US3315605A - Standpipes for water supply systems - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1967 N. c. LIEN STANDPIPES FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTE MS Filed June 22, 1965 INVENTOR N El L C. LIEN ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiFice 3,315,565 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,605 STANDPIPES FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS Neil C. Lien, Evansville, Wis., assignor to Baker Manufacturing Company, Evansville, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,931 1 Claim. '(Cl. 103-6) This invention relates generally to improvements in fluid system components and more particularly to improvements in standpipes of the type housing pressure sensing elements for controlling the operation of the pump motor in water supply systems.

As disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,165,070, issued January 12, 1965, external standpipes, that is, standpipes not in the well casing, of the type for housing pressure sensing elements may be provided with an air fitting for supplying air, when needed to the pressure tank of the system. Said patent teaches an air fitting which is in communication with the central passage of the standpipe and which is connected by a rigid tube within the standpipe casing to an air valve preferably mounted near the top of the standpipe casing. Thus, air may be supplied to the pressure tank as needed by simply attaching an air pressure supply hose to the air valve.

My invention relates to improvements in standpipes of the general type disclosed in the above noted patent; however, my invention is not limited to the specific standpipe shown and described therein.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a new standpipe of the type for housing pressure sensing elements for controlling the operation of the pump motor in a water supply system wherein the standpipe is provided with simplified and improved means for supplying air to the pressure tank in the system.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved standpipe which provides for air charging of the pressure tank by means of a check valve opening into the water line of the water supply system.

Another object of my invention is to provide a standpipe of the type of housing pressure sensing elements for controlling the operation of the pump motor of a water supply system wherein the standpipe is designed to permit air pressure in the standpipe casing to force any water standing therein as a result of assembly of the unit to be forced into the water line.

Another object of my invention is to provide a standpipe of the type for housing pressure sensing elements for controlling the operation of the motor of a water supply system wherein the standpipe is designed to permit the standpipe casing to be under pressure so as to prevent any contaminated water from leaking into the casing.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment exemplifying the principles of my invention.

In the drawings:

The figure is a vertical partial section view of an external standpipe.

The figure shows my new and improved standpipe assembly generally at in connection with a discharge pipe 11 through which water is supplied from the well casing fitting (not shown) to the pressure tank (not shown) in a typical water supply system. The water supply system typically has a pump which is driven by an electric motor.

Standpipe assembly 10 comprises a T-joint 12 connected into discharge pipe 11 as shown in FIG. 1. A coupling 13 is threaded onto the stem portion 14 of T- joint 12 and supports a standpipe casing 15 which is threaded into the top end of coupling 13. The top of standpipe casing 15 is closed by a cap 16 threaded thereon.

A pressure switch 17 of well known construction is mounted on cap 16 by gasketed lock nut 18 and adapter 19 and is connected to the motor (not shown) of the water supply system by electrical wires 20 for controlling the operation of the motor in a conventional manner.

The standpipe casing 15 forms a fluid-tight housing for the pressure sensing device designated generally at 21 which signals the pressure switch 17 of changes in Water pressure in discharge pipe 11. The water pressure is transmitted to the rigid pipe 22 of the pressure sensing device 21, which is located below the frost line. The changing water pressure causes the enclosed flexible fluid retainer tube 23 to contract and expand. The fluid -retainer tube 23 is connected to the pressure switch 17 by a capillary tube 24. The fluid retainer tube 23 and capillary tube 24 are filled with a non-toxic liquid which will not solidify at freezing temperatures. As the fluid retainer tube 23 contracts and expands with changing water pressures, the increasing and decreasing pressures are transmitted to the pressure switch 17 by the nontoxic, non-freezing liquid through the capillary tube 24. The control system is adjusted so that when the water pressure in the water discharge pipe 11 drops to a certain predetermined level, the pressure switch 17 is actuated, causing the pump motor to start. As the pressure tank of the water supply system is filled and the water pressure in the tank and discharge pipe 11 increases, the fluid retainer tube 23 is compressed and the increased pressure is transmitted to the pressure switch 17. When the pressure reaches a certain predetermined higher level, the pressure switch 17 shuts off the pump motor and the cycle is repeated.

