Improvements in Expansion Joints.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expansion Joints.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature. of this Invention (which has been
communicated to me from Abroad by Sommers Nickerson Smith of Newport
News, Virginia, in the United States of America) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an expansion joint for steam, or other pipes, subjected
to pressure tending to force the sections of the pipe apart longitudinally, the
object of this Invention being to so construct such a joint as to balance this pressure
and permit the longitudinal movement necessitated by expansion, contraction,
or other causes.
In engineering, and especially in steam engineering, and ship work, it frequently
happens that pipes, or other structures, have to be connected by another pipe in
such manner that owing to the variations in temperature to which this connecting
pipe is subjected, it must expand and contract, and it is therefore common to
provide it with an expansion joint, which permits an end movement of the sections
of the pipe from, and towards, each other.
The connecting pipe is therefore subjected to longitudinal pressure exerted
throughout an area corresponding to that of the internal diameter of the pipe,
and tending to force the ends of the pipe apart, hence it becomes necessary to
brace the end pipes, or other connected structures, in order to resist this
tendency. In many cases, however, the use of struts, braces, or abutments, for
the purpose is inconvenient, if not impracticable, and it is therefore advisable
to provide the connecting pipe with a balanced expansion joint, that is to say, a
joint which will provide for the neutralization of the longitudinal pressure.
This Invention has for its object the provision of such a balanced expansion
joint.
The construction, according to this Invention, consists of a tube having at one
end a flange, or other formation, whereby it can be conveniently attached to one
section of the connecting pipe, or to the elbow coupling of one of the end pipes.
This tube has a portion of enlarged diameter so as to form an external annular
shoulder adjacent to which the tube has an opening, or series of openings. On
that end of the tube opposite to the end carrying the flange is fitted a sleeve which
is flanged, or otherwise constructed, at its outer end, for attachment to a section
of the connecting pipe, or to the elbow coupling of the end pipe, this sleeve having
a suitable stuffing box at its inner end so that any leakage of steam between the
same and the tube is effectually prevented.
On the inner end of the sleeve is formed an annular flange which is connected,
by bolts, to a flange on a second sleeve, suitable filling pieces being interposed
between the flanges of the two sleeves in order to retain the same rigidly in their

page_text: proper longitudinal relation, these filling pieces being preferably in the form of
tubes surrounding the connecting bolts."
The second sleeve comprises two portions of different diameters, the portion of
smaller diameter fitting upon the tube and having a stuffing box to prevent leakage
between it and the said tube, while the portion of larger diameter fits upon the
enlarged portion of the said tube and is likewise provided with a stuffing box to
prevent leakage.
This enlargement in the diameter of the second sleeve provides an internal
shoulder facing the shoulder of the tube so that, between these two shoulders, an
annular chamber is formed to which steam has free access through the openings in
the tube.
Steam in this chamber consequently tends to force the tube and second sleeve
in opposite directions and as the said tube carries one of the pipe connections of
the joint, and the first sleeve, which is rigidly secured to the second sleeve, carries
the other of said pipe connections, it follows that if the shoulders of the second
sleeve and tube be properly proportioned, the pressure upon the sections of the
connecting pipe tending to force them longitudinally apart will be counterbalanced
and the pipe, or the parts to which it is connected will be relieved from the strain
which would otherwise be due to such pressure, while at the same time the desired
end movement of the sections of the connecting pipe due to expansion, contraction,
or other cause, will be permitted, without bringing any strain upon the end pipes,
or other end connections.
The enlarged portion of the second sleeve has a series of internal ribs which
limit the approach of the shoulders of the sleeve and tube, and thus prevent the
second sleeve from closing the openings in the tube, hence the chamber between
the said shoulders of the tube and sleeve is always open to pressure.
The putting together and taking apart of the improved expansion joint can be
readily effected, as all of the stuffing boxes, as well as the connections between the
two sleeves, are external and readily accessible.
Each of the sleeves may be in one piece, or the said sleeves may be divided
transversely and the sections be bolted together, as may be found most convenient,
and if desired the enlarged portion of the tube may be in the form of an annular
flange on the said tube.
When the sleeves are divided transversely, the corresponding sections of the
sleeves may be connected, so as to form a single structure, the connecting structure
having openings formed in it to permit access to the bolts which confine the
stuffing box followers of the two sleeves.
Dated this 28th day of January 1807
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
improvements in Expansion Joints.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Sommers Nickerson Smith of Newport
News Virginia in the United States of America) and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to expansion joints for that class of steam or other pipes

