Improvements in Pipe Connections and Appliances for Forming same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe Connections and Appliances for Forming
same.
I, GUSTAV OESTEN, of Stromstrasse 55, Berlin, N.W. Germany, Chief
Engineer of the Town Water Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:—
This invention has reference to improvements in pipe connections and appliances
for forming the same the object being to obviate the employment of the flanged or
screwed sleeve joints usually employed for connecting pipes of metal such as steel,
brass, copper and the like and the wiped joints usually employed for connecting
lead pipes either together or with pipes of other metals.
According to this invention the connection of the pipe ends is effected by slightly
opening out or flaring the end of each of the two pipes to be connected and
pressing a lead sleeve around the juxtaposed pipe ends, or, when connecting a lead
pipe to a pipe of other metal, by pressing the lead pipe itself around the flared end of
the second pipe. This is effected by means of an appliance which exerts a
practically uniform pressure upon the entire periphery of the sleeve or pipe as
the case may be. This pressure can conveniently be produced by means of one
or more elastic hollow bodies which is or are fitted in suitable recesses in the
The
appliance and is or are arranged to be expanded by liquid pressure.
appliance is so constructed and arranged as to be capable of embracing the pipe
and offering the requisite resistance to the expansion of the elastic hollow body
or bodies.
For connecting pipes of small diameter the appliance is preferably formed after
the manner of tongs with two jaws, but it may be provided with three or more
jaws.
In connecting pipes of metal such as steel, brass &c. the two pipe ends to be
connected are flared to such an extent, that when brought together they form a
sharp prominent edge, over which is slipped the connecting sleeve the internal
dimensions of which are such that it can be readily slipped over the flared ends.
To complete the connection the sleeve is firmly pressed around the pipe ends, in
such a manner that the edge formed by the flared end is pressed into the metal of
the sleeve and the ends of the sleeve are caused to tightly surround the pipe for a
considerable distance on each side of the actual joint. The pressure exerted
externally upon the sleeve at the same time presses the pipe ends tightly against
each other, and if the pressure be sufficiently great, the sleeve will embrace the
pipe so closely that a connection will be made, which, even when there is a high
pressure inside the pipe will remain tight. Before the lead sleeve is passed over
the two pipe ends, or, when connection is being made between a steel, brass, etc.
pipe and a lead pipe, the steel brass etc. pipe may be coated with solder, and after
the sleeve, or the end of the lead pipe as the case may be has been pressed, the
connection may be heated, and a soldering of the pipe ends with the sleeve or with
each other thus effected.
The appliance, for pressing the lead sleeve may be constructed with two jaws,
hinged together by a pin and formed each with a semi-cylindrical inner surface.
To one of the jaws is pivoted a stirrup or strap, provided with a pressure screw,
by means of which the jaws may be kept in a tightly closed position. When
the pressure screw is loosened and the stirrup or strap is swung back the pipe ends
can be placed together with the connecting sleeve between the jaws of the tongs.
The semi-cylindrical inner surfaces of the jaws are formed with cavities in which
are fitted elastic hollow bodies, which are preferably made of caoutchouc and are

page_text: each provided with a small tubular part placed in communication with a passage
in the corresponding jaw. The passage in one of the jaws connects with a
hydraulic cylinder formed in one of the handles of the appliance. In this
cylinder is a piston which can be moved by means of a screw spindle working
in a nut forming the cover of the cylinder. The passages in the two jaws are
connected by means of a flexible pipe. A pressure gauge is connected to one of
the passages so as to allow of the pressure of the liquid being ascertained at
any time. When the pipe ends with the sleeve are placed between the jaws,
and the latter are firmly connected by turning the stirrup or strap over the jaw
to which it is not pivotted and tightening the screw, the liquid is forced, through
the passages in the jaws and the pipe connecting them, into the interior of the
two elastic bodies by means of the piston. The elastic bodies are thereby caused
to expand and exert a pressure upon the sleeve and press the same firmly against
the flared ends of the pipes. Lead pipes may be similarly connected together
by inserting within the juxtaposed flared pipe ends a short tube or bush of steel,
brass or other resisting material which is formed at each end with a sharp pro-
jecting edge or rim around which the pipe ends can be pressed in a similar
manner to that hereinbefore described for the sleeve, whereby the previously
slightly flared pipe ends are thereby forced together and reduced in diameter.