A connector, shown generally at 25, provides a quick and easy means of connecting and disconnecting the motor control pressure sensing device 21 within the standpipe casing 15. The connector 25 provides a fluid-tight conduit between lower terminal passage 26 which is in communication with water discharge pipe 11 and an upper terminal passage 27 provided by rigid pipe 22. The connector 25 has a socket member 28 which has a base end 29 which may be threaded into the top of a coupling 30, which in turn is threaded into the internal threads on the stem portion 14 of T-joint, so as to be in communication with lower terminal passage 26 and discharge pipe 11. Starting at the month end 31 of socket member 28, a socket 32 extends downwardly to a bottom 33. The socket member 28 may have a tapered mouth 34 as shown. An annular channel 35 extends around the socket 32 approximately midway along its length. The socket 32 is otherwise cylindrical, except that it may be conical at the bottom 33 to facilitate machining. The channel 35 is connected to the lower terminal passage 26 by means of interconnected passages 36 extending upwardly through the socket member 28 from its base end 29. Connector 25 is provided with a plug member 37 with a downwardly extending plug portion 38. The plug portion 38 may be withdrawably inserted within the socket 32. The plug member 37 has a tapered shoulder 39 which mates with the tapered mouth 34 of socket member 28. The tapered mouth 34 is, thus, the surface which directly supports the plug member 37 and connected components. The diametrical clearance between the plug portion 38 and the cylindrical wall of socket 32 may be from about to about of an inch. Upper and lower O- rings 40 and 41 of resilient material provide fluid-tight seals above and below channel 35. The channel 35 may have tapered upper and lower edges which with the tapered mouth 34, prevent damage to O- rlngs 40 and 41 when the plug portion 38 is inserted into or Withdrawn [from the socket 32. The plug portion 38 preferably has a tapered end to facilitate its entry into the socket 32. A

center passage 42 extends from the end 43 of the plug member 37 into the plug portion 38 to the radial passage 44 which communicates with channel 35. Preferably, the sizes of one or more of the passages 36, 42 and 44 are chosen small enough to serve as a pressure-shock 'dar'npe'ne'r to reduce the transmission of sudden changes of pressure from the lower terminal passage 26 to the upper terminal passage 27.

It is desirable that the socket member 28 have a pressurerelief hole 45 located below the lower O-ring 41, 'as shown, to prevent the plug member 37 from blowing out if the lower O-ring 41 should leak. The pressure -relief hole 45 extends through the socket member 28in supply system as needed, for providing air pressure within standpipe casing 15 for preventing contaminated water from leaking into the casing and for forcing water which may be standing in the casing as a result of assembly of the standpipe, into the water discharge pipe.

As seen in FIG. 1, a check valve 46 assembly having a 7 ball portion 48 made of resilient material such as rubber, or the like is positioned in a hole 47 which is drilled into plug member 37 so as to be in communication with'cen-' tral passage 42. Ball portion 48 is maintained in hole 47' by a plug portion 52 of valve assembly 46 which is threaded into plug member 37. Valve assembly 46 has a'bore 49 therein extending into the resilient ball portion 48. Aslit 50 is cut into the side of ballportion 48 so as to communicate with the bore 49. i

While, the preferred form of a check valve assembly is shown at 46, it is understood that other suitable check valves may be employed, such as, for example, a conventional spring-biased ball check valve may be utilized. 7 A conventional air valve 51 is preferably mounted in cap 16, as shown. V

In use, air may be supplied to the pressure tank of a water supply system by simply attaching an air pressure supply hose to the air valve 51. The airtight chamber 53 formed by standpipe casing 15 provides a pressure chamber for the passage of air from valve 51 down to check valve 46. When air is pumped into chamber 53 in casing 15 through air valve 51, the increased pressure in bore 49 of valve 46 causes resilient ball portion 48 thereof to expand and allows air to pass outwardly through slit 50 into hole 47, central passage 42, radial passage 44, channel 35, passages 36, terminal passage 26 in T-joint 12, water discharge pipe 11, and hence, into the pressure tank of the water supply system. When the air pump is removed the pressure in hole 47 and the natural resiliency of ball portion 48 cause the slit 50 to be closed.

In the past, the chamber formed by the casing of a typical standpipe was ordinarily maintained at atmospheric pressure and air was supplied to the pressure tank of the water supply system through a valve such as 51 shown in FIG. 1, by a rigid pipe which was connected into an air fitting in a connector such as 25. Thus, there was no coma munication between the chamber formed by the standpipe I casing and the water dischargepipe.

By providing a means for imparting an increased pressure in standpipe casing 15 which is greater than the atmospheric pressure which was provided in such standpipe casings in the past, I prevent any contaminated water, from leaking into the standpipe casing 15 because the pressure on the inside of the casing is greaterthan the pressure:

on the outside. Furthermore, it is apparent that by providing a chamber 53whichis under pressure andwhich is placed in communication with water discharge pipe 11 through a check valve 46, any water which may be standing in chamber'53 as a result of assembly of the unit will be forced out of the standpipe into the' water discharge pipe 11. 7

It is understood'that my invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts'herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as may come within the scopeof the following claim.

I claim: 7 V

In a water supply system having a pressure tank, pump for supplying water to said pressuretank, a motor for driving said pump, and a pressure switch for control- 1mg the operation of said motor, the improvement cornprising:

(a) a device for sensing the pressure in the pressure tank-of said Water supply system and for controlling the operation of said pressure switch, (b) casing means forming a substantially fluid tight chamber about said pressure sensing device,

(c) an air valve mounted on said casing means it)! introducing air into said chamber, and ((1) a check valve mounted on said pressure sensing de vice within said casing means for permitting the passage of air from said chamber through said pressure sensing device into the pressure tank of said water supply system and for blocking passage from said pressure tank into said chamber.

References Cited by theExaminer Wilson 137 '2o9 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. W. L. FREEH, Assistant Examiner.

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