Abstract: A gate valve structure for use in large diameter mains carrying fluids under high pressure, the gate valve structure being provided with an improved annular resilient seal for engaging a valve seat of the type where the valve seat provides for a face-seal and an edge-seal with intermediate sections making both a face-seal and an edge-seal. The annular resilient seal member is provided with a pair of arcuate bulges oppositely disposed thereon at positions to engage the face-seat surface of the valve seat adjacent the face-seat surface's minimum radial thicknesses to provide an increased contact in this area when the gate member is in the closed position. Additionally, the improved gate valve structure utilizes opposed ribs in the elongated chamber of the casing, the ribs being received in guideways or recesses in the periphery of the gate member so as to guide the gate member during opening and closing. Such an arrangement permits the use of smaller and lighter valve casings for large diameter mains.

Abstract: A fire hydrant having a generally elbow-shaped hydrant shoe with an improved interior bowl configuration and an improved hydrant valve for minimizing head or flow loss of the fire hydrant between the inlet opening of the shoe and the outlet nozzle positioned on the upper portion of the hydrant barrel. The interior bowl of the shoe, adjacent its inlet, is provided with a diverging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape and, adjacent its outlet, is provided with a converging transitional surface of rotation having a generally part frusto conical shape, the transitional surfaces of rotation merging with the shoe's part spherical chamber.

Abstract: A gate valve structure for use in mains carrying fluids, the gate valve structure being provided with an improved valve seat arrangement. The gate valve includes a casing having an unobstructed through-bore and a substantially rectangular shape or elongated chamber communicating with the through-bore in which a gate or disc member reciprocates between closed and opened positions of the valve. The valve casing is provided with a valve seat surrounding one of the ports in the casing defined at the intersection of the through-bore by the elongated chamber, the valve seat lying generally in a plane which converges at an acute angle to a plane normal to the axis of the through-bore and the seat has an upper planar portion facing the other of the ports except at the bottom portion where it merges smoothly into and forms a portion of the unobstructed through-bore.

Abstract: A fire hydrant having a unitized bonnet configuration or assembly which includes a bonnet member, operating mechanism, external driving attachment and lubricant reservoir and which may be installed and removed from the hydrant barrel without the loss of lubricant from the lubricant reservoir therein or without the major disassembly of parts. Additionally, the unitized bonnet assembly is provided with a stop nut member which may be adjustably secured to the end of the valve stem to compensate for small variations in barrel lengths and/or valve stem lengths. The stop nut member is carried within the lubricant reservoir of the bonnet member and is at all times sealed from water in the hydrant and, thus, it may be made of a non-corrosive resistant material such as ductile iron or steel which is less expensive than corrosive resistant material such as brass, bronze or stainless steel.

Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly having a corrosive resistant metal valve seat made of stainless steel or the like and supported in the passage of the body member of the valve assembly, the valve assembly further having a valve disc with an annular resilient sealing ring fixedly secured to the periphery thereof for cooperating with the valve seat. The valve seat is supported on the body member in such a manner that the valve seat may have limited axial movement relative to the body member when the valve disc is moved to the closed position so as to provide a compressive and/or fluid actuated seal between the valve seat and the body member whereby the butterfly valve assembly may be used in fluid distribution systems with the flow of fluid through the valve assembly being in either direction through the valve.

Abstract: A fire hydrant of either the "dry" barrel type or the "wet" barrel type having an improved means of locking a replaceable hydrant nozzle to the hydrant barrel. The means for locking the hydrant nozzle to the boss of the hydrant barrel prevents removal of the nozzle by unauthorized personnel and it includes an elongated rod member having teeth thereon extending generally transverse of a longitudinal axis of the rod member, the rod member being wedged in a particular manner between the hydrant barrel and the hydrant nozzle after the hydrant nozzle has been inserted therein to a predetermined torque.

Abstract: A fire hydrant comprising a barrel member having an open upper end with an apertured type closure member detachably secured thereto, the apertured top closure member including a generally flat plate portion and a downwardly extending annular portion. The top closure member is secured to the barrel member by bolt means arcuately spaced therearound and the closure member together with the operating nut define a lubricant reservoir for lubricating the hydrant valve stem and cooperating operating nut. A hold-down nut received in the apertured top closure member holds the operating nut relative to the closure member for rotation and an inverted dish-shaped weather cap is threadedly received on the hold-down nut to protect the bolt means holding the closure member on the barrel as well as to protect the access means for the lubricant reservoir.

