This Invention is in the field of actuating fluid delivery devices.
In the field of construction and especially instances relating to the plumbing trade, it is common to install a means to provide a source of potable water on a flat roof. The purpose of this source, often a water hydrant is so to permit maintenance personal to utilize the water extracted from the hydrant to hose down or wash equipment mounted upon the roof's surface. Such equipment would include roof top air conditioners and exhaust fans that periodically require cleaning in order to assure efficient operation, void of dust and other wind blown debris.
Typically, the installer of a water hydrant would devise a means to prevent rainwater from entering the building through a roof penetration used to source the hydrant. Figure “A”, figure “B”, and figure “C” is illustrations of such devices. Figure “A” shows a freeze resistant hydrant housed within a sheet metal hooded enclosure. The hooded enclosure receives loose insulation around the insulated piping to prevent freezing. The hood is intended to prevent rainwater from penetrating the enclosure. The entire apparatus is flashed to the roof to prevent leakage at its perimeter.
Figure “B” is a simple hose bibb type of hydrant that penetrates through a flashing or pitch-pan that is sealed to attempt rainwater from entering the building through the penetration. Figure “C” shows the use of a common frost-proof post hydrant mounted atop a roofline with the penetration at the roof sealed at a pitch-pan.
All described means are common in the construction industry with various modifications as to height of placement of the hydrant above the roof or design of the enclosure or means to prevent rain water from entering the building. Unfortunately, all depend too strongly on the lack of human error in their installation to assure satisfactory performance. To illustrate, as shown in Figure “A”, since the enclosure is formed and fitted typically by a trade, the skills and craftsmanship or lack of skills of the installing trade weighs heavily upon the successful installation. If the enclosure is poorly made, fitted or sealed, then there is a risk of leakage. If the loose installation is not properly installed, then there is the risk of pipe freezing during colder weather.
In figure “C”, the watertight seal at the pitch pan is subject to disruption by the mere fact that the post hydrant extends well above the roofline. During usage, it will become easy to pull and then push the post about creating potential sources of leakage. Similarly, the hydrant in figure “B” may to succumb to like disruptions of the seal at the pitch pan. Also, since this form of hydrant has no frost resistive features, it is more prone to freeze during colder weather.
The invention is a assembled fluid delivery device that permits the utilization of water for the purpose of cleaning roof mounted equipment and that additionally prevents potential leakage of rainwater into the building while providing for freeze protection for the assembly. The device has a conventional valve assembly and utilizes conventional piping and fitting. The pedestal however is enclosed within a solid shroud. The shroud is made of stainless steel tubing to prevent deterioration of the pedestal from weathering. A layer of an insulation material surrounds the piping and valve assembly to prevent freezing.
A dome handle sets atop the pedestal. This dome serves two purposes. First, it permits ease in the opening and the closing of the hydrant. Second, it serves as a watershed thus preventing rainwater and the such from entering the shroud. The invented pedestal hydrant when placed on a flat roof surface will provide adequate means for a user to obtain the fresh water often needed in the maintenance operations associated with the cleaning of roof mounted equipment such as air conditioning units. The shroud prevents rusting and other affects of the weather. The insulation prevents freezing. The dome prevents rainwater from entering the shroud and thus the building structure below.
A stainless steel base, having a continuous welded seam at the connection point to the shroud, enables roofing materials to seal watertight the pedestal to the roof surface. A reinforcing flange which is inserted onto the lower portion of the pedestal hydrant secures the pedestal to the roof structure. Conventional piping fittings are used to allow the installer to provide water supply and drain piping to the pedestal hydrant.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
1 Stainless Steel Shroud
2 Stainless Steel Base
3 Threaded Angle Globe Valve
4 Hose Fitting Vacuum Breaker
5 Dome Handle
6 Threaded Nipple
7 Threaded Tee
8 Continuous Welded Seam
9 Under-Deck Flange
10 Under-Deck Cylinder
11 Hex-head Set Screw
12 Threaded Hex Nut
13 Wing-nut Set Screw
14 Stirrup
15 Socket Set Screw
16 Stem Securing Nut
17 Snap-in Cover
18 Finger Grips
19 Reinforcing Ridges
20 Stem Insertion Cavity
21 Stem Securing Nut Cup
22 Round Hole
23 Weathering-Guard Recess
24 Bend Line
25 Weld Seam Point
26 Round Hole
27 Cylinder Hole
28 Tack-weld Seam
29 MIP x Hose Adapter
30 Weathering-Guard Gasket
31 Stirrup Collar
32 Stirrup Braces
33 Pipe Elbow Fitting
34 Pipe Fitting Adapters
35 Water Supply Piping
36 Drain Piping
37 Roofing Material
38 Roofing Insulation
39 Roof Decking
40 Steel Angle Framing
41 Pipe Plug Fitting
42 Pipe Insulation
43 Tapped Holes
44 Piston Cylinder
45 Piston Threads
46 O-Ring
47 Retaining Washer
48 Valve Stem
49 Retaining bushing
50 Valve Body
51 Insert Groove
52 Retaining Flanges
53 Drain Port
54 Valve Seat
55 Valve Plunger
56 Valve Guide Rod
57 Rod Coupling
58 Gasket
59 Threaded Tee
60 Threaded Bushing
61 Steel reinforcing bar
62 Steel anchoring bar
63 Anchoring concrete
64 Concrete walkway
65 Wave Washer
Stainless steel base is secured to shroud 1 by applying continuous welded seam 8 around the perimeter of the shroud. At the lower extreme of the pedestal hydrant is viewed threaded nipple 6 and threaded tee 7. These components and their use are explained in future drawings.
