IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF COUPLING OR CONNECTING PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS, IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE HOOPS TO BE USED IN CONNECTING SUCH PIPES AND COLUMNS, AND IN THE SHAPE OF SUCH PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS, WHEREBY THEY BECOME ADAPTED FOR THE SUPPORT AND CONVEYANCE OF VEHICLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Greaves, of New Palace Yard, in the City of
Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF COUPLING OR CONNECTING PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS, IN THE
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE HOOPS TO BE USED IN CONNECTING SUCH
PIPES AND COLUMNS, AND IN THE SHAPE OF SUCH PIPES, COLUMNS, AND
CONDUITS, WHEREBY THEY BECOME ADAPTED FOR THE SUPPORT AND CONVEYANCE
OF VEHICLES."
Sealed the 3rd September 1857, and dated the 5th March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Greaves at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
March 1857.
I, HUGH GREAVES, of New Palace Yard, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OF COUPLING OR CONNECTING PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS,
IN THE MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE HOOPS TO BE USED IN CONNECTING SUCH
PIPES AND COLUMNS, AND IN THE SHAPE OF SUCH PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS,
WHEREBY THEY BECOME ADAPTED FOR THE SUPPORT AND CONVEYANCE OF VEHICLES,"
to be as follows:-
My improvements in the mode of coupling or connecting pipes and columns
consist in making the ends of the pipes or columns bevilled or conical, in such
a manner that the conical end of one pipe or column shall form a continuation
[Price 8d.]

page_text: of the conical end of the pipe or column immediately adjoining it. For the
pupose of coupling such pipes or columns I intend to use wrought-iron hoops
or rings, which are placed in the mould before the pipe is cast, and are loose
on the pipe after it is completed. This hoop is driven over the bevilled or
conical parts of the two pipes or columns immediately adjoining each other,
whereby in most cases a sufficiently perfect joint is produced. In cases, how-
ever, where the pipes are intended to convey steam or gas, the ends of the pipes
may previously be surrounded with tarred webbing or other similar material.
The machinery for manufacturing these hoops consists of a revolving mandril,
on which the hoop when welded is placed, the hoop being thereupon subjected
to the action of a revolving roller to make it true as to its shape and diameter.
In some cases the coupling hoops may be made of cast iron, and the internal
surface of the hoops and the taper or conical ends of the pipes may be chilled,
so as to ensure a tight fit. When the pipes or conduits are open at the top,
as for gutters, and to be employed for the support and conveyance of vehicles,
I propose to join them together by fishing pieces or splicing plates, for which
purpose the pipes or conduits are at each end provided with suitable recesses;
and when laid in two rows, so as to form a line of rails, they are connected
transversely by tie rods in order to ensure uniformity of gauge. These open
pipes or conduits are made flat or nearly so on the upper surface, which may be
chilled, and the opening or groove may be partially closed by wooden or iron,
slips. The same methods of coupling may be applied to pipes or conduits
made of clay or other material. When pipes with cylindrical ends are to be
Joined the required taper may be produced by wrapping coils of webbing or
other similar material round them in increasing layers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hugh Greaves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, T HUGH
GREAVES, of New Palace Yard, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent,bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Hugh Greaves, Her special licence that. I, the said Hugh Greaves, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Eugh

page_text: Greaves, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF COUPLING OR CONNECTING PIPES, COLUMNS. AND CONDUITS, IN THE
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE HOOPS TO BE USED IN CONNECTING SUCH PIPES,
AND IN THE SHAPE OF SUCH PIPES, COLUMNS, AND CONDUITS, WHEREBY THEY BECOME
ADAPTED FOR THE SUPPORT AND CONVEYANCE OF VEHICLES;" upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Hugh Greaves, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
tlie same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hugh Greaves, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
of the
My Invention relates to an improved method of joining pipes for the con-
veyance of gas, water, or other fluids, or for any many purposes for which
pipes are usually employed, by which arrangement the joints of such pipes or
conduits are more efficiently and more economically made. Also, to the
employment of such pipes when combined with a cast-iron rail or tramway,
either cast with the pipes or fixed thereto, or with a wrought-iron rail attached
thereto, for the double purpose of conveying fluid or other bodies, and as bear-
ing surfaces for vehicles; likewise to the joining of solid or hollow columns,
and to the method of manufacturing, the conical collars or hoops used for
connecting the ends of such pipes, conduits, or columns. The accompanying
Drawing, wherein similar parts are denoted by the same letters of reference,
will more fully exemplify the nature of the said Invention.
Fig. 1 shews the ends a, b, of two lengths of pipe or parts of a column (in-
section), the one being larger than the other, but which when joined together
form a continuous conical seating, on which the conical collar or hoop c is
driven. The collar c may be of wrought or cast iron, and is placed by the
founder in the pipe mould previously to the casting of the pipe, having on its
inner surface a layer of sand, loam, or other suitable material to prevent
adhesion to the surface of the pipe casting, and which when so laid in the
mould will be flush with its internal surface, which corresponds to the outer

