Frostproof hydrants for use in fluid handling

In a frostproof hydrant structure including an elongated casing adapted for connection at an inner end portion thereof with a freeze-protected fluid source and having an opposite outer delivery end portion which may be exposed to freezing conditions, valve means within said casing adjacent to said inner end portion for controlling fluid flow from said fluid source to said delivery end portion, valve operating means accessible adjacent to said delivery end portion, said valve means including a valve seat body fitting replaceably within said inner end portion of the casing and a movable valve member cooperating with said valve seat body, means removably connecting the valve operating means to said outer end portion of the casing;

• means coupling said operating means in a unitary assembly with said valve member and said valve seat body, enabling the operating means to actuate the valve member between valve open and valve closed positions relative to said valve seat body and enabling insertion of the valve seat body and the valve member together into the casing and removal thereof together from the casing through said outer end portion of the casing as permitted by the unitary assembly with the operating means, said casing having a drain port above said valve seat body and below front line, a sealing device comprising part of said valve operating means and operable to close said port in the valve open position and to open the port in the valve closed position, said device comprising a tubular sealing sleeve coaxially coupled between said valve member and providing fluid passage therethrough, said sealing sleeve being of a length to extend acrosss and block said port in the open valve position and being located to clear the port for drainage in the closed valve position, the improvement comprising:
• a shoulder in said casing facing toward said delivery end;
• said valve seat body including an annular valve seat portion eengaging said shoulder and having arms on said annular portion extending away from said shoulder and connected to an axial guide;
• said operating means including a valve stem attached to the valve member and extending reciprocatably through said guide;
• means coupling the valve stem to said sealing sleeve;
• and
• biasing spring means acting between said guide and said sealing sleeve for normally biasing said valve seat body toward said shoulder.

In a valve assembly adapted to be mounted in an elongated casing adapted for connection at an inner end portion thereof with a fluid source and having an opposite outer delivery end portion, a valve seat body adapted to fit replaceably within the inner end portion of the casing, a movable valve member cooperating with said valve seat body, valve operating means for said valve member extending therefrom and beyond said valve seat body for access adjacent to said delivery end portion of the casing, means for removably connecting the valve operating means to said outer end portion of the casing;

• means coupling said operating means in a unitary assembly with said valve member and said valve seat body, enabling the operating means to actuate the valve member between valve open and valve closed positions relative to said valve seat member and enabling insertion of the valve seat body and the valve member together into the casing and removal thereof together from the casing through the outer end portion of the casing as permitted by the unitary assembly with the operating means;
• said valve seat body including an annular seat portion with which the valve member is engageable in closing relation, said valve operating means including an elongated actuating member, attached to said valve member, a concentric guide on said body through which the actuating member extends for moving said valve member between valve open and valve closed positions relative to said valve seat portion, the improvement comprising:
• biasing means acting between said guide and said actuating member to maintain a bias of the valve seat body toward a shoulder in a casing within which the valve assembly may be mounted.

In a frostproof hydrant structure including an elongated casing adapted for connection at an inner end portion thereof with a freeze-protected fluid source and having an opposite outer delivery end portion which may be exposed to freezing conditions, valve means within said casing adjacent to said inner end portion for controlling fluid flow from said fluid source to said delivery end portion including a valve seat body adapted to fit replaceably within said inner end portion of the casing and having a movable valve member operating within said valve seat body, valve member operating means accessible adjacent to said delivery end portion for actuating the valve member between a valve open position and a valve closed position;

• said casing having a drain port opening therefrom, outwardly spaced from said valve means and inwardly spaced from said delivery end portion and inwardly from a frost line;
• a sealing member movable between a port closing position and a port open position, means coupling said sealing member with said valve operating means for concurrent movement of the sealing member with actuation of said valve member so that the sealing member is moved into port open position when the valve member is actuated into valve closed position and the sealing member is moved into port closing position when the valve member is moved into valve open position, the improvement comprising:
• a shoulder in said casing against which said valve body engages;
• and
• biasing means acting between said valve body and said sealing member to maintain an engagement bias of the valve body toward said shoulder.