Freezeproof valve assembly for a drinking fountain

A drinking fountain, comprising:

• a fountain head;
• means for mounting said fountain head at a selected height above the ground;
• a water standpipe having said fountain head mounted at an upper end thereof;
• a main fountain valve mounted at a lower end of said standpipe and adapted to be located in a position protected against freezing temperatures, said main fountain valve being movable between open and closed positions for selectively coupling the standpipe to a water supply conduit for flow of water to and dispensing from said fountain head;
• a main drain mounted for waste flow of water dispensed from the fountain head;
• a sump housing having a hollow interior, said sump housing adapted to be located in a position protected against freezing temperatures;
• a piston mounted for vertical displacement within said sump housing, said piston and said sump housing cooperatively defining a sump chamber disposed at an upper side of said piston, said piston having a flow port formed therein for flow through passage of water from a lower side of said piston to said sump chamber;
• a drain line coupled between said standpipe and said sump housing for flow of water from said standpipe to the lower side of said piston;
• a discharge conduit coupled between said sump chamber and said main drain;
• and
• pressure responsive control means carried by said piston to permit water flow through said piston flow port at a relatively low flow rate and pressure, and to substantially prevent water flow through said piston flow port at a relatively high flow rate and pressure, whereby said pressure responsive control means permits water within said standpipe to drain through said drain line and further through said piston flow port for collection within said sump chamber when said main fountain valve is in the closed position, and whereby said pressure responsive control means obstructs water flow through said piston flow port sufficiently when said main fountain valve is in the open position so that water pressure displaces said piston upwardly within said sump housing to expel water collected within said sump chamber through said discharge conduit to said main drain.

A freezeproof valve assembly for use in a drinking fountain having a standpipe, a fountain head mounted at an upper end of the standpipe, a main fountain valve mounted at a lower end of the standpipe and movable between open and closed positions for selectively coupling the standpipe to a water supply conduit, and a main drain for waste flow of water dispensed from the fountain head, said assembly comprising:

• a sump housing having a hollow interior;
• a piston mounted for vertical displacement within said sump housing, said piston and said sump housing cooperatively defining a sump chamber disposed at an upper side of said piston, said piston having a flow port formed therein for flow through passage of water from a lower side of said piston to said sump chamber;
• a drain line adapted to be coupled between the standpipe and said sump housing for flow of water from said standpipe to the lower side of said piston;
• a discharge conduit adapted to be coupled between said sump chamber and the main drain;
• and
• pressure responsive control means carried by said piston and including a pressure responsive valve normally open to permit water flow through said piston flow port at a relatively low flow rate and pressure, and responsive to water pressure to substantially prevent water flow through said piston flow port at a relatively high flow rate and pressure, whereby said pressure responsive control means permits water within the standpipe to drain through said drain line and further through said piston flow port for collection within said sump chamber when the main fountain valve is in the closed position, said piston displacing downwardly by gravity within said sump housing when the main fountain valve is in the closed position, and Whereby said pressure responsive control means obstructs water flow through said piston flow port sufficiently when the main fountain valve is in the open position so that water pressure displaces said piston upwardly within said sump housing to expel water collected within said sump chamber through said discharge conduit to the main drain.