The circular arrow in the figure illustrations the turning motion of dome handle 5 when attached to valve 3. As is the case with most standard and conventional valves, turning the stem clock-wise will close the valve while turning the handle in reverse or counter clockwise will open the valve.
a is a top view of the handle. Again, finger grips 18 are illustrated. Stem securing nut cup 21 and round hole 22 are viewed in this figure. This cup provides a cavity whereby a threaded nut may rest in order to secure the dome handle to the stem of the valve.
b is a view of the under side of dome handle 5. In this view, several reinforcing ridges 19 are shown extending away from stem insertion cavity 20. Once again, finger grips 18 are revealed.
c is a sectional view of dome handle 5. In this view, stem insertion cavity 20 is more clearly illustrated. This cavity is of compatible size and shape to permit the stem of the stem of valve 3 to rest within securely. Round hole 22 is of sufficient diameter to permit the threaded portion of this same stem to pass through and extend into the area of cup 21. Again, the finger grips are illustrated. Weathering guard recess 23 is shown also. This recess that extends around the full interior perimeter of the dome will permit the dome handle to set snugly over the shroud when the globe valve is in the closed position. Further explanation of the use of this recess follows.
This figure further illustrates how weathering-guard recess 23 fits around the shroud. The addition of weathering-guard gasket 30 assures a positive watertight seal when the valve is in the closed position, thus preventing rainwater from entering the interior cavity of the shroud.
MIP x Hose adapter, (“Male iron pipe”), 29 is inserted into the outlet of valve 3. Gasket 58 is placed around the outlet side of adapter 29 prior to its insertion through a hole in shroud 1. Once inserted through the hole, hose fitting vacuum breaker 4 is affixed to adapter 29. This is accomplished by the threading of this vacuum breaker onto the male threads of the adapter. Having gasket 58 positioned on the inside of the shroud ensures a watertight seal at this penetration. Threaded nipple 6 is illustrated in the inserted position at the inlet to valve 3.
Under-deck cylinder 10 is attached to flange 9 with tack-weld seam 28. This cylinder is round in design and of sufficient size to permit the fully assembled flange 9 to fit around the shroud of the pedestal hydrant. Threaded hex nuts 12 are positioned and then welded along the lower section of this cylinder.
a illustrates the shape of under-deck flange 9 prior to forming and welding. Cylinder hole 27 appears in the center of the flange. Round holes 26 appear along each side. Bend points 24 are indicated at each side. The under-deck cylinder is positioned around this cylinder hole and then tack-welded in several spots to secure it to the flange.
b illustrates how a round piece of sheet metal is roller in order to form the cylinder. Weld seam point 25 is at the point of connection of the two ends of the cylinder. Round holes 26 appear at the bottom of the cylinder. The before mentioned threaded hex nuts are welded to this cylinder directly over these holes.
c illustrates how before mentioned threaded hex nuts 23 in drawing 5 are welded to under-deck flange 9 directly over round holes 26.
Threaded nipple 6 and threaded tee 7 are illustrated so as to demonstrate that these components will while in place pass through the cylinder to be later connected to water source once installation of the pedestal hydrant is complete. Also disclosed in the figure is snap-in cover 17. This plastic cover is snapped into place by applying hand pressure and conceals stem securing nut 16 which rests with stem securing nut cup 21.
Once in position, under-deck flange 9 is slipped up and then around the shroud of the hydrant from below the roof surface. The flange is fitted securely against roof decking 39. A steel angle framing 40, which is of conventional and common design, has been added at the roof deck. The flange is fitted securely under this framing and secured in place by tightening wing nut set screws against this framing.
Once the flange is secured, hex-head screws 11 are tightened against shroud 1. In these manors, the pedestal hydrant is positively attached to the roofing structure, thus preventing unexpected disruption of the hydrant.
