Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FROST-RESISTANT HYDRANT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to fluid valves and, more particularly, to
frost-resistant water supply hydrants.
A frost-resistant sill cock or hydrant typically includes an elongated
tubular body with a valve mechanism at a first end and with a spout and a
valve
operator at a second, opposing end. The elongated body allows the valve
mechanism to be positioned in an environment where frost or freezing is not
likely to occur, such as inside a building or underground, while the spout and
valve operator are positioned in a frost- or freezing-prone environment,
commonly outside a building or otherwise out-of doors. Typically, the operator
is a handle, and an elongated actuator rod or stem extends within the tubular
body between the handle and the valve, whereby manipulation of the handle
moves the valve between open and closed positions. A predominant valve
mechanism is what may be termed a "plunger valve," wherein a valve plunger or
stopper is screw-actuated into and out of sealing engagement with a valve
seat.
While the plunger valve provides a simple means for controlling flow
from a water supply, it does not provide a truly positive control and is prone
to
damage during closing by over-tightening. That is, rather than screwing the
valve plunger into a position of sealing engagement with the valve seat, a
user
will commonly forcibly close the valve, beyond the point of sealing, mashing
and
damaging valve seat and plunger sealing surfaces.
Further, plunger valves do not readily lend themselves to adaptation for
accommodating contemporary health concerns, specifically back-flow prevention,
sometimes known as anti-siphoning. Back-flow preventers or anti-siphon devices
are desirable to prevent contamination of the water supply caused by siphoning
a contaminant back through the hydrant and into the water supply. Plunger-
type valves which incorporate an anti-siphon or back-flow prevention feature
are
commonly complicated with attendant reduced durability and added expense
which often accompany complicated mechanisms. The durability of back-flow
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prevention and anti-siphon mechanisms may also be compromised by users who
over-tighten valves upon closing.
Another feature found in contemporary valves is a vacuum breaker. The
vacuum breaker will break the 'bacuum" in a hydrant which enables siphoning
fluid back through the hydrant to the water supply, thereby offering
additional
anti-siphon protection. The vacuum breaker also offers structural protection
to
the hydrant in the case of a careless user who leaves a hose connected to the
spout or spigot so that the hydrant does not' properly drain, but may freeze
and
rupture. In this instance, the vacuum breaker releases the 'bacuum" which
holds
water in the hydrant in some circumstances, allowing such residual water to
drain from the hydrant. The plunger valve does not readily lend itself to the
vacuum breaker function which is commonly accomplished with a separate
mechanism.
Thus, one will appreciate the need for a contemporary frost-resistant
hydrant providing effective frost-resistance, back-flow prevention or anti-
siphon
protection, and integrated vacuum breaker protection without the use of
conventional plunger valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The deficiencies and problems identified above regarding commonly
known frost-resistant sill cocks or hydrants, are squarely addressed by the
present invention which provides a hydrant having a conduit for connection
with
a fluid source, a valve cartridge positioned in the conduit, and a seal
between
the valve cartridge and the conduit to block fluid from flowing between the
valve cartridge and the conduit, directing the fluid through the valve
cartridge.
The valve cartridge has a cartridge body and a valve mounted in the cartridge
body. The valve has an open position allowing fluid flow and a closed position
blocking fluid flow. The valve cartridge further has an actuator stem
extending
from the valve for manipulating the valve between the open and closed
positions. The stem extends away from the cartridge body. Also, a fluid
passage is defined through the cartridge body, the valve, and the stem.
In one aspect of the invention, an aperture extends through the cartridge
body and a bore extends coaxially along the stem to a transverse opening
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through the stem. The aperture, the bore, and the transverse opening through
the stem define the fluid passage through the cartridge body, the valve, and
the
stem.
In another aspect of the invention, the hydrant includes a check valve to
permit fluid flow from the fluid source and to block fluid flow to the fluid
source. The check valve may include a single plug seat and a cooperating plug
member. Each of the single plug seat and the plug member is adapted to abut
in sealing engagement with the other, and the single plug seat is positioned
between the plug member and the fluid source. The check valve may also
include a biasing member.
In one embodiment of the check valve, the conduit includes a seat
adapter which defines the single plug seat. The plug member is connected at an
end of the valve cartridge and slides relative to the single plug seat. The
plug
member is positioned near the single plug seat to abut the same and block
fluid
back-flow. The plug member also slides to a position spaced from the single
plug seat to permit fluid flow from the fluid source.
