Improvements in Joints for Pipes or Tubes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Joints for Pipes or Tubes.
1, WILLIAM JAMES DOUGLASS, of Blaydon on Tyne, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates specially to pipes or tubes connected together by flanges
with bolts and nuts (or other means equivalent to bolts and nuts) having the
following objects in view viz. :-
1st. To simplify the attachment of separate flanges without screwing soldering
or other usual methods.
2nd. To facilitate the detachment of the flanges from the pipes or tubes when
required.
3rd. To enable the pipes or tubes and their flanges to be packed separately for
transit and shipment, thus greatly economising stowage space, and when at their
destination to be readily connected, the joints made and the line of pipes or tubes
completed, without special skilled labour being required.
4th. To secure to the line of pipes or tubes, when in position, a certain degree of
flexibility with, at the same time, a perfectly tight joint.
According to my invention I form in the flange next the outside of the pipe or tube
a groove or grooves, running circumferentially, with a slot or slots opening out
therefrom at a right angle and upon the pipe or tube, near the end, I provide one
or more external projections forming studs or ridges which will enter into the slots
in the flange. The flange, being passed over the end of the pipe or tube, the studs
or ridges pass through the slots and the flange (or the pipe or tube) being rotated,
in the manner of a "bayonet-joint," they are firmly attached and the two flanges
on adjacent pipes or tubes being drawn together by bolts an india rubber, or other
suitable washer inserted between them is squeezed against the butt ends of
the pipes or tubes and a perfectly tight joint is made. The end tension between
the flanges and the pipes or tubes is amply resisted by the holding power of the
studs or ridges on the pipes or tubes in the grooves of the flanges. When two
adjacent flanges are bolted together the studs or ridges on the pipe or tube cannot
disengage from the groove or grooves in the flange, which may be so disposed as
to lock them; but when it is required to take up one or more of the pipes or tubes,
it is only necessary to unscrew the nuts of the flange bolts and withdraw them
when the flanges, or either of them, can be rotated so as to come off the end of the
pipe or tube.
My invention is applicable to pipes of cast metal or to pipes or tubes of wrought
iron, steel, copper, brass or any other metal and will be carried out, as to the
dimensions of the grooves and studs or ridges, and the number of them, according
to the diameter, working pressure and the material used.
Dated this 17th day of January 1896.

page_text: provements for ripes or Tubes.
1, WILLIAM JAMES DOUGLASS, of Blaydon on Tyne, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates specially to pipes or tubes connected together by flanges.
with bolts and nuts (or other means equivalent to bolts and nuts) having the
following objects in view viz. :-
1st. To simplify the attachment of separate flanges without screwing soldering
or other usual methods.
2nd. To facilitate the detachment of the flanges from the pipes or tubes when
required.
3rd. To enable the pipes or tubes and their flanges to be packed separately
for transit and shipment, thus greatly economising stowage space, and when at
their destination to be readily connected, the joints made and the line of pipes or
tubes completed, without special skilled labour being required.
4th. To secure to the line of pipes or tubes, when in position, a certain degree
of flexibility with, at the same time, a perfectly tight joint.
According to my invention I form in the flange next the outside of the pipe or
tube a groove or grooves, running circumferentially, with a slot or slots opening
out therefrom at a right angle, and upon the pipe or tube, near the end, I
provide
one or more external projections forming studs or ridges which will enter into the
slots in the flange. The flange, being passed over the end of the pipe or tube,
the studs or ridges pass through the slots and the flange (or the pipe or tube)
being rotated, in the manner of a "bayonet-joint," they are firmly attached, and
the two flanges on adjacent pipes or tubes, being drawn together by bolts, an
indiarubber, or other suitable washer inserted between them is squeezed into grooves
in the flanges and against the butt ends of the pipes or tubes and a perfectly tight
joint is made. The end tension between the flanges and the pipes or tubes is
amply resisted by the holding power of the studs or ridges on the pipes or tubes
in the grooves of the flanges. When two adjacent flanges are bolted together the
studs or ridges on the pipe or tube cannot disengage from the groove or grooves
in the flange, which may be so disposed as to lock them, but when it is required to
take up one or more of the pipes or tubes, it is only necessary to unscrew the nuts
of the flange bolts and withdraw them when the flanges, or either of them, can be
rotated so as to come off the end of the pipe or tube.