Or a lead pipe can be similarly pressed upon another pipe of comparatively
hard on resisting material.
Instead of hinging the jaws together they can also be held together by means
of stirrups or straps with pressure screws. Or they may be connected together
by means of a two-part clamping ring. In this case two or more jaws or segments
can be used. The hollow spaces of the elastic bodies, which are fitted in the
recesses in the jaws or segments, are, in this case, connected by means of suitable
passages and pipes with a hydraulic cylinder as will be readily understood.
Dated this 12th day of March 1892.
GUSTAV OESTEN,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe Connections and Appliances for Forming
same.
I, GUSTAV OESTEN, of Stromstrasse 55, Berlin, N.W. Germany, Chief Engineer
of the Town Water Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention has reference to improvements in pipe connections and appliances
for forming the same the object being to obviate the employment of the flanged or
screwed sleeve joints usually employed for connecting pipes of metal such as steel,
brass, copper and the like and the wiped joints usually employed for connecting lead
pipes either together or with pipes of other metals.
According to this invention the connection of the pipe ends is effected by slightly
opening out or flaring the end of each of the two pipes to be connected and pressing
a lead sleeve around the juxtaposed pipe ends, or, when connecting a lead pipe to
a pipe of other metal by pressing the lead pipe itself around the flared end of the
second pipe. This is effected by means of an appliance which exerts a practically
uniform pressure upon the entire periphery of the sleeve or pipe as the case may
be. This pressure can conveniently be produced by means of one or more elastic
hollow bodies which is or are fitted in suitable recesses in the appliance and is or
are arranged to be expanded by liquid pressure. The appliance is so constructed
and arranged as to be capable of embracing the pipe and offering the requisite
resistance to the expansion of the elastic hollow body or bodies.
For connecting pipes of small diameter the appliance is preferably formed

page_text: Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section shewing the
two pipe ends to be connected and the lead sleeve before the latter has been
compressed.
Fig. 2 is a similar view shewing the lead sleeve compressed so as to make the
pipe connection.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a tool or appliance for effecting the compression of the
lead sleeve,
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof,
Fig. 5 is a section on the line a Fig. 3; and
Fig. 6 is a cross section of a modified construction of tool.
a a are pipes of metal such as steel, brass &c.; the adjacent ends of which
are flared as shewn at a¹ a¹ to such an extent that when brought together they
form a sharp prominent edge, over which is slipped the connecting sleeve b
the internal dimensions of which are such that it can be readily slipped over the
flared ends.
To complete the connection the sleeve is firmly pressed around the pipe ends in
such a manner that the edge formed by the flared ends is pressed into the metal of
the sleeve and the ends of the sleeve are caused to tightly surround the pipe for a
considerable distance on each side of the actual joint as shewn in Fig. 2. The
pressure exerted externally upon the sleeve at the same time presses the pipe
ends a tightly against each other, and if the pressure be sufficiently great, the
sleeve will embrace the pipe so closely that a connection will be made, which, even
when there is a high pressure inside the pipe will remain tight. Before the lead
sleeve b is passed over the two pipe ends, or, when connection is being made between
a steel, brass, etc. pipe and a lead pipe, the steel brass etc. pipes or pipe may be
coated with solder, and after the sleeve, or the end of the lead pipe, as the case
may be, has been compressed the connection may be heated, so as to effect a soldering
of the pipe ends with the sleeve or with each other.