Once the pedestal hydrant is firmly in place, water supply connection is made at threaded tee 7. Pipe fitting adapter 34 is inserted into the open threads at the inlet of the tee. Water supply piping 35 is then extended from a water source to the hydrant. Drain piping 36 is attached to tee 7 at its outlet branch. Adapter 34 and pipe elbow fitting 33 are used to illustrate common methods of making this connection. It is common in the piping trade to furnish supply valves to turn OFF such appliances as the pedestal hydrant. Such methods are considered appropriate in the supply piping of the invented pedestal hydrant. The use of the threaded tee is intended for dual purposes. First, if a galvanized threaded nipple is used for nipple 6, then it is often considered in the industries to require a fitting to provide separation from dissimilar metals. A brass fitting is utilized for threaded tee 7 to comply with this standard. Secondly, though insulation is installed around the valve and piping assembly of the pedestal hydrant, it may be from time to time advantageous to drain the piping in order to prevent potential freeze damage to the components. Threaded tee 7 enables the connection of draining piping for such purpose as illustrated in this figure.
a illustrates a variation in assembly of the supply piping to threaded tee 7 whereby drain piping is omitted and pipe fitting plug 41 is inserted into the branch outlet of the tee.
b shows the construction of stirrup 14. Stirrup braces 32 that are made of rounded steel rod are affixed to stirrup collar 31. The collar is a round cylinder tube of sufficient diameter to permit threaded nipple 6 to smoothly but not loosely pass through its center. Taped holes 43 are positioned along the lower portion of the collar. Socket set screws are inserted into each taped hole 43.
c illustrates how threaded nipple 6 is secured to stirrup 14. This stirrup, during assembly of the pedestal shroud, is welded to the bottom of the shroud at termination points of each of the stirrup braces 32. Socket set screws 15 are tightened against threaded nipple 6, thus securing the nipple and attached valve assembly in place.
FIGS. 9 thru 9d are drawings of components of an alternated style of a conventional valve assemble that would be utilized in the assembly of the Pedestal Hydrant in such cases where cold weather conditions dictated that added precautions should be emphasized. Brief explanation of this common style of valve assembly is made in order to illustrate to the reader how this style of valves is incorporated into the design of the Pedestal Hydrant. A common term for this style is “freeze-proof”.
a discloses valve stem 48. The stem has normal coarse threads at its top. These threads will accept the stem securing nut during assembly of the hydrant. Two insert grooves 51 are positioned along the linear surface of this round valve stem. Threads typical to valve stems appear at the bottom of this stem. During assembly of the hydrant, O-ring 46 and retaining washer 47 will be inserted into these grooves.
b is a side and then sectional view of valve body 50. Drain port 53 appears at one side of this round in shape valve body. Valve seat 54 is located at the inner base of this body. The sectional view discloses standard female pipe threads within the body and directly below the valve seat.
d is again of valve body 50. The two views are at left, top; and at right, bottom. Valve seat 54 appears in the top view in the center of the body. Also visible are retaining flanges 52. Their purpose is explained in further figures. The bottom view represents that the bottom of this valve body is rounded. Moving to
Now by viewing
b discloses the Pedestal Hydrant fully assembled. A brief description of the operation and function of this described conventional style of “freeze-proof” valve follows:
As shown in
When operating the Pedestal Hydrant, the user would turn dome handle 5 counter-clockwise to open the valve and permit the flow of water. Because of the reverse threads on both the valve stem and valve cylinder, the shaft and thereby valve plunger are drawn upwards permitting water to enter the chamber that is created within the threaded nipple and between the valve body and upper tee with bushing. The round shaft in the valve cylinder enables water to easily flow out the side outlet of the threaded tee.
A threaded bushing 60 is inserted into this outlet to throttle down the flow. The same assembly as shown in
Once the user closes the valve by turning the handle clock-wise, the valve stem assemble with plunger are driven down against the valve stem, thus ceasing the flow of water. Drain port 53 which was obstructed during the open state of the valve now becomes unobstructed, thus permitting the draining of all water that remains after the valve has been closed. The before mentioned retaining flanges 52 hold the valve plunger away from the sides of the interior of the valve body thus permitting water to pass along its sides.
The only significant difference between this “freeze-proof” valve assembly and any of many typical styles of a conventional “freeze-proof” valve assemble is in the use of a threaded tee to comprise the upper portion of the completely assembled valve. In this alternate embodiment of the Pedestal hydrant, because the valve assembly appears within a confined enclosure or shroud, it becomes necessary to extend the outlet side of the valve to beyond the surface of the shroud. Typical “freeze proof” valves would be fitted with a hose fitting body rather than a threaded tee.
Water supply piping 35 is connected below ground to the inlet of threaded tee 7. Drain piping 36 may be either extended to a more remote location or omitted in its entirety. The technique to secure threaded nipple 6 to the hydrant is also utilized in this embodiment. Socket wing nuts 15 are tightened at stirrup 14 against the threaded nipple.
Thus the reader will see that the invented pedestal hydrant provides a practical method to deliver water efficiently for the described intended purpose by the activation of the hydrant assembly while providing for a securely affixed, weather resistive housing.
Although the description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. The many uses of the invention should not be limited by the example of use here in described. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the example given.
This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/294,174, filed May 29, 2001.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60294174 | May 2001 | US |