flooding of the surge tank regardless of any abnormal conditions in theline.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my novel non-freezing hydrant;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away of a modified form of surge tank and associated ejector member and check valves therein for use in a non-freezing hydrant;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational'view with parts broken away of another form of surge tank with ejector member and an associated check valve therein for a non-freezing hydrant,

and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away of another form of surge tank with ejector member and an associated check valve similar to the device shown in Fig. 3. Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a lower body member I of a non-freezing hydrant having an inlet 2, laterally extending passage 3, a surge tank 4, an air vent 5, and a vertically extending valve rod receiving aperture 6. A recessed counter-bore i is provided in the lower portion of the surge tank 4 for receiving the lower flanged end 8 of a flanged tapered ejector member 9 having a threaded portion lil.

A cylindrical member II has an enlarged portion l2 on the lower end thereof having an internally threaded portion [3 for threadably engaging the threaded portion Ill of themember 8. The member H has a reduced throat portion i4 immediately above the ejector member 9 and an upwardly, outwardly flared portion [5 having an externally threaded portion it for threadably engaging internal threads I! of threaded cap memin the lugs 24a permit free flow of liquid in the opposite direction. The surge chamber 4 also has a depending threaded boss portion 23 for threadably engaging a threaded member 23 having chambers 27 connected by apertures 23 open to a laterally extending passage 29 leading from the passage 3 in the body member i. A comparatively heavy cylindrical valve member 34 having legs 35 is adapted to sealingly engage the seat .33 when liquid under sufficient pressure is in the chambers 2'! but which permits free flow of water when the pressure of the water is only that resulting from the head of liquid in the hydrant.

The inlet 2 of the body member I has a removable, threaded seat member 43 disposed therein and is engaged by a suitable valve member 4| operated through a cam lever 42 on the upper end of valve rod 43 extending through the valve rod receiving aperture 6 in the body member l. The particular valve operating means comprise subject matter Which will be claimed in another application,

The threaded cap member t3 in the upper end of the surge tank 4 has an upwardly extending, bossed threaded portion 45' for threadably engaging the'threaded lower end 46 of a vertically extending water pipe 5! having a threaded upper end 48 for threadably engaging the threaded flange portion 49 of a check valve and vent member 3!}. The member 59 has a right angled passage 5i therein with a valve seat 52 formed at the terminus thereof which is engaged by a hinged check valve member 53 which extends substantially in parallel relationship to the Vertical axis of the water pipe -llf The member 511 also has a threaded portion 54 for threadably engaging the outer threaded periphery 55 of a plug member 53 having an invternally threaded bossed portion 51 eccentrically 1 located with respect to the t hreaded portion 54 so that the member 50 will drain below the check valve member 53 when the hose is disconnected, for threadably engaging any suitable coupling member for connection to a hose or'pipel'ine. A vertically extending passage 58 leading from the right angled passage 5i in the member 50 has web members 59 at the upper terminus thereof for seating a check valve 33 The upper end of the aperture 58 is enlarged at 32 and is threaded for threadably engagingan apertured vent member 63 having avalve seat fi i to provide a vent for the pipe line 47 and the surgetank 4. The check valve 60 sealingly engages the seat 64 when liquid flows under pressure but permits venting when liquid ceases to flow.

In operation, the valve handle 42 is rotated to move the valve 4| away from the seat 120 thereby permitting water to pass through the right angled passage 3 in the body member I upwardly through the ejector member 9 andv through the memberl l to the water pipe 4'! and outwardly through the member 50 to the hose or pipe disposed above the earth. When water passes through the ejector member 9 under pressure, a suction will be created in the passage thereby permitting the check valve 24 to be moved from the seat 23 by the water in the surge tank 4 and permitting it to move outwardly through the passage'2il and upwardly through the member I] to the water pipe 41,

21 to force thecheck valve member 29 upwardly;

against the seat 33 to close the aperture 32 against passage of liquid from the passage 3 and passage 29 and chambers 2'5. When the handle 42 is thrown in the reverse direction and the valve 4| sealingly engages the seat 4!), the flow of liquid through the passage 3 will be shut 0E and the back flow of water from the hose or pipe line will be shut off by the check valve member 153.. The check valve 313 will drop and open the vent 33. Thus the liquid standing in the Water pipe 41 and the water in the member 5 i, will pass downwardly and it will pass laterally through passage 29 and chambers 21? and upwardly past valve 34 to aperture 32 to the surge tank4. This cycle is repeated upon the opening and closing .of the valve 4|.