The appliance shewn in Figs. 3 4 and 5 for compressing the lead sleeve is
constructed with two jaws c and d hinged together by a pin and each for.ned
with a semi-cylindrical inner surface. To one of the jaws (c) is pivoted a stirrup
or strap g provided with a pressure screw h, by means of which the jaws may be
kept in a tightly closed position. When the screw is loosened and the stirrup or
strap swung back, the pipe ends can be placed, together with the connecting
sleeve, between the jaws of the tongs. The semi-cylindrical inner surface of the
jaws c and d are formed with cavities in which are fitted elastic hollow bodies i,
which are preferably made of caoutchouc. These bodies are each provided with a
small tubular part placed in communication with a passage o in the corresponding
jaw. The passage o in the jaw d connects with a hydraulic cylinder k formed in
the handle of that jaw. In this cylinder is a piston which can be moved by means
of a screw spindle m working in a nut forming the cover of the cylinder. The
passages in the two jaws are connected by means of a flexible pipe p. A
pressure gauge allows of the pressure of the liquid being ascertained at any
time. When the pipe ends a¹ with the inner bush b. Fig. 5 have been placed
between the jaws, the latter are firmly connected by turning the stirrup or strap g
over the jaw d and tightening the screw h. The liquid is then forced by the
piston, moved by turning its screw spindle m, through the passages o in the jaws
and the pipe p connecting them, into the interior of the two elastic bodies i. The
latter are thereby caused to expand and exert pressure upon the pipe ends a¹ and
press the same firmly against the inner bush b and its sharp edges, whereby the
pipe ends are compressed and their diameters reduced.
Lead pipes may be similarly connected together by inserting within the juxta-
posed flared pipe ends a short tube or bush 6 of steel, brass or other resisting
material which is formed at each end with a sharp projecting edge or rim around
which the ripe ends can be pressed in a similar manner to that hereinbefore

page_text: described for the sleeve, whereby the previously slightly flared pipe ends are forced
together and reduced in diameter so as to form a tight joint with the tube.or
bush b. Or a leaden pipe can be similarly pressed upon another pipe of comparatively
hard or resisting material.
Instead of hinging the jaws, they may be held together by means of stirrups or
straps with pressure screws as will be readily understood. Or they may be connected
together by means of a two-part clamping ring t as shown in Fig. 6. In this case
two or more jaws or segments can be used; in Fig. 6 three are shown. The hollow
spaces of the elastic bodies, which are fitted in the recesses in the jaws or segments,
are, in this case, connected by means of suitable passages and pipes with a hydraulic
cylinder as will be easily understood.
Pipe connections as above described can be conveniently and easily applied in
laying pipe conduits, because it is merely necessary to slightly flare the pipe ends
to be connected, to fit them carefully against each other, and then by means of the
tool compress the sleeve that has been slipped over their adjacent ends. The con-
nection itself does not occupy more space than a screw sleeve connection and should
it become leaky in course of time, the sleeve can be again readily compressed or a
new sleeve applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of forming a pipe connection by flaring the pipe
ends (a) to be connected so that when these ends are brought together they form a
projecting edge placing a leaden sleeve (b) over the pipe ends and the projecting
edge formed thereby, and compressing the said sleeve so as to cause it to form a
tight joint with the pipe ends substantially as described.
2. The herein described method of forming a connection between a lead pipe and
a pipe of harder metal by passing one end of the lead pipe over a projecting edge on
the end of the other pipe and compressing it so as to form a tight joint between the
two pipe ends as set forth.
3. For carrying out the method specified in the preceding claims, a tool consisting
of two or more jaws adapted to surround the pipe connections, and to be firmly held
in their relative positions, and provided with a hollow elastic lining or body (i)
capable of being expanded by liquid pressure and so as to compress a pipe connection
placed between them substantially as described.
4. A tool of the kind specified in Claim 3, in which the two jaws are connected
together after the manner of tongs, and one of the handles of which is constructed
to form a hydraulic cylinder which is provided with a piston substantially as herein
described.
5. A pipe connection comprising pipes having their adjacent ends flared outward
so as to form a projecting edge and a lead sleeve tightly compressed around said
pipe ends and projecting edge substantially as described.
6. A pipe joint comprising two pipes one of which is of lead and the other of a
harder metal and formed with a flared end, the end of the lead pipe being tightly
compressed around the flared end of the other pipe substantially as described.
7. A pipe joint comprising a connecting tube or bush of metal formed near its
ends with projecting edges, and lead pipes the adjacent ends of which are flared
outward and tightly compressed around the ends of the connecting tube or bush
substantially as described.