Patents Assigned to Merrill Manufacturing Company
  • Patent number: 9085878
    Abstract: A yard hydrant, including a discharge nozzle above ground level, connects to other vertically reciprocal working parts in the ground below the frost line. A water storage chamber, disposed below the frost line, is formed in part by a deformable diaphragm. Residual water in the hydrant, when the hydrant is turned off, is collected in the water storage chamber and returned to the hydrant for discharge through the nozzle when the hydrant is turned on. A venturi disposed in the water supply line creates turbulence and thereby creates a lower pressure adjacent the exit of the venturi when the hydrant is turned on. This lowered pressure at the venturi exit speeds up the evacuation of water from the water storage chamber when the hydrant is on so the storage chamber can accept and store water that would otherwise be above the frost line when the hydrant is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J Anderson
  • Publication number: 20150129052
    Abstract: A yard hydrant, including a discharge nozzle above ground level, connects to other vertically reciprocal working parts in the ground below the frost line. A water storage chamber, disposed below the frost line, is formed in part by a deformable diaphragm. Residual water in the hydrant, when the hydrant is turned off, is collected in the water storage chamber and returned to the hydrant for discharge through the nozzle when the hydrant is turned on. A venturi disposed in the water supply line creates turbulence and thereby creates a lower pressure adjacent the exit of the venturi when the hydrant is turned on. This lowered pressure at the venturi exit speeds up the evacuation of water from the water storage chamber when the hydrant is on so the storage chamber can accept and store water that would otherwise be above the frost line when the hydrant is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5678865
    Abstract: A tank tee unit is formed from a plurality of standard pvc pipes secured together only by a suitable glue. It includes a main pipe of heavy wall pvc sandwiched between and glued to two heavy wall pvc pipes extending perpendicularly therefrom which are in turn each glued to a standard smaller diameter pvc pipe that passes entirely through the main pipe to form an extremely strong joint. This provides a unit in the form of a cross with outlets on opposite sides of the main pipe and with thick wall branch lines that can be tapped for other side connections. One side outlet can be plugged to provide a strictly tee unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5289840
    Abstract: A yard hydrant includes a head section with a nozzle, a standpipe and valve housing in traditional hydrant relationship that is constructed and assembled into an integral unit which cannot be disassembled. An operating rod with valve means reciprocates in the standpipe and a valve housing in a well known manner. The rod extends through an enlarged opening formed in the head section for which there is provided a novel two piece gland unit with one piece being a packing gland nut for seal engagement with the operating rod in a well known manner and the other piece being a concentrically larger nut that is removably mounted in said opening in a watertight relationship thereto and in pressing engagement with the packing gland nut. Removal of the gland unit permits the operating rod and any attached components to be quickly and easily withdrawn from the integral unit through the opening in the head section for servicing or repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5261441
    Abstract: A yard hydrant includes a discharge nozzle above ground level connected to other vertically reciprocal working parts in the ground below the frost line. A cylindrical water reservoir unit, disposed below the frost line around said working parts, includes a diaphragm assembly removably attached to such working parts for reciprocation therewith, and a deformable diaphragm on said assembly provides a water storage area. Residual water in the hydrant when it is turned off is collected in the storage area and returned to the hydrant for discharge through the nozzle when the hydrant is turned on. The working parts are removable from the diaphragm assembly for servicing and repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4372339
    Abstract: A yard hydrant includes an improved valve assembly connecting the hydrant standpipe at a point below the frost line to a source of water under pressure. A hollow and generally cylindrical housing of such assembly is provided with a bore concentrically reduced relative to the diameter of the housing and having an upper plane spaced inwardly from the upper end of the housing to receive a rod mounted and handle operated valve. The bore terminates at its lower end in a valve seat defining a further concentrically reduced access opening to the water supply. In spaced concentric relationship about the bore are a plurality of water passageways each in communication with said bore and each extending from the upper plane thereof for communication with the standpipe to a point spaced above the valve seat so that the bore is full circle only intermediate the valve seat and the lower limits of the passageways. A drain hole is provided through the housing to the bore near the upper plane thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D285824
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D285825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D307627
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D919575
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MERRILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D949795
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: MERRILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: D1001976
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Merrill Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Anderson