In a second, alternative embodiment of the check valve, each of the
single plug seat and the plug member is positioned in the bore of the stem.
The
check valve may also include a second plug seat positioned in the bore of the
stem and adapted to abut the plug member in sealing engagement. The second
plug seat is located on a side of the plug member opposite the first plug
seat,
and on a side of the transverse opening through the stem opposite the
cartridge
body. Each of the stem and the bore may extend out of the conduit to connect
the bore with atmosphere. The plug member blocks this connection of the bore
with atmosphere when the plug member abuts the second plug seat. Further,
the plug member may be generally spherically shaped.
A third, alternative embodiment of the check valve is similar to the
second, alternative embodiment. The third embodiment has the first plug seat,
the plug member, and the second plug seat. However, the plug member in the
third embodiment of the check valve includes a slide adapted to abut the
second
plug seat in sealing engagement. The plug member further includes a seal seat
adapted to abut the first plug seat in sealing engagement. Further, the seal
seat
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may define an annular ring with an opening in which the slide is positioned in
sliding and sealing engagement with the seal seat.
In another aspect of the invention, the stem rotates relative to the
cartridge body. The stem has a rotation limit with an exterior surface
including
an outwardly protecting lobe. The cartridge body has a cooperating rotation
chamber aligned with the rotation limit and includes an inwardly extending
stop
surface adapted to abut the lobe and limit rotation of the stem to less than
about 360 degrees. Further, the rotation limit may include a pair of opposing
outwardly protecting lobes and the rotation chamber may include a pair of
inwardly extending stop surfaces to abut the pair of lobes and limit rotation
of
the stem to about 90 degrees.
In one aspect of the invention, the valve cartridge includes a location key
which engages the conduit to prevent rotation of the valve cartridge relative
to
the conduit. In one embodiment, the conduit is crimped about the rotation key.
The rotation key may be a non-cylindrical exterior portion of the cartridge
body.
In a second, alternative embodiment of the rotation key, the conduit includes
a
seat adapter with a socket adapted to receive the rotation key. The rotation
key
may be a tab extending from an end of the valve cartridge and the socket may
be a cooperating slot.
In another aspect of the invention, the valve cartridge includes a retainer
adapted to couple with the cartridge body at an end of the valve cartridge and
the valve is a ceramic disk stack. The valve has a fixed disk positioned in
and
fixed in rotational position relative to the cartridge body. The valve also
has a
rotating disk abutting the fixed disk in face-to-face relation. The rotating
disk is
connected with the stem and the fixed disk is connected with the cartridge
body.
The valve further has a valve seal between the valve and one of the retainer
and
the cartridge body. The retainer has an annular surface abutting the valve and
a first stop surface abutting a cooperating second stop surface on the
cartridge
body to positively locate the annular surface relative to the cartridge body.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the stem extends out of the
conduit to a terminal end and the hydrant includes an operator connected at
the
terminal end to actuate the stem and manipulate the valve between the open
position and the closed position.
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In one aspect of the invention, the conduit has an outer end and the
actuator stem has a terminal end near the conduit outer end. The hydrant
further includes an operator connected with the stem at the terminal end to
actuate the stem and manipulate the valve between the open and closed
positions. The operator may be a handle. Alternatively, the operator may
include a lock cylinder and a separate key adapted to engage the lock
cylinder.
In one embodiment of the key and lock cylinder, the lock cylinder defines a
socket and the key is adapted to engage the socket. Further, the lock cylinder
may engage and disengage the stem so that manipulation of the lock cylinder
actuates the stem when the lock cylinder is engaged with the stem and
manipulation of the lock cylinder does not affect the stem when the lock
cylinder is disengaged from the stem.