page_text: which are subjected to pressure tending to force the sections of the pipe apart
longitudinally, the object of this invention being to so construct such a joint as to
balance this pressure and permit the longitudinal movement necessitated by
expansion, contraction, or other causes. This object is attained in the manner
hereinafter described, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings of
which:
Figure 1, is a view illustrating one mode of applying the improved joint.
Figure 2, is a sectional view, on a larger scale, of the joint structure.
Figure 3, is a transverse section on the line, Figure 2; and
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views, on a smaller scale, illustrating modifications.
In engineering, and especially in steam engineering and shipwork, it frequently
happens that pipes or other structures, such, for instance as those represented
at 1 and 2 in Figure 1, have to be connected by another pipe, such, for instance,
as represented at 3. Owing to the variations in temperature to which this pipe 3
is subjected, it must expand and contract, and it is therefore common to provide
it with an expansion joint which permits an end movement of the sections of the
pipe from and toward each other. The connecting pipe is therefore subjected to
longitudinal pressure exerted throughout an area corresponding to that of the
internal diameter of the pipe and tending to force the ends of the pipe apart.
Hence it becomes necessary to brace the end pipes 1 and 2 or other connected
structures in order to resist this tendency. In many cases, however, the use of
struts, braces, or abutments for the purpose is inconvenient, if not impracticable,
and it is therefore advisable to provide the connecting pipe with a balanced expansion
joint, that is to say, a joint which will provide for the neutralization of the
longitudinal pressure.
This Invention has for its object the provision of such a balanced expansion
joint.
The construction according to this Invention will be understood on reference to
Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings in which 4 represents a tube having at one end a
flange 5 or other structural formation whereby it can be conveniently attached to
one section of the pipe 3 or to the elbow coupling of one of the end pipes, say,
for instance, the pipe 2. This tube 4 has a portion 6 of enlarged diameter, so as
to form an external annular shoulder 7, adjacent to which the tube has an opening
or series of openings 8, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
On that end of the tube 4 opposite to the end carrying the flange 5 is fitted a
sleeve 9, which is flanged or otherwise constructed at its outer end for attachment
to a section of the pipe 3 or to the elbow coupling of the end pipe 1, this sleeve 9
having a suitable stuffing box, at its inner end, so that any leakage of steam,
between the same and the tube 4 is effectually prevented.
On the inner end of the sleeve 9 is formed an annular flange 10, which is
connected by bolts 11 to a flange 12 on a sleeve 13, suitable filling pieces being
interposed between the flanges 10 and 12, in order to retain the sleeves 9 and 13
rigidly in their proper longitudinal relation, these filling pieces being preferably
in the form of tubes 14, surrounding the bolts 11.
The sleeve 13, comprises two portions, of different diameters, the portion of
smaller diameter fitting upon the tube 4 and having a stuffing box to prevent
leakage between it and the said tube, while the portion of larger diameter fits upon
the enlarged portion 6 of the said tube 4 and is likewise provided with a stuffing
box to prevent leakage. This enlargement in the diameter of the sleeve 13 provides
an internal shoulder 15, facing the shoulder 7 of the tube 4, so that between these
two shoulders an annular chamber is formed to which steam: has free access
through the openings 8. Steam in this chamber consequently tends to force the
tube 4 and sleeve 13 in opposite directions, and as the said tube carries one of the
pipe connections of the joint, and the sleeve 9, which is rigidly secured to
the sleeve 13, carries the other of said pipe connections, it follows that if the
shoulders 7 and 15 be properly proportioned the pressure upon the sections of the
pipe 3, tending to force them longitudinally apart, will be counterbalanced, and

page_text: t.
the pipe or the parts to which it is connected will be relieved from, the strain
which would otherwise be due to such pressure, while at the same time the desired
end movement of the sections of the pipe 3,. due to expansion, contraction, or other
cause, will be permitted without bringing any strain upon the pipes 1, and 2 or
other end connections.
The enlarged portion of the sleeve 13 has a series of internal ribs 17, which
limit the approach of the shoulders 7, and 15, and thus prevent the sleeve 13
from closing the openings 8; hence the chamber between the said shoulders 7
and 15 is always open to pressure.
The putting together and taking apart of the improved expansion joint can be
readily effected, as all of the stuffing boxes, as well as the connections between the
sleeves 9 and 13, are external and readily accessible.
Each of the sleeves 9 and 13 may be in one piece, as shown, or the said sleeves
may be divided transversely and the sections be bolted together, as may be found
most convenient, and, if desired, the enlarged portion of the tube 4, may be in
the form of an annular flange on the said tube, as shown, for instance at 6 in
Figure 4.
When the sleeves are divided transversely, the corresponding sections of the
sleeves may be connected, so as to form a single structure as shown, for instance,
at 9 13 in Figure 5, the connecting structure having openings formed in it, as
at 16, to permit access to the bolts which confine the stuffing box followers of
the two sleeves.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is;-
First. The herein before described balanced expansion joint for pressure pipes,
said joint consisting of a tube having an enlarged portion forming an external
shoulder, a sleeve encircling the said tube and having an internal shoulder opposed
opposed to that of the tube and forming therewith a chamber open to the pressure
within the pipes, a second sleeve encircling the tube beyond the shouldered portion,
means for connecting the two sleeves, and external stuffing boxes, whereby tight
joints are formed between the sleeves and the tube upon which they are mounted,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. The within described balanced expansion joint for pressure pipes, said
joint consisting of a tube having an enlarged portion forming an external annular
shoulder, a sleeve encircling the said tube an having an internal shoulder opposed
to that of the tube and forming therewith a chamber open to the pressure within
the pipes, a second sleeve encircling the tube beyond 'the shouldered portion;
Hanges on the two sleeves; bolts connecting the said flanges; and external stuffing
boxes whereby tight joints are formed between the sleeves and the tube,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
二.
Third. The within described balanced expansion joint for pressure pipes, the
said joint consisting of a tube having an enlarged portion forming an external
annular shoulder; a sleeve encircling the said tube, and having an. internal
shoulder, opposed to that of the tube, and forming therewith a chamber open to
the pressure within the pipes; a second sleeve encircling the tube beyond the
shouldered portion, flanges on the two sleeves, bolts connecting the said flanges;
distance pieces interposed between the two flanges; and stuffing boxes whereby
tight joints are formed between the sleeves and the tube, substantially as herein-
before described.
r
"
Fourth. The within described balanced expansion joint for pressure 'pipes, the
said joint comprising a tube connected to one section of the pressure pipe, and
having an external annular shoulder and perforation's adjacent thereto; an en-
circling sleeve connected to the opposite section of the pressure pipe and having
an internal shoulder whereby opposed annular counterbalancing surfaces are pre-

page_text: sented, and stops to limit the approach of the shoulders and prevent closing of the
perforations of the tube substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 29th day of September 1897.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.