In the event that the hose connected to the member 53 is 'kinked or shut oil at the nozzle thereof, the surge tank 4 will not be flooded in that check valve 24 prevents water from flowing into the surge tank 4 from the member it and there is still enough pressure of the water in the passage 3, passage 29, and chambers 2.1 to move the valve member 34 into sealing engagement with the seat 33 It will thus be seen that I have provided a foolproof non-freezing hydrant which cannot be flooded no matter what the circumstances in the line. 7

In Fig. 2, .I have shown a modified form of construction of the surge tank and associated check valve in which a body member til has an inlet 65, laterally extending right-angled passage and a surge tank 63 having a counter. bore 8 3 in the lower portion thereof A tapered cylindrical member 63 is disposed centrally of the surge tank 33 and has an enlarged lower portion 35 for receiving centrally thereof an ejector member 6i having a threaded portion 68 in threadable engagement with the internal threaded portion 69 of the member The lower end of the member 6? is flanged outwardly at it to seat in the counterbore 64 in the lower portion of the surge tank 63. The upper portion of the member 35 has a reduced throat portion i It and an upwardly and outwardly flared portion 72 terminating in enlarged upper threaded portion 73 threadably engaging the inwardly bossed, threaded portion 14 in the upper side of the surge tank 63. The member 85 has a laterally extending aperture "ls nea'r the upper end thereof for receiving a pipe 3 which extends into and communicates with the inside of a bellows member 71. A cup-shaped member 18 has the open end 73 thereof threaded for threadably engaging threaded flanged portion of, the member 35. A seat 8l is formed internally of the chamber 82 in the member 65 and isengaged by a valve 83 having a stem 84 engaging the end 85 of the bellows member 11. Aperture 86 in the member 35 communicates with the chamber 82 of the member 65 and'the surge tank t3 and the flow therethrough is, controlled by pressure .in the pipe l3 will not begreat enou h to 'move the bellows-I1 outwardly thereby permitting the check valve 83to remain away from its seat M to permit flow of liquid through the aperture 86- to the'surge tank 53. -"-;Where the pressure above the ejector member 6 I is considerable because of the kinkingof the hose or the shutting ofi of the hose at the nozzle, water underpressure will pass through the pipe "I6 into the bellows 11 causing it to expand and thereby causing the check valve 83 to move in sealing engagement with-the seat 8| to shut off the flow-of fluid to the surge tank 63through the aperture 86 to prevent flooding. the liquid on the head of the check valve 83 will Pressure of also tend to move it to a closed position. It will thus be seen that in this type of ejectorand check -valve arrangements, all contingencies are taken care of when flow of water is shut oftby the hydrant valve at the inlet thereto or shut oii at any -point-above the surge tank or ejector;-

All parts of the hydrant shown in Fig. 3 are the same as the hydrant shown in Fig. 2 except that the cup-shaped member I8 in Fig. 2 is replaced by a closed cup-shaped member I58 to which a connection ismade by pipe line II to the inlet passage 62. normal flow of fluid will cause contraction of Thus increase in pressure due to the bellows TI and opening of the check valve 83. Upon shutting off of the flow of liquid comparative pressure of liquid in the bellows I! is not increased'sutficiently to close the valve 83.

Wh'en flow of liquid is shut off when the hose is kinked or at the nozzle thereof, pressure of liquid passing through the pipe 18 will be increased sufficiently and supplemented by the pressure exerted on the face of valve 83 to oifset the pressure of the liquid in pipe I5I thereby expanding the bellows I1 and closing the check valve 83 to prevent flooding of the surge tank 63.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another modified form of my invention in which the body member 98 has an inlet 9 I, a laterally extending right-angled passage 92, a surge tank 93 having a countersunk recess 94 in the bottom portion thereof, and

an inwardly extending threaded boss portion 95- The lower end of the ejector member 99 is flanged at I82 and seats in the countersunk recessed portion 94 in the bottom of the surge tank 93. The

,member 95 has a reduced throat portion I83 spaced above'the upper end of the ejector member 99 and has an upwardly outwardly flared portion I84 terminating in an enlarged threaded portion I85 which threadably engages the threaded bossed portion 95 of the surge tank 93: The member 96 has an outwardly extending portion I86 having a right-angled passage I81 from the chamber 98 of the member 96 terminating in an enlarged counter-bore portion I88 having a threaded portion I89 for threadably engaging a threaded valve seat member II8. A check valve II! is spaced from seat II2 of member H8 but is adapted to sealingly engage the seat H2 of the member I I8 and is held in spaced relationship by a conical shaped spiral coil spring II3 secured by a spring locking clip H4.

The operation of the surge tank with the ejector member and checkvalve shown in Fig. 3 is as follows: "When liquid flows outwardly under pressure through the-ejector member 99 to the throat I83 and upper flared portion I 84 of the member a suction is created in passage I8'I and the valve seat III is moved away from the seat H2 by the water in thesurge tank 13 which is thereby drawn out of the surge tank QB-and upwardly through the member 96. I When flow of liquid is shut ofi in the ejector member 99, water passes downwardly through the passage I81 and since the valve member III is spaced from the seat H2 and the pressure of the liquid is comparatively small, liquid will pass into the surge tank 93 without seating the check valve III. When the flow of liquid is shut off above the surface of the earth as when the hose is kinked or it is shut off at the nozzle, liquid will pass through the passage I8'I ata greatly increased pressure,

causing the closing of the valve III against the seat H2 and thereby preventing the flooding of the surge tank 83.