These and other features, objects, and benefits of the invention will be
recognized by those skilled in the art, from the specification, the claims
which
follow, and the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of a frost-resistant
hydrant according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a valve cartridge according to
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a seat adapter, body
tube, and assembled valve cartridge with stem extension according to the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along section line IV-IV of FIGS. 3 and
6;
FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 showing the stem rotated relative to the
valve body;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of an assemblage of the
components shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view of the actuator stem along section
line VII-VII of FIG. 2;
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FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of the spout, showing
an alternative embodiment of the operator;
FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of one embodiment of a key used with
the operator shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is the view of FIG. 8 showing a third embodiment of the
operator;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exterior perspective view of a first alternative
embodiment of a hydrant according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a valve body of the hydrant of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view along section line XIII-
XIII of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view along section line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is the view of FIG. 14 showing the stem rotated relative to the
valve body;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section view of a second
alternative embodiment of a hydrant according to the invention;
FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the second alternative
embodiment of FIG. 16 with fluid flow closed, the vacuum breaker open, and
the back-flow preventer closed;
FIG. 18 is the view of FIG. 17 with positive fluid flow starting, the
vacuum breaker closed, and the back-flow preventer opening;
FIG. 19 is the view of FIG. 17 with positive fluid flow open, the vacuum
breaker closed, and the back-flow preventer open; and
FIG. 20 is the view of FIG. 17 in a back-flow condition with fluid flow
open, the back-flow preventer closed, and the vacuum breaker open.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawing figures and particularly FIGS. 1 through 7 in
greater detail, a frost-resistant hydrant 40 according to the present
invention
includes a conduit or body tube 42, a seat adapter 44 connected at a first end
46
of body tube 42 for connection with a fluid supply (not shown), such as a
water
supply pipe, for example, and includes a spout 48 connected at a second end 50
of body tube 42, opposite the first end 46 (FIG. 1). A valve cartridge 52 is
slip-
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fit into position within body tube 42 and is preferably located near the first
end
46. Hydrant 40 also includes a handwheel or operator 53 connected with valve
cartridge 52 and located at spout 48.
Body tube 42 is preferably a length of three-quarter-inch diameter copper
tubing or other tubular material as is commonly known and used for plumbing
fixtures. Thus, one end of seat adapter 44 is provided with a cylindrical
exterior
surface 55 which may be sized for press-fit engagement into conduit end 46, or
may be sized for slip-fit engagement and soldering connection with body tube
42
as is commonly known for plumbing components. At a second, opposing end of
seat adapter 44, external pipe threads 57 and an internal cylindrical bore 59
are
provided for either screw or solder connection with the fluid supply as is
commonly known and practiced.
Spout 48 is a commonly available cast bronze or brass member with a
cylindrical bore 61 adapted to receive conduit end 50 for press-fit or solder
connection. Spout 48 is provided with a conventional hose nipple 63, and
internal threads 65 at an end of spout 48 opposite the connection of spout 48
with body tube 42.
Valve cartridge 52 includes a cartridge body 54, an actuator stem 56, a
valve 58, a retainer 60, and a cartridge seal 62 (FIGS. 1 through 3 and 6).
Cartridge body 54 is most preferably made of brass as is commonly known for
plumbing components, but may also be made from any other suitable material,
including, but not limited to, plastics and metals other than brass, for
example.
Cartridge body 54 is generally cylindrical with an aperture 64 extending
coaxially
therethrough (FIG. 2). As will be described in greater detail below, aperture
64
is also generally cylindrical and includes a portion defining a stem rotation
limit
chamber and a stem positioning stop or shoulder. A cartridge seal seat 66 is
defined by an outwardly opening circumferential groove about the exterior
surface of cartridge body 54. Preferably, cartridge seal 62 is an O-ring seal
seated in cartridge seal seat 66. Most preferably, seal 62 is a Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved 70 E.P. O-ring as is commonly known and
available.
Actuator stem 56 (FIGS. 1 through 3 and 6) is a generally cylindrical
member having a coaxial bore 68 extending therethrough and having at least
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one transverse opening 70. Actuator stem 56 includes a stem base 72 and a
stem extension 74. As with cartridge body 54, above, stem base 72 is also
preferably made of brass as is commonly known for plumbing components, but '
may also be made from any other suitable material. Stem extension 74 may also
be made from any suitable material, but is most preferably made from a length
of copper tubing. Various methods may be used to couple stem base 72 and
stem extension 74, including providing a socket 80 (FIG. 7) in stem base 72
for
slip-fit engagement over an end of stem extension 74 and soldering stem base
72
and stem extension 74 together as is commonly known for connecting plumbing
components. Alternatively, stem base 72 and stem extension 74 may be formed
in one piece.
An annular stop 82 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is formed in stem bore 68 to provide
a stop against which stem extension 74 is seated on one side of stop 82 and to
provide a bottom for a spring cavity 84 on the other side of stop 82. Spring
cavity 84 is provided as a part of a combined vacuum breaker and anti-siphon
device 83, located in actuator stem 56. The spring cavity 84 is in open
communication with the stem bore 68 extending through stem extension 74. A
helical coil spring 85 is positioned in spring cavity 84 and abuts stop 82
(FIGS.