My invention is applicable to pipes of cast metal or to pipes or tubes of
wrought iron, steel, copper, brass or any other metal and will be carried out, as
to the dimensions of the grooves and studs or ridges, and the number of them,
according to the diameter, working pressure and the material used.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shew my invention
applied to tubes of wrought iron, steel, copper, brass or other metal to which
the flanges are usually attached, according to present practice, by screwing
soldering rivetting or like methods. Figs. 5 and. 6. shew my invention as applied
to a cast metal pipe with loose flanges...
All the figs. are to a scale of one half the actual size and the same letters
indicate the same or equivalent parts on all the figs.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a pair of adjacent flanges on a tube
3 inches inside dia. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the line a-b on

page_text: Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a similar section through the line c-d on Fig. 1 looking in the
direction of the arrow.
A A' are the adjacent ends of two tubes to be connected by the loose flanges BB'
drawn together by bolts C and then butt ends made perfectly tight by a ring or
washer D of indiarubber or other suitable material inserted and securely held by
the mitred recesses E E' on the flanges. Each tube end has formed upon it by
stamping pressing or other process two externally projecting ridges or bulges F F
opposite each other and each of the flanges has formed in it next the tube two.
circumferential slots G from which open two longitudinal slots H. The slots G
may go entirely round the flange but I prefer to form them with a division at J
which forms a stop for the ridges F F when in proper locking position as shewn.
on Fig 2.
The operation of coupling up two tubes or a line of pipes is as follows:-The-
slots H on the flanges B B having been slipped over the ridges or bulges F F
are turned a quarter round and the washer D is inserted the coupling bolt holes C
being now opposite in the two flanges and the bolts being inserted the flanges are
drawn together and the joint made perfectly tight.
Fig. 4 shews my invention applied to a tube of 4 ins. inside dia. having
three external projections F F F on the tube and three corresponding longitudinal
recesses H, H, Hin the flanges and the number and extent of the projections and.
recesses will be proportional to the diameters of the tubes and to the pressure they
are required to bear.
Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 my invention is shewn as it may be applied to a
line of cast metal pipes of 6 ins. bore the casting having on each end 5 externally
projecting studs F F F F and F, in lieu of the external ridges in tubes, and the
Hange B having 5 circumferential recesses G and five sunk longitudinal
recesses H, H, H H and H the method of coupling up or uncoupling any
length or lengths of pipes being precisely the same as previously described for
tubes.
It will be seen that the elastic washers give to a line of pipes a certain amount.
of flexibility enabling them to accommodate themselves, to a certain extent, to any
inequality of the trench in which they are laid or to any disturbance by reason of
heavy weights passing over them.
The elastic washers prevent any tendency of the tubes or pipes to work round in
the slots in the flanges when drawn up by the coupling bolts but as a further
precaution, the slots and the abutments or divisions, may be arranged in opposite
directions at the two ends of each tube or pipe so as to interlock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
Liou and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
The method of jointing or coupling tubes or pipes with removeable flanges by-
providing upon their ends external projections and in the flanges sunk circum-
ferential grooves with axial grooves opening therefrom to receive such projections
which being inserted and the flange, or the tube or pipe, rotated through part of a
circle, an elastic washer is inserted at the joint and the flange bolts screwed up,.
and a perfectly tight joint is formed having a certain amount of flexibility in a
range of pipes; constructed and operating substantially as described and in certain.
forms shewn on the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of October 1896
T. J. DANSON,
Patent Agent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Agent for Applicant.