Automatic Draining Freezeless Wall Faucet

Abstract

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.

1 . A fluid hydrant including:
 a pipe with a first end and a second end, said pipe having a longitudinal axis,   a housing associated with said first end of said pipe,   an inlet valve associated with said second end of said pipe,   a handle operably associated with said housing,   a rod with a first end and a second end positioned within said pipe,   a plunger associated said second end of said rod that cooperates with said inlet valve to selectively open and close said inlet valve, wherein rotation of said handle transitions said rod between a first position that closes said inlet valve and a second position that opens said inlet valve, the improvement comprising:   a stem screw associated with said handle and positioned within said housing, said stem screw including a threaded portion, and   a drain valve with a first end operably associated with said stem screw and a second end operatively associated with said first end of said rod, wherein rotation of said stem screw moves said drain valve along said longitudinal axis, said drain valve being associated with said rod whereby said rod is moved between said first position and said second position, wherein said drain valve is substantially prevented from rotating, and wherein said stem screw does not move substantially along said longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plunger has a generally flat face for engagement within said inlet valve, whereby said plunger is substantially prevented from extruding into said inlet valve upon application of additional handle rotation. 
   
   
       3 . A wall hydrant, comprising:
 a housing with a bore therethrough;   an outlet in fluidic communication with said bore;   a fitting associated with said housing and including an aperture therethrough, said fitting having a first portion positioned outside said housing and a second portion positioned within said bore;   a washer positioned within said bore and spaced from said second portion of said fitting;   a stem screw, which is at least partially threaded, having a first end and a second end with a shoulder therebetween, said shoulder positioned between said second portion of said fitting and said washer, said stem screw being rotatably associated to said fitting and said washer;   a handle associated with said stem screw, wherein rotation of said handle rotates said stem screw;   a means for transitioning associated with said stem screw, wherein rotation of said stem screw transitions said means for transitioning from a first position to a second position;   a pipe interconnected to said housing;   an inlet valve interconnected to said pipe; and   a rod positioned within said pipe, said rod being associated on a first end to said means for transitioning and on a second end to a plunger that is selectively positionable within said inlet valve, wherein rotation of said stem screw moves said plunger from a first, open position away from said inlet valve and to a second, closed position into said inlet valve, and wherein the position of said stem screw is substantially maintained.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said means for transitioning is a drain valve that is threadingly associated with said stem screw wherein rotational interaction of said threaded portion of said stem screw and threads of said drain valve imparts translational motion of said drain valve along said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said means for transitioning is a threaded portion of said rod that is threadingly associated with said stem screw wherein rotational interaction of said threaded portion of said stem screw and said threaded portion of said rod imparts translational motion of said rod along said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said plunger includes a generally flat face that is adapted to engage a seat of said inlet valve to substantially prevent the flow of fluid through said inlet valve. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an insert associated with said rod wherein said plunger is interconnected to said an insert. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said housing includes a wall that extends into said bore that engages a portion of said drain valve to generally prevent rotation thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an anti-siphon valve associated with said outlet that allows fluid within said pipe to drain from said wall hydrant when said inlet valve is in said second, closed position. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said threaded portion of said stem screw comprises a left-hand thread. 
   
   
       11 . A wall hydrant, comprising:
 a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;   a fitting associated with said housing;   a washer positioned within said housing and spaced from said fitting;   a stem screw rotatably associated with said fitting and said washer, said stem screw having a protrusion that is positioned between said washer and said fitting that prevents longitudinal travel of said stem screw;   a pipe associated with said housing; and   a rod positioned within said pipe, said rod being associated on a first end to said stem screw and on a second end to an inlet valve, wherein said rotation of said stem screw selectively opens and closes said inlet valve.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a handle associated with said stem screw, wherein rotation of said handle rotates said stem screw. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an insert associated with said rod wherein said plunger is interconnected to said an insert. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said rod is associated with said stem screw by way of a drain valve operably associated with said stem screw, wherein rotation of said stem screw transitions said drain valve from a first position to a second position. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said housing includes a wall that extends into said bore that engages a portion of said drain valve to generally prevent rotation thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an anti-siphon valve associated with said outlet that allows fluid within said pipe to drain therefrom when said inlet valve is in said closed position. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said inlet valve includes a plunger, which is associated with said rod, for selective insertion into a fluid inlet of said wall hydrant. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said plunger has a generally flat face for engagement within said inlet valve. 
   
   
       19 . A method of supplying fluid, comprising:
 providing a hydrant having a handle interconnected to a stem screw that is associated with a rod positioned within a fluid pipe;   selectively rotating said handle;   selectively rotating said stem screw while preventing longitudinal movement thereof;   transitioning said rod with respect to said stem screw; and   transitioning a plunger from an inlet valve, thereby allowing fluid from a fluid source through said fluid pipe and out an outlet of the hydrant.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said plunger possesses a generally flat face for insertion within an inlet. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising blocking fluid flow through a port of said hydrant with a drain valve that is interconnected between said rod and said stem screw.