1, 2, 6, and 7). Spring 85 is preferably formed from a FDA-approved
noncorrosive material, including, but not limited to, stainless steel, for
example,
or suitable resilient engineering or structural~plastics.
The anti-siphon device 83 also includes a plug seat 88 (FIGS. 6 and 7),
located at an end 86 of spring cavity 84 opposite to stop 82 and defined in
stem
bore 68 by an about 20- to 45-degree bevel. Plug seat 88 is positioned near
transverse opening 70, on a side of transverse opening 70 which is away from
the fluid supply (not shown) with which seat adapter 44 connects. Plug seat 88
is adapted to abut a cooperating plug 90 in sealing engagement.
Plug 90 is preferably a plastic ball formed from an acetal resin plastic
such as is marketed by the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. under the trademark
DELRIN~', or the like. While plug 90 cooperatingly abuts plug seat 88 in
sealing engagement, plug 90 is also sized to move freely in a plug chamber 92,
defined in stem bore 68 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Further, plug 90 is adapted to abut
an
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end of spring 85. Spring 85 is interposed between plug 90 and stop 82 to bias
plug 90 away from seat 88.
Also defined in stem bore 68 and located near transverse opening 70,
opposite plug seat 88, are internal screw threads 94 (FIG. 7). Threads 94 are
adapted to receive a plug seat 96 of the back-flow prevention device 83 (FIGS.
1, 2, and 6). Plug seat 96 is a tubular member having cooperating external
threads 98 to mate with threads 94 and having an internal chamfer or bevel of
about 20 to 45 degrees to form a sealing surface 100 adapted to seal with plug
90. Plug seat 96 may be made of brass, like cartridge body 54 and stem base
72,
above, and may also be made from any other suitable material, including
DELRIN~', for example.
Plug 90 is biased by spring 85 into sealing engagement with seat 96 at the
sealing surface 100 to effect the back-flow prevention function (FIGS. 1 and
6).
Various regulatory authorities dictate minimal requirements for the
performance
of back-flow preventers. Thus, spring 85 is designed to meet such requirements
with a compressive spring force sufficient to keep plug 90 sealed with seat 96
against a water supply pressure of about three pounds per square inch, or as
is
otherwise specified by controlling regulation.
An end 106 (FIG. 7) of stem base 72, opposite stem extension 74 is
adapted to engage valve 58 (FIG. 2). Valve 58 is preferably a ceramic disk
valve, including a ceramic disk stack with a fixed ceramic disk 110 and a
rotating
ceramic disk 112 which abut one another in face-to-face relation as disclosed
in
greater detail below. Thus, stem end 106 is specifically adapted to engage
rotating ceramic disk 112, and most preferably, defines a pair of
diametrically
opposing tabs 114. Tabs 114 are sized and shaped to couple in sliding
engagement with cooperating notches 116 defined in rotating ceramic disk 112.
Actuator stem 56 is received in sliding engagement in aperture 64 of
cartridge body 54 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 6). To position actuator stem 56 in
cartridge
body 54, an annular shoulder 120 is defined on the exterior surface of stem
base
72, between transverse opening 70 and end 106, and a cooperating annular stop
122 (FIG. 6) is defined in cartridge body aperture 64. Shoulder 120 and stop
122 abut one another in sliding engagement to position stem 56 in cartridge
body 54 and so stem 56 rotates relative to cartridge body 54. Preferably, a
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washer 124 (FIGS. 2 and 6) is interposed between shoulder 120 and stop 122 to
minimize wear and promote durability. Washer 124 may be of any suitable
material, including, but not limited to, an acetal resin plastic such as
DELRINT",
described above.
Each of cartridge body 54 and actuator stem 56 is adapted for
cooperating engagement to provide valve cartridge 52 with a rotation limit
(FIGS. 4 and 5). The rotation limit includes outwardly projecting lobes 130
with
stop surfaces 132 and 134 defined on the exterior of stem base 72 and includes
a
cooperating rotation chamber 136 debned in cartridge body aperture 64 to align
with lobes 130. Rotation chamber 136 is defined by stop surfaces 138 and 140.