Abstract: A joint for connecting a smooth wall pipe to fittings or other pipes, the joint including a hollow body member having a passageway therethrough, a split gripper ring positioned and movable axially within the passageway, an elastomeric sealing ring also positioned and movable axially within the passageway and means for axially urging the gripper ring and the sealing ring apart whereby the gripper ring has improved initial grip on the pipe upon insertion of the same and the sealing ring has improved sealing characteristics over a range of positive and negative pressures and over a hot and cold temperature range. The external configuration of the split gripper ring cooperates with the internal configuration of the passageway so that the pipe can be installed axially into the body member but when pulled outwardly of the body member the gripper ring is further actuated from its initial gripping action to prevent removal of the pipe.

Abstract: A rotatable shell cutter member for cutting a hole in large diameter and thick wall plastic pipe. The shell cutter member is rotated and advanced with a positive predetermined lead against the plastic pipe and it first forms a hole in the plastic pipe by cutting and retaining a coupon therefrom and it further progressively enlarges the hole to a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the overall outside diameter of the shell cutter member. The chips initially cut from the plastic pipe in cutting the coupon are discharged upwardly and inwardly of the shell cutter member above the coupon being cut and, when the shell cutter member with its cutting edge in constant cutting engagement with the pipe begins cutting a continuous chip cut, it is also discharged upwardly and inwardly of the shell cutter member.

Abstract: A rotary plug valve having a plug member rotatable in a valve housing between an opened position and a closed position, the housing member having a valve seat therein with a first passage opening to the seat and a second passage opening to the seat, and sealing means such as an endless sealing ring and an endless groove encircling one of the openings of the first and second passages to the seat. The rotary plug valve is capable of two-way flow therethrough, and this is realized by providing the passage in the plug member which has the sealing means encircling its opening with a greater width in a plane transversed to the axis of rotation to the plug member than the width of the other passage.

Abstract: A fire hydrant either of the "wet" barrel type or the "dry" barrel type having an improved hydrant nozzle construction. The barrel of the fire hydrant is provided with an internally threaded boss for receiving a replaceable externally threaded nozzle. Means for locking the nozzle to the boss of the barrel is provided so that the nozzle may not be removed by unauthorized personnel. Sealing means are provided between the nozzle and the boss of the barrel which can not lose its effectiveness due to cold flow and thus will not reduce the gripping effect of the nozzle to the barrel when the nozzle has been threaded therein with an initial torque.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for opening a flow-way in a main when the main is to be connected to a secondary main or service line. The apparatus includes a fitting arranged to be at least temporarily secured to the main, the fitting being provided with a cutter member for preliminarily cutting a coupon from the main to form a preliminary hole in the main and a tapping tool for progressively enlarging the hole to a predetermined size, the tapping tool directing the material from around the hole as the hole is being progressively enlarged in the predetermined direction. The tapping tool remains in the fitting and in the hole formed in the main to function as an internal mechanical connector for holding the fitting securely on the main.

Abstract: A rotary plug valve having a plug member rotatable in a valve housing member between an open position and a closed position, the plug member carrying a sealing ring, such as an O-ring seal or the like, in a groove provided on its surface between its port openings, the O-ring seal being adapted to encircle one of the ports of the housing member when the plug member is in the closed position. The rotary plug valve is capable of two-way flow therethrough, and this is realized by providing means for equalizing the pressure across the unsupported portion or segment of the O-ring seal when the same is passing across one of the ports of the valve housing. By such an arrangement, the pressure across the O-ring seal may be equalized in certain situations such as when the plug member is rotated towards and approaches a position for closing the valve and when the plug member is rotated towards and approaches the full open position and this prevents clipping or shearing of the O-ring seal.

Abstract: An assembly for closing a side opening in a pipe and including a fitting attached to the pipe and having a tubular portion aligned with the opening and a completion plug inserted into the tubular portion to seal the opening from the exterior of the pipe. The completion plug is provided with circumferentially spaced lugs lying in a plane normal to the axis of the plug, the lugs being arranged to fit into a groove in the tubular portion of the fitting, there being spaced arcuate cutouts in the tubular portion whereby the arrangement is a bayonet-type of fastening. Stop means are provided to limit rotation of the plug in a closing direction and further stop means are provided for preventing inadvertent removal of the plug from the fitting. A third stop means is provided for stopping the plug when being rotated to a position for removal, the third stop means aligning the lugs of the plug with the cutouts in the fitting so that the plug can be retracted from the fitting.

