Automatic Draining Freezeless Wall Faucet
Inactive Publication Date: 2010-08-19
WCM IND INC
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Benefits of technology
[0011]It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a plunger with a generally flat face for selective engagement with a valve seat with a generally flat portion. The face provides a “solid” stop against the inlet fitting, thereby indicating to the user that the hydrant is completely closed. The flat face also helps prevents extrusion of the plunger into the inlet fitting after additional force is applied by the user. Since the plunger can not extrude into the inlet valve, the force applied to the handle to open and close the inlet valve is generally the same. To further prevent such extrusion, the distance between the insert and the face is minimized over that of the prior art. More specifically, a 20 percent reduction of the material between the insert and the face of the plunger with respect to that of the prior art is realized. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may include an inlet with a reduced sidewall. Reduction of the sidewall, i.e., “blind spot”, is conducive to indicate to the user that the hydrant is shut off. That is, the deeper the blind spot, the more turns subsequent to fluid shut off are needed to completely close the fluid flow and to open the drain valve. Thus by reducing the “blind spot”, less handle turns are required to open the drain valve and the chances are increased that the fluid located within the pipe and / or housing will be drained.
[0015]Alternatively, the nut of embodiments of the present invention are shorter and less complex than the nuts of the prior art. The nut of the embodiments of the present invention are threadingly engaged onto the housing and include hole therethrough. The hole receives and rotatably engages the stem screw, which is interconnected to the handle via a fastener. Thus, the nut of embodiments of the present invention are smaller and weigh about 80 percent less than those of the prior art, which translates into material savings and part complexity reduction.
[0016]It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide an improved handle. Embodiments of the present invention achieve interconnection of the handle to the stem screw via a spine connection and screw. Alternatively, hydrants of the prior art employ a handle with a square recess that receives a portion of the stem screw. Further, handles of embodiments of the present invention are enlarged, and preferably oval, which increases grip and the torque applied to the stem screw.
[0017]It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an improved stem screw. Embodiments of the present invention employ a stem screw made of brass or other rigid metallic material that is not brittle and thus is not prone to cracking. One of skill in the art will appreciate that plastic or other similar material may be employed. The stem screw also includes a portion, i.e. “shoulder”, that resides between an inner surface of the nut and a washer, which is spaced from the nut within the housing. This configuration captivates the stem screw and prevents substantial longitudinal movement thereof when rotated. Preferably, the stem screw rotates within the nut, as opposed to being threadingly interconnected thereto, which reduces complexity of the stem screw and the nut. The stem screw is threadingly interconnected to the drain valve such that rotation of the stem screw will impart translational motion onto the drain valve and the control rod. Prior art devices, alternatively, employed a stem screw that translated along with the drain valve and the rod. Other mechanisms are employed within the housing that help prevent the rotation of the drain valve. For example, the drain valve may include flats that selectively interact with flats inside the housing to prevent rotation of the drain valve, which will be described in further detail below. Finally, the thread pitch of the stem screw may be decreased over that of the prior art such that the number of turns required to open the hydrant is substantially reduced. For example, in one embodiment, the pitch of the threads is changed from about 8 threads per inch to about 10 threads per inch, an about 20 percent change over stem screws of the prior art.
[0018]It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a hydrant that has ease of assembly. More specifically, the hydrants of the prior art require that the handle, nut and stem screw be interconnected in a subassembly prior to assemblage into the housing. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention have been designed with interior diameters that step down so assembly may be accomplished from the front of the hydrant. That is, a subassembly comprising the control rod, the plunger and the drain valve may be initially placed within the housing and the pipe. Next, the washer, the stem screw, the nut and the handle may be added to complete the hydrant assembly.
Problems solved by technology
That is, most users do not appreciate when the hydrant 2 is in a closed position, some fluid will naturally leak from the outlet and / or other ports of the housing to prevent fluid.
What is often accomplished, however, is that the plunger 30 has been extruded into the inlet fitting 34, thereby potentially damaging the plunger 30 and possibly preventing subsequent closure of the inlet valve 38.
The drawback of the blind spot of the prior art is that when the plunger 30 initially contacts the blind spot, some users believe that the hydrant 2 is closed.
One drawback of nuts 58 of the prior art is that leak paths are present due to the complicated interconnection of the nut 58 and the housing 6.
Another drawback of hydrants 2 of the prior art are that they employ stem screws 66 that are made of a brittle material.
Stem screws 66 of the prior art are constructed of Delrin, a material that is similar to plastic and thus is susceptible to cracking.
Method used
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[0030]Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7, one embodiment of a hydrant 2 the present invention is provided that generally includes a housing 6 that is interconnected to a handle 110 on one end and a pipe 18 on the other end. The pipe 18 is also interconnected to an inlet fitting 34 that is associated with the fluid source of a building. The pipe 18 also includes a centrally-located control rod 26 that is interconnected on one end to an insert 74 that is also interconnected to a plunger 130 that selectively moves into and out of the inlet fitting 34 to form an inlet valve 38. The other end of the control rod 26 is interconnected to a drain valve 150 that is threadingly interconnected to a stem screw 166. The stem screw 166 is interconnected on another end to the handle 110 that is held in place by a nut 159. Rotation of the handle 110 rotates the stem screw 166, which transitions the drain valve 150 along a longitudinally axis 70 of the pipe 18. The transition of the drain valve ...
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A fluid hydrant is provided that includes an improved plunger and stem screw, which controls the position of the plunger. More specifically, a plunger having a generally flat face is provided that helps users appreciate when the hydrant is in a closed position. Furthermore, the stem screw is provided that prevents rotational motion of a control rod that controls the location of the plunger.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is generally related to a wall hydrant for delivering fluid. Some embodiments of the present invention employ an inlet valve with a flattened plunger and / or a stem screw that substantially prevents rotation of a control rod and associated plunger.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, wall hydrants 2 are commonly used for supplying water and are usually associated with an outside of a structure. As such, wall hydrants are exposed to the elements, most notably, reduced temperatures that may damage the hydrant during freezing. Hydrants 2 generally include a partially-hollow housing 6 with a handle 10 rotatably interconnected thereto. The hollow portion, or bore 14 provides a fluid path from a fluid inlet pipe 18 to an outlet. To initiate or cease fluid flow, the handle 10 is turned, which transitions a control rod 26 located within the housing 6 and the pipe 18. An end of the control rod 26 is associated with ...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): E03B9/02
CPCE03B9/14E03B9/025Y10T137/5503
InventorBALL, WILLIAM T.PILARCZYK, ERIC
OwnerWCM IND INC