The rotation chamber stop surfaces 138, 140 are adapted to abut the rotation
limit lobe surfaces 132 and limit rotation of actuator stem 56 relative to
cartridge body 54 when stem 56 is rotated in a first direction to a first
extreme
position, one of the valve open or closed positions (FIG. 4). The rotation
chamber surfaces 138, 140 are adapted to abut the rotation limit lobe surfaces
134 and limit rotation of actuator stem 56 relative to cartridge body 54 when
stem 56 is rotated in a second direction to a second extreme position, the
other
of the valve open or closed positions. Rotation of actuator stem 56 may, thus,
be limited to about 90 degrees of rotation.
However, each of lobes 130 and chamber surfaces 138 and 140 may be
modified to extend or reduce the degree of rotation of stem 56 relative to
cartridge body 54. Thus, those who practice the invention will realize, for
example, that one of lobes 130 and one of stop surfaces 138 or 140 may be
eliminated while the remaining lobe and stop surface may be reconfigured so
stem 56 may rotate up to about 360 degrees relative to cartridge body 54.
Further, while the rotation limit, including lobes 130 and rotation chamber
136,
is specifically depicted in the preferred embodiment as being inside cartridge
body 54, it will also occur to those who practice this invention that the
rotation
limit and the rotation chamber may also be located outside of cartridge body
54.
Valve 58 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 6) is preferably a ceramic disk valve, including
a ceramic disk stack with a fixed ceramic disk 110 and a rotating ceramic disk
112 which abut one another in face-to-face relation as disclosed in greater
detail
in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,174,324, entitled CERAMIC VALVE
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and issued on December 29, 1992, to Chrysler. Each of fixed disk 110 and
rotating
disk 112 is provided with a pair of apertures 150, 152, respectively (FIG. 2).
The
apertures 150, 152 align when rotating disk 112 is rotated in a first
direction to an
open position relative to fixed disk 110. Apertures 152 move out of alignment
with apertures 150 and become blocked by fixed disk 110 while apertures 150
become blocked by rotating disk 112 when rotating disk 112 is rotated in a
second, opposite direction to a closed position relative to fixed disk 110.
As mentioned above, rotating disk 112 is keyed to actuator stem 56 by
notches 116 (FIG. 2) which receive tabs 114 provided on actuator stem. The
interconnection of rotating disk 112 with stem 56 also holds rotating disk 112
securely in axial position while providing controlled rotation of rotating
disk 112.
Com~ersely, fixed disk 110 is keyed to cartridge body 54. More particularly,
fixed disk 110 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed tabs 154
adapted
for sliding engagement with a pair of cooperating slots 156 provided in
cartridge
body 54. Tabs 154 and slots 156 are sized to hold fixed disk 110 securely in a
rotational direction and to allow some tolerance or movement in an axial
direction to accommodate pre-loading of the disk stack, discussed further
below.
Of course, rotating disk 112 may be keyed to stem 56 and fixed disk 110 may be
keyed to cartridge body 54 by other, equivalent methods as will occur to those
who practice the invention.
A valve seal 160 (FIGS. 2 and 6) is included with valve 58 to preclude
fluid flow around valve 58 and direct fluid flow through disk apertures 150
and
152 of valve 58. Valve seal 160 may be located between one of fixed disk 110
and rotating disk 112 of valve 58 and one of cartridge body 54 and retainer
60.
Valve seal 160 is most preferably a lathe-cut, FDA-approved 50 E.P. 0-ring
interposed between fixed disk 110 and retainer 60.
Retainer 60, like cartridge body 54, is also preferably a brass member,
and is force-fit over an end of cartridge body 54 to contain and position
actuator
stem 56 and valve 58 in cartridge body 54 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 6). Retainer 60 has
an annular surface 162 for abutting valve 58. More specifically, surface 162
preferably abuts valve seal 160, as shown. in FIG. 6. Retainer 60 also has a
stop
surface 164 and cartridge body 54 has a cooperating stop surface 166 (FIGS. 2
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and 6). Stop surface 166 on cartridge body 54 is specifically locaxed relative
to
cartridge body 54 and stop surface 164 on retainer 60 is specifically locaxed
relative to annular surface 162 so the stop surfaces 164, 166 abut one another
to
positively locate annular surface 162 relative to cartridge body 54. More
particularly, annular surface 162 is positioned relative to cartridge body 54
to
provide a desired compressive pre-loading force to valve seal 160 while
abutting
engagement of retainer stop surface 164 with cartridge body stop surface 166
precludes further compression of valve seal 160. The desired pre-loading of
valve seal 160 is selected to properly seal valve seal 160 and to properly
press
fixed disk 110 and rotating disk 112 together without crushing either of the
disks
110, 112 or deforming valve seal 160. It will be understood by those skilled
in
the art that retainer 60 can be press-fit or otherwise secured to the
cartridge
body 54 as by ultrasonic welding.