Abstract: A fire hydrant having a hydrant valve seat assembly positioned between the flanged lower end of the hydrant barrel and the flanged end of the hydrant shoe. The hydrant valve seat assembly and the hydrant valve element may be retained with the hydrant shoe when the hydrant barrel is removed and replaced or the hydrant valve seat assembly and the hydrant valve element, when in the closed position, may be retained with the hydrant barrel when the hydrant shoe is removed and replaced from the barrel. The fire hydrant includes an improved valve seat ring and seat ring housing, both of which may be made of brass so as to provide easy removal of the valve seat. The hydrant is provided with an improved drain valve facing strip for cooperating with the drain passage when the hydrant valve is open.

Abstract: A fire hydrant of the "dry" barrel type having an improved means of draining the barrel after the hydrant has been used and the main hydrant valve closed. The hydrant is provided with a drain passageway from the interior of the barrel above the main hydrant valve to the exterior of the valve. A first valve means, which is automatically opened or closed by actuation of the main hydrant valve element, is arranged to close the drain passageway when the main hydrant valve element is open and to open the drain passageway when the main hydrant valve element is closed. A pressure responsive one-way check valve in series with the valve means in said drain passage is automatically actuated to open position by pressure of water when there is water in the hydrant barrel and the valve means in series therewith in the drain passageway is open.

Abstract: A tool for inserting a plastic pipe in a substantially axial direction into a stab-type coupling joint fitting or the like without damaging the exterior of the plastic pipe. The coupling joint fitting may be of the type having means therein for gripping the plastic pipe upon insertion of the same therein and also of the type wherein insertion of the plastic pipe activates closure means in the fitting to open the same and provide service. The means for attaching the tool to the fitting and to the plastic pipe are detachable from the tool whereby other means may be substituted therefor depending upon the sizes of the fitting and the plastic pipe upon which the tool is to be used. The actuating means for moving the attaching means for the pipe toward and away from the attachment means for the fitting is screw operated to provide ease of operation of the tool with a lever system providing a large mechanical advantage.

Abstract: A gate valve structure for use in mains carrying fluids, the gate valve structure being provided with a casing having a through-bore and a chamber communicating with the through-bore and in which a gate member reciprocates between closed and opened positions of the valve. The valve casing is split into two body members on a plane normal to the axis of the through-bore and one of the body members is arranged to contain all of the functional parts of the valve, including the valve seat, gate member, and actuating means for the gate member. By such an arrangement, the valve seat surrounding the through-bore in the one body member may be easily machined by conventional machining methods and the internal surfaces of both body members may be easily treated to make them non-corrosive.

Abstract: A gate valve structure for use in mains carrying fluid, such as water mains or the like, the gate valve structure having a non-rising stem-type actuating mechanism. The gate valve structure includes a hollow gate member having a chamber therein open to the exterior and a valve stem which extends through the valve casing to the exterior thereof, the valve stem having exterior threads cooperating with interior threads carried by the gate member and the arrangement being such that the threads of the valve stem are completely protected from water and foreign material, such as dirt and abrasives and the like, when the gate member is in its completely opened position. This arrangement reduces torque necessary to operate the valve to the closed position.

Abstract: A valve operator for controlling the movement of a valve member carried by a rotatable valve shaft of a valve. The valve operator limits the movement of the valve member between a predetermined opened position and a closed position, the valve operator being adjustable without complete disassembly of the same to adjust the closing position of the member when necessary without affecting the overall amount of movement of the valve member as limit stops are operatively positioned on an operating shaft or stem of the valve operator with one of the stops being adjustable to axially move the operating shaft or stem and, thus, simultaneously adjust the other stop. Additionally, the valve operator is provided with coupling means for coupling the same to the rotatable shaft of the valve member, the coupling means being so arranged as to include a coupling sleeve which may be easily replaced by another coupling sleeve to accommodate the valve operator for valves having different diameter valve shafts.