It will thus be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel non-freezing hydrant having an ejector in a surge tank with associated check valves of novel design and arrangement to prevent flooding of the surge tank when the water is shut off above the surface of the earth and which still permits normal operation of the hydrant when the regular hydrant valve is operated.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit-thereof, or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: I

1. A non-freezing hydrant comprising a body member, a valve in said body member, fluid conveying' connections to the upstream and downstream sides of said valve, a surge tank having 'an aperture in the bottom thereof adapted to be disposed below the frost line of the earth, an ejector extending upwardly from the bottom of said surge tank, said ejector being connected to saidupstream connection from said valve, a riser connected to the upstream side of said-ejector and adapted to extend to the surface of the ground, a casing having a passageway leading from said ejector to the lower portion of said surge tank,"a check valve in said passageway for checking the flow of fluid in a directionfrom said ejector to said surge tank, a fluid conveying conn'ection extending from the aperture in the bottom of said surge tank to the fluid conmotion on the upstream side of said valve,'and a check valve in said last mentioned fluid connection to check the flow of fluid fromsaid surge tank and normally to said surgetankexcept when the flow of fluid is other than upstream in said ejector, said ejector being adapted to empty said surge tank through said passageway in said casing leading thereto when water flows upstream therethrough.

2. A non-freezing hydrant as set forth in claim Y 1 wherein said check valve for sealingly engag- 5- n n -i e m nyd; am a se f t l .1 wherein a check valve member is disposedon the upper end of said riser having aright-angled line of the earth havin an inlet, a surge tank I i having an aperture ,in the bottom thereof, a jet member extending upwardly from the bottom of 7 said surge tank, passages for fluid in said body member connecting said inlet-and said jet memher and the aperture in the bottom of said surge tank, a surrounding enclosed skirt for said jet member in said surge tank having a throat .portion immediately above said jet member and having the upper portion thereof flared upwardly and outwardly, a riser extending upwardly from i said enclosed skirt for said .iet member to the surface of the earth, a member extending laterally from said ski-rt member having a passage leading from the top of said Jet member to a point adjacent the bottom of said surge tank,

a check valve in said last'mentioned passage for preventing the flow-of fluid-from said skirt member to said surge tank, a check valve in said body member normally sealingly engaging the aperture in the bottom of said surge tank to 5";

prevent the flow of fluid to said surge tank when water is passingupstream through said passage- .way leading to said jet member said body member but movable from a sealed position to pass fluid to said surge tank when flow in-said riser is other than upstream, and a val-ve for controlling the flow orfluid through the inlet'in said body member.

8. QAI non-freezing hydrant as set fiorthin claim 7 wherein said surge -tank has a ,ventleading. to

an upwardly extending valve rod chamber from the body portion of said non-freezing hydrant.

9. A non-freezing hydrant assetforth in claim 7 wherein said jet member comprises a threaded ta ered member avi an outwa dly flan ed base portion disposed in a recessed eountersun-k p tiq v sai ur e an ndrs id k im be has an enlarged lower end forming a chamber around said jet member.- and having jan interiorly threaded portion .for engaging the tl' -re adedportion of said jet member.

A n re n d an as s ie th claim. wh in a member o h up e en of said riser has a check valve to prevent back flow qf water to said riser and surge tank. I

11. A nonfreezing hydrant, as set forth in claim 10 wherein saidmemberon the upper end of said riser has a vent with'a check valve-therein.

12. An apparatus for evacuating an upwardly extending fluid line when a fluid ceases to flow upstream thereof comprising an upwardly extending fluid line, a member having a fluid .pas-

sa y de n n ani l t nne te t sa dfiu s line, afluid container having an aperture in the bottom thereof connected to the upstream side of said member in fluid flow relationship-therewith, a valve in the passageway of saidmember controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, ejector means extending upwardly in said fluid line for evacuating fluid irom .said container when fluid moves ups eam the i a fluid nnec on etween said ejector means and the lower portion of the interior of said container, a seeond fluid connection between the aperture in the bottom of said container and the downstream side of said fluid line from said ejector means for evacuating fluid in said fluid line above said ejector means and passing it to said container through said second mentioned fluid connection when fluid ceases to new upstream in said fluid line, a check valve in said first mentioned fluid conne on o e in epf: flu d n a direction towardssaid eiBQtor means-between said ejector meansand said container, and ;a check valve in said second mentioned fluid connection between said fluid line and the aperture in the bottomof said container for normally checking the flow of; fluid to said container when the flow of fluidin said fluid line is upstream but permitting the flow offluid-to said container whenrthere ceases to be a flow of fluid upstream in said fluid line.

,JOHN H. SCHMID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the r file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA IENTS" Number Name Date 1,021,537 Lawnin Mar. "26, 191 2 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,520 Germany of 1879 9,043 Switzerland m or 1902 l0,134 Denmark of 1907 25,156 Germany of 1882 28,561 Sweden ofl908 236,645, Germany of 1911

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