Valve cartridge 52 is also provided with an anti-rotation key to preclude
rotation of valve cartridge 52 relative to body tube 42 with manipulation or
rotation of actuator stem 56. Thus, a portion of valve cartridge 52 is
provided
with a non-cylindrical exterior portion which preferably defines a tab 170
(FIGS.
2, 3, and 6). Seat adapter 44 is provided with a cooperating slot 172 (FIGS. 3
and 6) adapted to receive tab 170 in sliding engagement. In addition to
functioning as an anti-rotation key, tab 170 also provides a safety feature to
avoid damage during assembly of hydrant 40.
Referring again to FIG. 1, hydrant 40 also includes an operator or handle
53 connected at a terminal end 174 of actuator stem 56 for manipulation by a
user to open and close valve 58. A flange 176 at terminal end 174 cooperates
with a washer 178, packing gland 180, and a nut 182 to secure valve cartridge
52
in body tube 42. Nut 182 has external threads which interengage with the
internal threads 65 in the spout bore 61 to tighten the packing gland 180 and
washer 178 against an annular shoulder 184 in the spout bore 61. The nut 182
has a countersunk well 186 so that the terminal end 174 of the actuator stem
56
is exterior to the spout 48. An aperture 188 at the terminal end 174
establishes
communication between the stem coaxial bore 68 and atmosphere. The
operator or handle 53 is secured to the terminal end 174 by conventional means
such as a bolt or screw, and is configured to have a channel 190 cooperating
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with the countersunk well 186 to maintain open communication between the
stem coaxial bore 68 and atmosphere.
It will be apparent that when the nut 182 is tightened within the spout
bore 61 and against the flange 176 on the actuator stem 56, the tab 170 on the
retainer is received in cooperating slot 172 of the seat adapter 44. Thus, the
valve cartridge 52 is securely held against axial movement within the body
tube
42 as well as held against rotational movement.
Turning now to FIGS. 8 through 10, alternative operators are disclosed
for those applications where access to the water supply is to be strictly
controlled. In this and following embodiments, like parts are numbered alike
for ready cross-reference among the embodiments. In FIG. 8, a stepped washer
192 bears against a flange 176' of the actuator stem 52' to secure the valve
cartridge (not shown) within the body .tube 42'. An adapter nut 194 has a
threaded end 196 which is threaded into the spout bore 61' to secure the
washer
192. O-rings 198 are provided to seal the spout bore 61'. The terminal end
174'
of the actuator stem 52' extends into a chamber 200 within the adapter nut
194.
Radial channels 202 in the adapter nut 194 establish communication between
the chamber 200 and atmosphere. A collar 204 with a rearwardly directed
flange is adapted to direct any fluid flow coming through the radial channels
202
away from the operator. A traveler 206 having a key receptacle 208 is slidably
disposed within the chamber 200 and biased away from connection with the
terminal end 174' by a spring 210. A key 212 (see FIG. 9) having a keying
surface 214 complementary to the key receptacle 208 in the traveler 206 is
adapted to engage the traveler 206 and urge it into connection with the
terminal
end 174' of the actuator stem 52', thereby enabling actuation of the valve by
rotation of the actuator stem 52'.
In FIG. 10, an adapter nut 214 is secured within the spout bore 61" and
directly against the flange 176" of the actuator stem 52". A locking nut 216
threaded into internal threads on the adapter nut secures the adapter nut
within
the spout bore 61", and O-rings 218 are provided to seal the structure. A cap
nut 220 carrying a plunger lock 222 is threaded onto the end of the adapter
nut
to enclose the terminal end 174" of the actuator stem 52". A crank arm 224
extends from the plunger lock 222 to connect with the terminal end 174". By
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inserting a key 226 into the plunger lock 222, and rotating it, the crank arm
224
is cooperatively rotated, thereby also rotating the actuator stem 52".
The valve of the present invention is so easy to operate, especially with
the minimal rotation required between the open and closed positions, that it
will
be obvious to incorporate further alternative operators. For example, a
mechanical push button can be operatively connected to a mechanism for
rotating the actuator stem. Also, an electric solenoid can be operatively
connected to the stem to cause rotation upon energizing the solenoid.
Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternative anti-rotation key is
disclosed wherein the valve cartridge is prevented from rotating within the
body
tube as the actuator stem is rotated. The alternative anti-rotation key
comprises
a keying surface 228 on the valve cartridge 52a (see FIG. 12) and a
cooperating
key receptacle 230 in the seat adapter 44a or, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the
body
tube 42a. Generally, a non-cylindrical surface 228 is adapted to be received
in a
complementary-shaped non-cylindrical receptacle 230. In the illustrated
embodiment, the valve cartridge 52a has a generally hexagonal exterior surface
which is received in a hexagonal crimp 230 in the body tube, thereby
inhibiting
rotation of the valve cartridge 52 as the actuator stem 56 is rotated. In
assembly, the non-cylindrical receptacle 230 can be preformed, or
alternatively,
it can be formed, as by crimping, around the surface 228 after insertion of
the
valve cartridge 52a into the body tube 42a
Turning now to FIGS. 13 through 15, a second embodiment of a valve
cartridge is shown with an alternative, plunger-type back-flow preventer or
anti-
siphon device. In FIG. 13, a valve cartridge 232 comprises a cartridge body
234
and a retainer 236, including a ceramic disk stack with a fixed ceramic disk
238
and a rotating ceramic disk 240, cooperatively engaged as disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. 5,174,324 to Chrysler and as disclosed above in the first
embodiment.
A flow-through rotation stem 242 interengages with the rotating disk 240 and
has one or more apertures 244 which establish communication between an
interior channel 246 and a waterway 248 in the body tube 42a. As disclosed in
FIGS. 11 and 12, a crimped portion 230 of the body tube 42a cooperates with a
complementary surface of the cartridge body 234 to prevent rotation of the
valve cartridge 232. A drive tube 250 extends from the rotation stem 242 to
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connect to an operator handle (not shown). It will be apparent that the
interior
of the drive tube and the rotation stem is not in communication with the
atmosphere, there being no vacuum breaker assembly illustrated in FIG. 13. In
this embodiment, a conventional add-on vacuum breaker can be used, as
commonly known in the art.
A seat adapter 252 is secured to the end of the body tube 42a and
receives a projecting arm 254 of the retainer 236. An annular rib 256 on an
interior surface of the seat adapter 252 defines an inlet channel 258 and a
beveled valve seat 260. A valve plunger 262 is slidably disposed within an
aperture 264 on the projecting arm 254 and retained therein by a retaining
ring
266. A spring 268 biases the plunger 262 and a sealing O-ring 270 carried by
the plunger into sealing engagement with the valve seat 260.
Looking now at FIGS. 14 and 15, it can be seen that outwardly projecting
lobes 272 on the rotation stem 242 cooperate with stop surfaces 274, 276 in
the
cartridge body 234 to effectively limit rotation of the stem within the
cartridge
body to approximately 90 degrees. It will be understood that within this 90-
degree rotation limit, the valve will move from a completely closed position
to a
completely open position as discussed above. In the open position, water is
permitted to flow through the inlet channel 258 forcing the anti-siphon
plunger
262 to a retracted position, through the ceramic disk stack, the interior
channel
246 of the rotation stem 242, through the aperture 244 into the waterway 248
and thereby move to the spout (not shown). In a situation where a vacuum is
drawn in the inlet spout 258, the anti-siphon plunger 262 is drawn into
sealing
engagement with the valve seat 260 to thereby prevent contaminants from
following the reverse fluid flow into the inlet channel 258 from the waterway
248.
A third embodiment of a valve cartridge with an alternative back-flow
preventer and vacuum breaker is shown in FIGS. 16 through 20. In the third
embodiment, the valve 58', including valve cartridge 52' and the retainer 60'
are
substantially identical to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 6 and discussed
above. An actuator stem 300 operatively connects to the rotating disk of the
valve 58' to open and close the valve within a 90-degree rotation as discussed
above. A transverse opening 70' in the actuator stem 300 establishes
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communication between an interior chamber 302 and a waterway 304 within the
body tube 42'.