page_text: surface of the pipe,so that when the pipe has been cast the collar may be loose
thereon after the said lining is removed. In using the said collars, and before
they are driven on to their respective seatings, salammoniac water,red or white
lead, or any of the known substances usually employed for such purposes, may
be applied to the surfaces of the conical ends or collars, for the purpose of
more effectually sealing the joints, and of making them water-tight.
Figs. 2 and 3 shew an elevation and section of two lengths of pipe jointed,as
before described, and used as a support, sleeper, or bearing surface for a rail-
way, at the same time that the pipe may be used for the conveyance of any
fluid or other matter, a portion of the rail d constituting an efficient fish or
additional means of joining the pipes and of supporting the joint. Figs. 4 & 5
shew sections of the same, where separate rails d, d' are used. c, el are ribs,
flanges, jaws, or grooves, which may be cast on the side of the pipes, to which
the rail may be attached by bolts and nuts or other suitable means; or a solid
rib or rail may be cast on the pipe, as in Figs. 6 & 7, and a short length of
similar section, used for uniting the two ends above or over the joint of the
pipe, it being necessary in all cases to omit those portions of the rail where
the joints occur, so as to give room for making the joint before described.
Fig. 8 shews another method of joining and securing the joints of pipes or
conduits when used as railway sleepers, whether for common road vehicles
or for vehicles having wheels with flanged or ribbed felloes or tyres. Fig. 9
shews a section of the same pipe and rail; where a is the pipe; b, the tram
surface; c, the fishes or uniting straps and bolts; and d, the wheel. They
may also be coupled by a bolt and nut passing through lugs cast on each
side of the pipes, and shown by dotted lines.
Figs. 10 & 11 shew the machine for rolling or forming the wrought-iron
conical collars or hoops employed for encasing the joints of the pipes, in
which a is the driving spindle; b, a conical roller of cast steel or other
suitable material; c, a similar roller on a spindle d; e, e, two spur pinions
for connecting the spindles a and d;ff a frame with bearings, in which
the spindles a and d work; g. a driving pulley, to which motion is commu-
nicated by a prime mover. The spindle d and roller c slide in the bearings
ff, to admit of the progressive increase of the collar i, the end motion
of the spindle d being obtained by the pressure of a screw or lever against
it. The roller c has a flange h on its end, which forms the shoulder or end of
the conical collar i, and by its motion in the direction of the arrow drives the
collar (which is put on the small end of the mandril roller bat a welding
heat) towards the larger end of the roller. b, and thus draws it or increases
its diameter till it has attained the required size and taper.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said improvements, I would have
it understood that I claim,-
First, the method herein described of joining pipes, conduits, and columns,
whatever may be their form or configuration.
And, secondly, I claim the combination of an independant or separate
rail with pipes or conduits, and of joining the same in the manner herein
described, such pipes or conduits having ribs, jaws, flanges, or grooves cast
on them to receive and secure the rails thereto, at the same time that
additional strength is given to the pipes.
And, thirdly, I claim the combination in one casting of a pipe and rail
or tramway for common road or other vehicles having wheels with plain or
ribbed tyres or felloes, and the use of wheels formed with tyres, as described;
also, the method of joining such pipes, as herein described.
And, fourthly, I claim the use of the machinery herein described for forming
the conical wrought-iron collars or hoops for joining pipes, conduits, and
columns, as herein described; and I wish it to be understood that I do not
claim the use of hollow sleepers or pipes as bearing surfaces for vehicles, but
only in conjunction with the improvements set forth and herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Greaves, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
AMH. H. RENTON,
12, Buckingham St. Adelphi.
HUGH GREAVES. (L.S.)