Yard hydrant

• US 5,261,441 A
• Filed: 05/10/1993
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/058,869
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: 137/281, 137/286, 137/287, 137/291, 137/301, 137/299, 137/302
• US Class Current: 137/281
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/04 Column hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/14 Draining devices for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/538 Expansible chamber operated by valve actuator for draining riser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5415 Reciprocating riser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5497 Protection against freezing

Abstract

A yard hydrant includes a discharge nozzle above ground level connected to other vertically reciprocal working parts in the ground below the frost line. A cylindrical water reservoir unit, disposed below the frost line around said working parts, includes a diaphragm assembly removably attached to such working parts for reciprocation therewith, and a deformable diaphragm on said assembly provides a water storage area. Residual water in the hydrant when it is turned off is collected in the storage area and returned to the hydrant for discharge through the nozzle when the hydrant is turned on. The working parts are removable from the diaphragm assembly for servicing and repairs.

Claims

1. A yard hydrant, comprising:

a head section including an integral nozzle with a water passageway therein,

a water pipe,

a valve means adapted for connection to a source of water supply under pressure,

said water pipe operably connected at one end to said head section in communication with said water passageway and operably engageable at the other end with said valve means,

means for reciprocating said water pipe,

a cylindrical water reservoir unit disposed around said water pipe intermediate said head section and said valve means,

a diaphragm assembly within said water reservoir unit providing a watertight expandable water storage area, and secured to said water pipe for reciprocation therewith,

the downwardly movement of said water pipe into engagement with said valve means defining the "on" position for water flow through said yard hydrant, and the upwardly movement of said water pipe out of engagement with said valve means defining the "off" position of said water flow, with said water storage area in said "off" position to permit residual water in said water pipe to flow into said storage area, and a flow controlling valve means disposed in said disphragm assembly communicating with said water pipe and said water storage area to permit stored water to return to said water pipe in the "on" position for discharge out of said nozzle valve means in said diaphragm assembly.

2. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1, including said water pipe being removably secured to said diaphragm assembly whereby said water pipe can be separated therefrom and removed from said yard hydrant.

3. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 2, including:

said water pipe being attached to said diaphragm assembly by a threadable attachment, and

means in said water reservoir unit for preventing rotation of said diaphragm assembly while said water pipe is being separated therefrom.

4. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow controlling valve means is a check valve.

5. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1, including:

said water reservoir unit comprising;

an upper inverted cup-shaped section and a lower cup-shaped section, each having a peripheral flange, and

fastening means to secure said flanges in juxtaposition, said diaphragm assembly comprising;

a diaphragm plate within said water reservoir unit secured to said water pipe for reciprocation therewith, and

a deformable diaphragm secured to said diaphragm plate and extending peripherally between and secured to said flanges in watertight relationship to define said water storage area.

6. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 5, including said water pipe being removably secured to said diaphragm plate whereby said water pipe can be separated therefrom and removed from said yard hydrant.

7. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 6, including:

said water pipe being threadably attached to said diaphragm plate, and

means in said water reservoir unit for preventing rotation of said diaphragm plate while said water pipe is being separated therefrom.

8. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1, including an air line open to the atmosphere at one end and extending through said diaphragm assembly into communication with said water storage area.

9. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 1, including means to seal off said water storage area from the water supply pressure.

10. A yard hydrant comprising:

a vertical casing having an upper end and a lower end,

a head section, including an integral nozzle with a water passageway therein, mounted to said upper end,

a cylindrical water reservoir unit, having a top end and a bottom, axially mounted at said top end to said lower end of said casing,

a valve body housing, with valve means, adapted at one end for connection to a source of water supply under pressure,

said bottom of said cylindrical water reservoir unit being axially mounted to the other end of said valve body housing,

a water pipe operably attached to said head section in communication with said water passageway therein and extending through said casing and said water reservoir unit into said valve body housing for operable engagement with said valve means,

means for reciprocating said water pipe,

a diaphragm assembly within said water reservoir unit providing a watertight expandable water storage area, and secured to said water pipe for reciprocation therewith,

a valve flow port in said water pipe adapted to move into and out of flow communication with said water storage area during the reciprocal movement of said pipe,

a flow port in said water pipe in spaced above relationship to said valve flow port,

when said valve flow port is movable into said valve housing to shut off flow to said storage area for water flow communication from said water storage area to said flow port,

the downwardly movement of said water pipe into engagement with said valve means defining the "on" position of water flow through said yard hydrant, and the upwardly movement of said water pipe out of engagement with said valve means defining the "off" position of said water flow,

with said yard hydrant in the "off" position, said valve flow port communicates with said water storage area and residual water in said water pipe flows therethrough into said water storage area, and

with said yard hydrant in the "on" position, said valve flow port is out of flow communication with said water storage area and water therein flows through said second flow port into said water pipe for discharge through said nozzle when said valve flow port is movable into said valve housing to shut off flow to said storage area.

11. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 10, including said water pipe being removably secured to said diaphragm assembly whereby said water pipe can be separated therefrom and removed from said yard hydrant.

12. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 10, including means to seal off said water storage area from the water supply pressure.

13. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 10, including an air line open to the atmosphere at one end and extending through said diaphragm assembly into communication with said water storage area.

14. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 10 wherein the valve means in said diaphragm assembly for water flow communication from said water storage area to said flow port is a check valve.

15. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 10, including:

said water reservoir unit comprising;

an upper inverted cup-shaped section and a lower cup-shaped section, each having a peripheral flange, and

fastening means to secure said flanges in juxtaposition, said diaphragm assembly comprising;

a diaphragm plate within said water reservoir unit secured to said water pipe for reciprocation therewith, and

a deformable diaphragm secured to said diaphragm plate and extending peripherally between and secured to said flanges in watertight relationship to define said water storage area.

16. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 15, including said water pipe being removably secured to said diaphragm plate whereby said water pipe can be separated therefrom and removed from said yard hydrant.

17. A yard hydrant as defined in claim 16, including:

said water pipe being threadably attached to said diaphragm plate, and

means in said water reservoir unit for preventing rotation of said diaphragm plate while said water pipe is being separated therefrom.