The third embodiment discloses an alternate means for securing and
sealing the valve 58' within the body tube 42'. A nut 290 (also sometimes
known
as a stuffing box) has external threads which engage internal threads in the
spout bore 61' of the spout 48'. The nut 290 also has an external annular
groove
which receives an O-ring seal 292, and an internal annular groove which
receives an O-ring seal 294. The nut 290 is received over the terminal end of
the actuator stem 300 and bears against a flange 296 to retain the valve 58'
within the body tube 42'. The O-ring 292 seals against the interior surface of
the spout bore 61', and the O-ring 294 seals against the exterior surface of
the
actuator stem 300.
The interior chamber 302 includes a back-flow port 305 defined by an
annular groove 306 on the interior surface of the actuator stem 300 between
the
transverse opening 70 and the valve 58' and an O-ring 308 received therein. A
sleeve 310, preferably formed of nylon, extends between the O-ring 308 and the
end of the actuator stem 300 adjacent to the valve 58'. One function of the
sleeve 310 is to reduce turbulence in the fluid flow at the O-ring 308.
An annular stop 82' is disposed in the actuator stem 300 at one end of
interior chamber 302 away from the cartridge body 54' and defines a vacuum
breaker valve seat 312 at a vacuum breaker port 314. The vacuum breaker port
314 permits communication between the interior chamber 302 and the stem
coaxial bore 68'.
A check valve 316, disposed within the chamber 302 between the O-ring
308 and the vacuum breaker valve seat 312 comprises an anti-siphon seal disk
318 and a plunger 320. The seal disk 318 is adapted to close the back-flow
port
305, and the plunger 320 is adapted to close the vacuum breaker port 314. The
plunger 320 slidably reciprocates in a coaxial bore extending through the seal
disk 318, and has an O-ring 322 disposed in an annular groove at the end
thereof extending toward the vacuum breaker valve seat 312. The seal disk 318
is biased toward sealing engagement with the O-ring 308 by a spring 324
extending between the seal disk and the annular stop 82'. The O-ring 322 on
the end of the plunger 320 is adapted to be in sealing engagement with the
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vacuum breaker valve seat 312. A head 326 on the plunger is spaced away from
the O-ring 322 and is received in a recessed seat 328 in the seal disk 318.
The
plunger 320 is axially dimensioned so that when the seal disk 318 is in
sealing
engagement with the O-ring 308, the O-ring 322 on the end of the plunger will
be drawn away from the vacuum breaker valve seat 312 by the interengagement
of the head 326 with the recessed seat 328, as illustrated in FIG. 17. In this
state of normal operation, the valve 58' is closed, and the waterway 304 is in
communication with the stem coaxial bore 68' via the transverse opening 70'
and
the vacuum breaker port 304. In other words, vacuum in the hydrant is broken,
and any residual water in the hydrant can exit through the spout 48'.
FIG. 18 illustrates the structure at the beginning of fluid flow such as
when the valve is cracked open as a user begins to rotate the handle. Fluid,
under pressure, begins to fill the interior chamber 302 and quickly pushes the
plunger 320 into sealing engagement with the vacuum breaker valve seat 312,
thereby closing communication between the stem coaxial bore 68' and the
waterway 304. It will be apparent that this sealing action occurs before fluid
flow enters the waterway 304. Increasing pressure in the interior chamber 302
urges the seal disk 318 against the bias of spring 324 away from the O-ring
and
establishes fluid communication between the chamber 302 and the waterway 304
as illustrated in FIG. 19. At full flow, as in FIG. 19, the seal disk 318 is
urged
all the way to the end of the plunger 320, reinforcing the plunger's sealing
engagement with the vacuum breaker valve seat 312. FIG. 20 illustrates the
opposite condition where water pressure is removed, and a vacuum is drawn at
the inlet such as in a siphon condition. The seal disk 318 is securely seated
against the O-ring 308, and the plunger 320 is drawn away from the vacuum
breaker valve seat 312 to a point where the O-ring 322 is in sealing
engagement
with the seal disk 318, thereby preventing fluid flow from the waterway 304
into
the interior chamber 302, while at the same time opening communication
between the stem coaxial bore 68' and the waterway 304 to break vacuum in the
hydrant.
It will be apparent that the plunger 320 seals the vacuum breaker port
314 before the seal disk 318 permits flow through the back-flow port 305.
Thus,
a surprising benefit of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 20 is
that the
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hydrant will not leak from the vacuum port, even at very low pressures, as
typically occurs in prior art hydrants.
It will be understood by one skilled in the art that various modifications '
and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the
S disclosed concept. The scope of protection afforded is to be determined by
the
following claims and by the breadth of interpretation allowed by law.
